Scarce Chaser (Male) - Libellula fulva

 

Four-spotted Chaser - Libellula quadrimaculata

Click to enlarge. Not a great picture but a record none the less.!

 

Common Darter

 

Scarce Chaser Dragonfly

This is a first for me either at Longbeach Farm or anywhere. Pleased to add another species of dragonfly to the list of Longbeach residents.

The extra picture below is a follow up to a previous picture of recently emerged Dragonfly exoskeleton only this time it seems that this stem of Reed mace was very popular with several dragonflies selecting it as their preferred exit route. 

Dragonfly Emergent Exoskeleton

 

Returned home from work and noticed that there were at least 6 Emperor dragonfly cases on the reedmace and flowering rush plants in the pond. They must have all decided to hatch overnight or during the day as they were not there the day before. A shame I missed them emerging and expanding their new wings to take to the sky.  Given my pond is only a year old I thought that I would not see emergent dragonflies for a couple of years. I had seen the larval forms swimming in the pond last year, but assumed they needed to mature for a few years before they would emerge. Better do some research to check my facts!  

Get the Habit, habitat!

Hedgehog heaven!

Habitat stack 1

Habitat stack 2

Habitat stack 3

Habitat stack 4 by the pond

'Build it and they will come' 

Clint (Our East wood) was too overgrown and some diseased Ash trees needed to be removed. While I hate cutting down any tree (most trees), I thought I would put the wood to good use and make some wildlife friendly habitat log piles for insects, newts and hopefully provide some wood that will be useful for stag beetle larvae. We live in hope. I am taking the  build it and they will come approach to managing my 6 acres for wildlife. This stack is at the top of the pond and in a rough area of grass adjoining the wood.

 

Emperor Dragonfly

This female Emperor dragonfly is laying her eggs just under the surface on this pontederia (pickerel) weed plant. Several males and females can be seen in dogfights over the water surface.