Article by Roger Edmondson
Through the summer, pairs of surveyors from BRERC have been traipsing round the countryside collecting data. Although the main survey aim for our clients is botanical, we record incidental records of any other groups that we come across. It may be birds, mammals, butterflies, anything. Dragon and damselflies are amongst our favourites so, of course, we record as many of them as we can.
Some species were widespread and were recorded most days during their flight periods. Azure, Blue-tailed, Common Blue and Large Red Damselflies are the species that spring to mind. Later in the season Common Darters were widespread as were the Migrant and Southern Hawkers. The latter were seen regularly but as single specimens whereas the Migrants tended to be in groups. Widespread but slightly less common was the Emperor.
Of the scarcer species noted, Vicky and Roger saw a single Hairy Dragonfly in North Somerset at Uphill. Vicky saw our only Emerald Damselfly in Yatton. How many of you saw any?
Up in South Gloucestershire, Martin and Rog found Beautiful and Banded Demoiselles at Pullins Green as well as Black-tailed Skimmers in the Oldbury-upon-Severn area.
Bee saw the Four-spotted Chaser in North Somerset. This is not a rare species so why did none of the rest of us come across it? Strange. One specimen of Ruddy Darter was seen near the Oldbury Power Station which seemed to be a good area generally for odonata.
Some members of the Avon Wildlife Trust were lucky enough to see the Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly in the Pilning area.
Finally, Martin and Roger spent one lunchtime looking for Red-veined Darters at the Orchard Pools near Severn Beach. Remarkably, six males were found in a very brief search. What a good site this is becoming. Broad-bodied Chasers and Black-tailed Skimmers were also on the wing.
This is an uneven set of records but none the less enjoyable for those involved in the sightings.