SOUTHERN EMERALD DAMSELFLY-PRIVATE SITE-NORFOLK

I went out this morning for a local walk over some farmland near where I was staying with friends and as I proceeded to walk the heavens opened so I took cover,hoping it would stop raining.I stood under a nearby tree and took shelter.I was in for the long haul so I opened a canned drink and rolled a cigarette and put the can down on a wooden post next to me.As I looked down a Damselfly had flown in on the wooden post,I couldn't believe my eyes,it was a male Southern Emerald Damselfly.I quickly grabbed my phone and managed to get some photographs and a video of it.

Southern Emerald Damselfly

Note the black and white pterostigma, nice bronzy bits on the thorax and the way the wings are spread out.It is known in some places as the Migrant Spreadwing.

I couldn't believe what I was watching a real rarity,right slap bang in middle of Norfolk.Southern Emerald Damselfly can be distinguish by its two-toned pterostigma (wing spots),Broad pale antehumeral stripes on the back of the thorax and has no blue colouration.''L. barbarus'' is a southern European species with a rapidly expanding range. It is found across southern Europe in a band across Spain, France, Italy and Greece to India and Mongolia. It is less common in northern Europe. It breeds in the Netherlands in coastal dunes and is increasing in number. It is at the edge of its range in the Channel Islands, where it has been breeding since 1995. It is also found in North Africa; it gets its Latin name as the first specimen was found in Barbary, North Africa. 

This species was first recorded in Britain at Winterton Dunes, Norfolk, on 30 July 2002.Looking around after the rain had stopped there was a small reedbed next to where I was stood and a stream flowing through the field so hopefully there could be more or was this the only one.I didnt have time to stop and look as the rain was now getting heavier and my friend came to pick me up but hopefully I will revisit the area again at the end of the week.