Willow Emerald, Otmoor, Monday 24th August

I headed to Otmoor today as I wanted to see if I could find the Willow Emerald that's been seen along the roman road recently. After walking about three quarters of the way along the roman road from the car park I spotted a female perched on a bit of dead ash tree about 12 feet up. It was a bit cloudy so it stayed where it was for a while. When the sun came out, fortunately it came down lower so I was able to get some shots of it.

Female Willow Emerald Damsel

Female Willow Emerald Damsel

Female Willow Emerald Damsel

Female Willow Emerald Damsel

Female Willow Emerald Damsel

Female Willow Emerald Damsel

Female Willow Emerald Damsel

Male Emerald Damsel

Ruddy Darter

After here I headed to the pill ground Where I found a dead juvenile Grasshopper warbler.

Grasshopper Warbler

Dams/Drags seen today:-

Emerald Damsel
Willow Emerald Damsel 1 female
Common Blue Damsel
Southern Hawker
Brown Hawker
Migrant Hawker
Common Darter
Ruddy Darter

1 Clouded Yellow was seen in Saunders ground.

Garden Damsel Tuesday 18th August

While I was tidying up my wildlife garden area a damselfly caught my eye flying over the pond and then landing on a water Lilly leaf. I noticed straight away it had a red eye and on looking closer I realized it was in fact a Small red-eyed damsel on my garden pond. I quickly ran indoors and grabbed my camera to get a few shots. After about 10 minutes it flew off. This was the first record for my garden and maybe the last and brought my garden odonata list to 17 species and for a pond that is only 27 months old.A migrant Hawker was also seen perched in my blackthorn bush this afternoon.

Small Red-Eyed Damsel

Small Red-Eyed Damsel

Small Red-Eyed Damsel

Small Red-Eyed Damsel

Migrant Hawker

Migrant Hawker

Garden Damsel/Dragonfly list:-

Banded Demoiselle
Beautiful Demoiselle
Large Red Damsel
White-Legged Damsel
Common Blue Damsel
Azure Damsel
Blue-Tailed Damsel
Small Red-Eyed Damsel
Southern Hawker
Migrant Hawker
Brown Hawker
Emperor Dragonfly
Four-Spotted Chaser
Broad Bodied Chaser
Black Tailed Skimmer
Common Darter
Ruddy Darter

Radley Lakes Friday 7th August

I jumped on my bike today and rode to Radley to look for Damsels and Dragonflies.When I arrived the place was buzzing with them. I had a possible sighting of a Male Lesser Emperor in the strip of water between Thrupp lake and Bullfield lake, it was all to brief and frustratingly wasn't seen again, so may well be worth looking out for! A few Migrant Hawkers were also in this area.On Orchard lake there were at least 5 Small red-eyed damsels. I had to get a little bit wet to get the photos of them.

Small Red-Eyed Damsel

Small Red-Eyed Damsel

Small Red-Eyed Damsel

Small Red-Eyed Damsel

 Song Thrush

Dams/Drags seen:-

Emerald Damsel 1
Common Blue Damsel 100's
Blue Tailed Damsel 5
Red-Eyed Damsel 10+
Small Red-Eyed Damsel 5+
Southern Hawker 1
Migrant Hawker 4
(Lesser Emperor possible)
Brown hawker 5
Black Tailed Skimmer 3
Common Darter 30+
Ruddy Darter 4

Aston Rowant NNR Monday 3rd August

I went up to Aston Rowant (Bald Hill) this morning to look for Silver spotted skippers. A few were seen flying around.The most numerous butterfly seen was the Chalkhill blue with males flying up all around me while walking across the hill.Whilst looking around I was lucky enough to find a mating pair of six belted clearwings. I also found my second ever Downland villa bee fly, my first being at Daneway banks earlier in the year.

Six-Belted Clearwing

Common Field Grasshopper

Downland Villa Bee Fly