Hampshire Dragonflies and Damselflies - Ober Water 29th June

In really hot and humid conditions during the UK's second heatwave of the year I wandered Ober Water looking for White-legged Damselfly and Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly. The stream was absolutely heaving with Odonata and despite the heat it was an amazing location with Beautiful Demoiselle, White-legged Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly, Small Red Damselfly, Southern Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly, Red-eyed Damselfly, Emperor Dragonfly, Gold-ringed Dragonfly, Downy Emerald and Keeled Skimmer being recorded - 12 species in total. Of my targets, White-legged Damselfly was present in abundance with many mating pairs while Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly was only seen in one small area (centred around 50.834124, -1.638628) with three males present. I was pleased to get back to the air conditioned car!

Beautiful Demoselle or the rare Hampshire Purslane

Small Red-eyed Damselfly

Large Red Damselfly

Downy Emerald - A rare view of a perched individual

White-legged Damselfly

White-legged Damselfly

Blue-tailed Damselfly

Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly

Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly

Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly at Latchmore Bottom - 14th July

The Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly is a species I have looked for on a number of occasions in the last few years, unsuccessfully, in the New Forest although in the past have seen at a number of sites elsewhere in the UK. But today I nailed it. I had a fairly specific site that I had gleaned from the internet at Latchmore Bottom to the south-east of Fordingbridge. After searching various areas that I thought might be suitable as I walked eastwards from the car park at Ogdens farm I realised that this was a bit nonsensical and decided to head straight for my 'known' spot and go from there. On arrival the weather conditions were somewhat windy and overcast and my optimism began to wain but quickly I saw Blue-tailed Damselfly and then Small Red Damselfly and I realised that all was not lost. And then, I came across a rather dull female Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly and then a rather stunning immature female of the 'form' aurantiaca, this is actually a development phase of the species. I then came across a mating pair and finally an adult male. I spent the next hour or so getting great views of the species seeing around 10 males, six females and three of the form aurantiaca.

Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly (adult male) - Latchmore Bottom, Fordingbridge

Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly (adult male) - Latchmore Bottom, Fordingbridge

Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly (female) - Latchmore Bottom, Fordingbridge

Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly - Latchmore Bottom, Fordingbridge

Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly - Latchmore Bottom, Fordingbridge

Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly (immature female of the 'form' aurantiaca) 

- Latchmore Bottom, Fordingbridge

Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly (immature female of the 'form' aurantiaca) 

- Latchmore Bottom, Fordingbridge

Habitat at Latchmore Bottom supporting Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly. The species was moving around in the wettest area of the bog low amongst the Bog St. John's-wort, Cotton-grass, Purple Moor-grass and Jointed Rush

Bog Asphodel - Latchmore Bottom, Fordingbridge