In my continued efforts to try to see all the regularly breeding Dragon/Damselflies and Butterflies in Hampshire this year I visited Hatchet Small Pond on 14th June hoping for Large Red-eyed Damselfly which soon showed itself in the windy and cool conditions but little else of note was seen.
Sunday, 15 June 2025
Hampshire Dragonflies and Butterflies - Hatchet Small Pond 14th June and Parkhill Inclosure 15th June
Saturday, 14 June 2025
Hampshire Dragonflies - Pig Bush 14th June
A visit to Pig Bush and to the Rowbarrow bog for Four-spotted Chaser, a common species in the New Forest which I had so far failed to see. There were several fresh individuals bombing around the bog with Keeled Skimmer and Large Red Damselfly also seen.
Friday, 13 June 2025
Martin Down National Nature Reserve - 13th June
Thursday, 12 June 2025
Hampshire Dragonflies - Hatchet Moor and Testwood Lakes 11th and 12th June
My next spring target in my quest to see all the regular Hampshire Odonata and Butterflies were Downy Emerald and Scarce Chaser. Hatchet Pond is a reliable site for the former and so after a survey on 11th June, but in less then ideal conditions, I stopped in the NW corner of the pond and quickly located a couple of Downy Emerald, despite the suboptimal conditions they refused to stop and were continuously patrolling back and forth low over the water. An immature male Emperor Dragonfly and Common Blue Damselfly also braved the wind and cloud.
Tuesday, 10 June 2025
Hampshire Dragonflies - Hatchet Moor and Crockford Bridge 10th June
With a good selection of the spring butterflies under my belt it was time for me to head to a couple of New Forest sites to get my Hampshire Odonata list underway in my quest to see all the regular butterfly and Odonata species in the county.
I started at Hatchet Small Pond to the south of the main Hatchet Pond where the only new species for the year was Black-tailed Skimmer, but I did also see Azure Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly.