As summer begins its slow fade, August offers one last chance to witness the dazzling aerial displays of dragonflies. The air above London’s ponds, marshes, and heathlands is still alive with the powerful flight of hawkers and the swift manoeuvres of darters. Watch for pairs flying in tandem over the water, a mesmerising dance as the female lays her eggs. From the common darter in a garden pond to the mighty southern hawker patrolling a woodland ride, this is the final, spectacular chapter of their season.
Return on August 18th to find out where to see these magnificent winged predators before they disappear.
Article
Dragonflies
August is the last month to see substantial numbers of different dragonflies. They are often now noticed flying in tandem with females continually dipping down in undulating movements over water to lay their eggs. There are still plenty of hawkers and it is the best month to see darters. Damselflies tend to be noticed less now as many are coming to the end of their brief flight period. Many dragonflies spend as little as 2 or 3 per cent of their life as winged adults. Among the dragonflies some demoiselles, emperors, skimmers and chasers are also coming to the end of their flight periods. However, this can all change depending upon the weather.
The larger dragonflies we see tend to be hawkers that were flying last month and the small ones – darters. Brown hawkers are the most likely to be seen with migrant hawkers, both either patrolling in woods, along hedgerows or spending their time around large lakes. Southern hawkers are often encountered in woodland rides or gardens as they prefer to breed in woodland pools. The common hawker is best looked for around acid pools on heathland. Any green damselflies seen are likely to be emeralds. It may also be worth looking around the choked ditches on Rainham marshes for the scarce emerald. Any blue damselflies encountered are likely to be either the common, azure or blue-tailed. It is the common blue that tends to have the most striking colour.
The azure damselfly is more blue and black and the blue-tailed damselflies tend to just be blue at the end of their abdomens. Any yellow dragonflies are more difficult to identify in the field as they may be females or even immature males which may take some time after hatching to gain their full adult colours.
Darters are now even more common than last month. The common darter is possibly seen the most as it happily breeds in garden ponds. If the lake is well vegetated with some stands of reedmace, then it is worth looking for ruddy darters. Pools on heathland are the best places to look for black darters.
Fortunately, all three habitats exist in Richmond park and consequently all three darters can be found there. Other good places to hunt for dragonflies this month are Wimbledon, Bookham, Esher and Keston commons as well as Epping Forest and Rainham marshes.
