Review of 2019 and 2020 - Dragonflies: Hawkers, Goldenrings and Darters

HAWKERS and EMPERORS (family AESHNIDAE)


 
Migrant Hawker Aeshna mixta - Recorded at the meadows on 3rd August and 30th September 2019.  In between, recorded at a few other sites including my garden on 25th August.  Another in my garden on 21st August was, surprisingly, my only record in 2020.

Migrant Hawkers, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 3rd August 2019

Southern Migrant Hawker Aeshna affinis - Having identified Britain's second ever record of this species (from a photo taken by someone else in Sussex and posted on Flickr) I thought it was high time I actually saw one myself, so took the opportunity to pop down to Thompson Common on 7th August 2020.  It was a little difficult to be sure about numbers as individuals did sometimes move between pools but I'm pretty sure there were 6 males, and one was in tandem with a female.

Southern Migrant Hawkers, Thompson Common, 7th August 2020

Norfolk Hawker Aeshna isoceles - 2 at Winteron on 19th August 2019 including one that appeared to be stuck in water when we found it.

Norfolk Hawker, Winterton, 19th August 2019

Brown Hawker Aeshna grandis - 1-2 recorded at the meadows on 29th July and 3rd August 2019 and on 3rd and 12th August 2020.  Also one at Foxley Wood on 11th July 2020 and 2 at Thompson Common on 7th August 2020.  One of the individuals at the meadows was at dusk, flying up and down the track right by where I was standing, but it was so dark I could barely see it let alone identify it.  I was carrying my net by my side (I was looking for moths) and couldn't believe it when the hawker flew straight into it without me even taking a swipe at it.

Brown Hawker, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 3rd August 2020

Southern Hawker Aeshna juncea - Just one at the meadows, on 29th July 2019.  Singles at Foxley Wood on 17th August 2019 and 10th July 2020; also one in the garden on 4th September 2020.


Emperor Anax imperator - A relatively good crop of records at the meadows in 2019 with 6 on 21st June and recorded up to 5th July.  In contrast just one in 2020, on 20th June.  Also recorded at Winterton on 19th August 2019 and Whitwell Street on 12th August 2020.  Lesser Emperor (and Vagrant Emperor) still elude me in Norfolk, not that I've put a great deal of effort into finding them.

Emperor Dragonfly, Winterton, 19th August 2019

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GOLDENRINGS (family CORDULEGASTRIDAE)


Golden-ringed Dragonfly Cordulegaster boltonii - This was the Odonata highlight of my trip to Mull, a species I've only seen once or twice before.

Golden-ringed Dragonfly, west of Tioran (Mull), 10th June 2019

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CHASERS, SKIMMERS and DARTERS (family LIBELLULIDAE)


Four-spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata - One on Mull and 3 at Winterton were my only records in 2019 but if that was bad I drew a complete blank in 2020.

Four-spotted Chaser, Winterton, 19th August 2019

Broad-bodied Chaser Libellula depressa - None.  I've yet to find this species at the meadows and didn't record any at all in 2019 or 2020.


Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum - One at the meadows on 21st June was welcome after I failed to find this species there in 2018.  However there was no repeat in 2020 and I didn't see the species anywhere else either.

Black-tailed Skimmer, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 21st June 2019

Ruddy Darter Sympetrum sanguineum - At least 30 at Winterton on 19th August 2019 and a similar number at Thompson Common on 7th August 2020.  After 3 at the meadows in 2018 it was a shame I couldn't find this species there in either 2019 or 2020.

Ruddy Darter, Winterton, 19th August 2019

Ruddy Darter, Thompson Common, 7th August 2020

Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum - Small numbers at the meadows between 29th July and 9th October 2019 and between 12th August and 11th September 2020.  Also recorded at Foxley Wood and Winterton in 2019, and in my garden on 29th August 2019 and 5th and 11th September 2020.

Common Darter, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 15th August 2019

That's it for the dragonflies - you can return to the Dragonfly index

Agriphila latistria

On 8th September I went birding in east Norfolk.  While birds were my focus I always keep an eye out for moths and other interesting insectlife.  Only one moth today, kicked up from the Marram grass at Waxham, a White-streak Grass-veneer Agriphila latistria - only the second time I'd seen this very striking species.

White-streak Grass-veneer Agriphila latistria, Waxham, 8th September

A few dragonflies here including Migrant and Brown Hawkers.

Migrant Hawker, Waxham, 8th September

No great shakes among that evening's moth catch: 2 Dark-triangle Buttons Acleris laterana, 6 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, 3 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, 2 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Pale Straw Pearl Udea lutealis, Blood-vein, Riband Wave, Yellow-barred Brindle, Brimstone Moth, Light Emerald, 13 Large Yellow Underwings, 6 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 6 Square-spot Rustics, Centre-barred Sallow, 8 Flounced Rustics, Vine's Rustic, 2 Straw Dots and 2 Snouts.

This Peacock was roosting in the wood store:

Peacock, North Elmham, 8th September

Non-lepidopteran interest was provided by an Alder Spittlebug Aphrophora alni.

There were fewer moths on 9th September, though they did include my first Lunar Underwing of the autumn.

Lunar Underwing, North Elmham, 9th September

The rest were Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, 2 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer Agriphila geniculea, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Small Grey Eudonia mercurella, Common Marbled Carpet, 4 Large Yellow Underwings, 4 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 3 Square-spot Rustics, Centre-barred Sallow, 4 Flounced Rustics, 2 Vine's Rustics, Burnished Brass, Straw Dot and Snout.

Common Marbled Carpet, North Elmham, 9th September

10th September was quite a similar story with 6 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Garden Pebble Evergestis forficalis, Common Marbled Carpet, 2 Brimstone Moths, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, 7 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 2 Small Square-spots, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 4 Square-spot Rustics, 2 Common Wainscots, Lunar Underwing, Svensson's Copper Underwing, Mouse Moth, Vine's Rustic, 2 Silver Ys, 2 Straw Dots and Snout.

Not much more on 11th September: Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 3 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, 7 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, 2 Elbow-stripe Grass-veneers Agriphila geniculea, 3 Mother of Pearls Pleuroptya ruralis, 2 Common Plumes Emmelina monodactyla, 2 Common Marbled Carpets, Treble-bar, 4 Brimstone Moths, 2 Canary-shouldered Thorns, 5 Light Emeralds, 5 Large Yellow Underwings, 9 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Small Square-spot, 4 Square-spot Rustics, Lunar Underwing, Flounced Rustic, 2 Vine's Rustics, Burnished Brass and Snout.

Light Brown Apple Moth (male), North Elmham, 11th September

Treble-bar (female), North Elmham, 11th September

On 12th September I found Spindle Ermine Yponomeuta cagnagella and Silver Y at Burnham Overy before heading of to Great Yarmouth for the NMS event (which I've already written about).  At home it was much the same sort of numbers and quality as the past week: Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, 4 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, Red Piercer Lathronympha strigana, Marbled Piercer Cydia splendana, Marsh Grey Eudonia pallida, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Common Carpet, Green Carpet, Treble-bar, Brimstone Moth, Canary-shouldered Thorn, 2 Dusky Thorns, 3 Light Emeralds, 9 Large Yellow Underwings, 3 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 2 Square-spot Rustics, 3 Lunar Underwings, 2 Vine's Rustics, Burnished Brass and Snout.

13th September was really poor Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, 2 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Green Carpet, 4 Large Yellow Underwings, 4 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 4 Square-spot Rustics, 4 Lunar Underwings, 3 Flounced Rustics and Snout.

14th was marginally better, producing Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, Beautiful Plume Amblyptilia acanthadactyla, Garden Carpet, 2 Common Marbled Carpets, Green Carpet, Light Emerald, 7 Large Yellow Underwings, 7 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 3 Square-spot Rustics, White-point, 2 Common Wainscots, Centre-barred Sallow, 2 Lunar Underwings, 2 Flounced Rustics and 2 Snouts.

15th September picked up some more, though it wasn't exaclty heaving: Rhomboid Tortrix Acleris rhombana, 2 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, Common Marble Celypha lacunana, 2 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Garden Carpet, 3 Green Carpets, Tawny Speckled Pug, 2 Brimstone Moths, Canary-shouldered Thorn, Willow Beauty, Light Emerald, 12 Large Yellow Underwings, 8 Lesser Yellow Underwings, Small Square-spot, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 3 Square-spot Rustics, White-point, 2 Common Wainscots, 2 Centre-barred Sallows, 4 Lunar Underwings, Rosy Rustic, Frosted Orange, Vine's Rustic, Straw Dot and Snout.

Rhomboid Tortrix Acleris rhombana, North Elmham, 15th September

Rosy Rustic, North Elmham, 15th September

unidentified spider with Willow Beauty, North Elmham, 15th September - what's the spider?

On 16th September I was back up at Burnham Overy where butterflies included Small Copper and 6 Common Blues.  At least 4 Carnation Tortrices Cacoecimorpha pronubana were on the wing and I kicked up a migrant Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella from the dunes.  Also a Common Lizard seen.

Anyone know what sort of Puffball this is?

Puffball, Burnham Overy, 16th September

Fewer moths again at home that night: Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, 3 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, 2 Beautiful Plumes Amblyptilia acanthadactyla, Garden Carpet, Spruce Carpet, 2 Brimstone Moths, 2 Dusky Thorns, Light Emerald, 4 Large Yellow Underwings, 2 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 5 Square-spot Rustics, White-point, Common Wainscot, 4 Lunar Underwings and Snout.

Also a bug which I identified as Blepharidopterus angulatus.

Blepharidopterus angulatus, North Elmham 16th September

Clouded Yellow (f. helice), Archer's Dart and some dragons

A day birding at Burnham Overy Dunes on 29th August produced a few interesting insects - in fact probably better insects than birds.  Best among them was a Clouded Yellow butterfly, a whitish one so a female of the form helice.

Clouded Yellow (f. helice), Burnham Overy, 29th August

A good selection of other butterflies including 3 Small Coppers, 5 Brown Arguses, Grayling and 2 Wall Browns.

A few moths on the wing too including a day-feeding Archer's Dart.  I couldn't get any good pics of it feeding so here it is on a sheet of paper - much easier to photograph if slightly less natural-looking!

Archer's Dart, Burnham Overy, 29th August

Other moths included 2 Spindle Ermines Yponomeuta cagnagella, 3 Carnation Tortrices Cacoecimorpha pronubana, Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer Agriphila geniculea, 5 Straw-barred Pearls Pyrausta despicata, Common Carpet and Yellow Shell.

Several dragonflies on the wing too including these:

Ruddy Darter, Burnham Overy, 29th August

Common Darter, Burnham Overy, 29th August

Migrant Hawker, Burnham Overy, 29th August

Finally a Common Lizard rounded up the non-avian wildlife interest.