Peter Jones Wildlife blog

I was very fortunate today, going out in search of the last two remaining, fairly common UK dragonflies I had yet to see. I figured I would start at Hatchett Pond, and after seeing Emperor, Blue-tailed Damselfly and Broad-bodied Chaser, caught a glimpse of my first target: a Downy Emerald patrolling the large wooded pond. I eventually got good views and as the sun came out, appreciated what a stunning insect these are. Target number two: Four-spotted Chaser! which is a common widespread species which I have never managed to see, then appeared briefly. Not the greatest view, but good enough for today. The session ended with a Downy Emerald landing in vegetation at the edge of the pond allowing the attached, long range photo (taken at 4000mm with the p900, and cropped slightly)

A very hot day in the New Forest, and a very long walk, from Burley to Ober Water. White-legged Damselfly was the main target, this being pretty much the only site in Hampshire, and I eventually found a couple. Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly was also on my most wanted list and I was lucky to find a couple in a nearby boggy stream. Plenty of Large Red Damsels around, and a few Broad-bodied Chasers. A freshly emerged Keeled Skimmer was looking really smart. Best of the birds were Cuckoo, Redstart, and Tree Pipit, plus a few Stonechats.