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DRAGONFLY NEWS
In the dragonfly world, the most significant event of 1995 was an 'invasion' of migratoiy
'darter' dragonflies of the genus Sympetrum. So far reports for the UK suggest landings
of considerable numbers of the Yellow-winged Darter (Sympetrum flaveolum) at Great
Yarmouth, Dungeness, and numerous other sites along the East coast up to N. Yorkshire.
The landings were first noted on the 1st of August, with as many as 600 being reported
from a cemetry in Yarmouth on the 3rd. With these were other migratory species,
including S. danae, S. striolatum, and S. sanguinium, which are also resident species in
Britain. Two other very uncommon migratoiy species were also present in small numbers
: S. fonscolombei (Red-veined Darter) and S. vulgatum (Vagrant Darter).
I have been trying to collate records from Essex, and from information gathered so far, it
seems that there were also landing-points on the Essex coast. For S. flaveolum, the
earliest record is from Woodham Fen (TQ 7997) on July 23rd. (J. Hurley). Since this is
more than 20km. inland, it supports the suggestion by Jill Silsby, of the British Dragonfly
Society, that there was an earlier 'mini' invasion, prior to the early August arrivals. Small
numbers (2-4) of S. flaveolum were next noted at Old Hall Marshes on August 4th, 5th,
and 6th (I. Hawkins). Meanwhile approximately 18 were seen at Colne Point (TM1012)
on August 6th (N. Harvey), and 4-5 seen at the same site on the 9th. August (N. Cuming).
Further inland, three (all males) were seen at the Backwarden reserve, on Danbury Ridge,
(TL7803) on August 6th (P. And K. Gash), and 2 at the same site on 9th August. Another
was seen by B. Watts on 6th. August at Willowfield Farm irrigation reservoir, Tiptree
(TL983148). There are several further records from the Danbury complex:
Pheasanthouse Wood and Poors Piece in mid August (P. Palmer), Hitchcock's Meadow,
also in mid-August (J. Howchin), and Little Baddow Heath on 16th August (G. Pyman).
Another was seen at Fingrinhoe Wick (TM0419) on 12th of August (B. Watts). In late
August, there was a sighting of S. flaveolum at Epping, and also S. danae was seen at
Speakman's Pool in the forest (A. McGeeney). The latest sighting so far reported was 3rd
September, at the Backwarden (P. and K. Gash).
So far there is only one fully confirmed sighting of S. vulgatum in Essex this year. This
was at Colne Point on 9th. August, and was a female (N. Cuming). These records are
consistent with a small 'invasion' of S. flaveolum in early or mid July, followed by a
larger-scale arrival at the beginning of August and subsequent dispersal inland. The
apparent persistence of individuals at the Backwarden, and possibly at the other sites on
the Danbuiy Ridge gives rise to speculation that they may have found conducive habitat
there. Even though only males were recorded, it is possible that females were also present
and unrecorded. It will be interesting to look out for the species at these and other sites
next season, just in case successful breeding may have occurred. I would be most
interested to hear of other records of the migratoiy species in Essex, and of any evidence
of breeding behaviour.
Among our resident breeding species, there is relatively little evidence of major changes
of status since The Dragonflies of Essex (1988). However, one exception is the Hairy
Dragonfly, Brachytron pratense. In the late 1980s this was known from only one breeding
site - Langenhoe Marsh (TM0316), though there were early records from the Epping
Forest area and also from the Chelmer/Blackwater in mid Essex. On 13th June, 1989 a
female of the species was observed at Bradwell (TM 9905) by R. Dewick and G. Pyman.
This was followed by another sighting on the Dengie peninsula, this time of at least 4-5
individuals at Twizzlefoot Bridge (TQ9797), near Burnham-on-Crouch, on 21/5/92 (B.
O'Dowd). During this period systematic searches were made of possible sites in N.E.
Essex, but without success. However, in 1994 up to 10 individuals of the species were
recorded by Ian Hawkins on Old Hall Marshes between 31st May and 17th June. These