Dragonflies at Paxton Pits

A visit to Cobham Hide followed by a walk up the Haul Road at Paxton Pits produced a sizeable list of Dragonflies and Damsels etc. The star was definitely the Southern Migrant Hawker, a fairly newly listed species for the UK and my first sighting of one. Otherwise while Brown Hawker (egg laying), Emerald  Damsel, Common Blue Damsel, Ruddy Darter and Banded Demoiselle are still in prime condition, some other species are coming to the end of their brief lives like the Four-spot Chaser and Emperor Dragonfly

Dragonflies etc Paxton 26th May

Our photography group at Paxton Pits decided on an early start yesterday as very warm temperatures were forecast (and arrived; officially 32 degrees at Bedford aerodrome). We started at 7am in the Meadows as the Dragons and Damsels got moving including the Green-eyed Hawkers resting in the grass and hedges along with lots of hawking Hairy Dragonflies, Black-tailed Skimmers and 4-Spot Chasers.  I was attempting to use the strong directional light to throw shadows behind any perched insects as with these mating Common Blue Damsels.

 After refuelling we spent a bit of time in the Cobham Hide where there were hundreds of damselflies, dragonflies and their exivia. En route we were delighted to find a Grizzled Skipper in another new location so they really have a strong presence at Paxton now.