Only a few days ago I was raving about how many dragonflies and damselflies were around. Little did I know that this warm sunny weather was going to prove the catalyst for one of the most spectacular dragonfly days at Minsmere.
This morning our wardens radioed into the visitor centre to report not one, but several, sightings of red-veined darters around the reedbed areas of the reserve. This dragonfly is a scarce immigrant from Europe, where it is a common and widespread species. It does occasionally breed in the UK, but appears to be unable to survive our cold winters on a regular basis.
It's been a few years since the last red-veined darter arrived at Minsmere, so reports of at least six different ones today was very exciting (though rather overshadowed by an incredible 27 in one field further down the coast at RSPB Hollesley Marshes!) One was regularly patrolling an area between South Hide and Wildlife Lookout for much of the day, but sadly eluded me when I looked this afternoon. I haven't seen red-veined darters in the UK, so I'm rather hoping that they hang around long enough to see them during our Bioblitz, which runs from Saturday for nine days throughout half term.
Today was also notable for the first Norfolk hawker dragonfly of the year and a mass arrival of red admiral and painted lady butterflies from Europe.
Will anything else unusual arrive on these southerly winds?
Photo via Google Images