Libellula fulva (Odonata) in Essex
Ted Benton, 13 Priory Street, Colchester COl 2PY
The Colchester naturalist W. H. Harwood reported seeing a specimen of L. fulva at
Colchester in 1900. So far as I am able to establish it was not seen again in the county
until two reported sightings in 1997 and 1998 by John Pepper and Tony Gunton,
respectively, at the EWT reserves of which they are wardens (Stanford Warren and
Cranham Marsh) (Tony Gunton, pers. comm.). Also, in July 1997 Ian Johnson
reported seeing two males near Nayland, on the boundary between Essex and Suffolk.
Following up this latter sighting Steve Cham discovered a sizeable breeding
population along the River Stour between Bures and Nayland during 1999 (Journal of
the British Dragonfly Society, march 2000). Another sighting in 1999 of the same
species on the river Colne at Earls Colne prompted me to search several stretches of
the Colne in spring of this year. Most of these searches were affected by continuing
poor weather during the flight period, but on 12/6/00 I observed a female of I. fulva
settled on a part-submerged fallen branch of a tree. Flying nearby were two or three
teneral individuals of what were almost certainly males of the same species. It seems
likely, therefore, that a small breeding population exists at this site, very close to
Colchester.
It has also been reported (BDS newsletter Dragonfly News, 37, Spring 2000, and
Atropos 9), that a new species to Britain has been found at three undisclosed sites in
Essex. This is the Small Red-eyed Damselfly Erythromma viridulum. It would appear
that the Essex population may have immigrated from the Netherlands or elsewhere in
north west Europe, but seems to be established as a breeding species at least at one site.
Field Club visit to the Cole Memorial Meadow and Howlands Marsh
EWT nature reserve. General meeting no. 1428, 21st May 2000
Dr Jeremy Dagley, 82 Whitehall Gardens, Chingford, E4 6EJ
It was a rainy start so typical of this spring, and the warm greeting by members of the
St. Osyth Historical Society with generous amounts of tea and biscuits, was very
welcome. About 8 or so of our Club members were present, including Reg Arthur, to
admire the newly restored gravestone of William Cole (1844 - 1922), one of the
founders of the Club. There was also a small display put on by the Society, which
made an interesting read over refreshments.
In addition to the memorial itself we were able to do some recording of the plants,
fungi and birds of the "meadow" that has been encouraged to grow over a large part
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Essex Field Club Newsletter No. 33, September 2000