On the 18th of June, somebody visited Silverlake in Dorset and photographed two teneral Scarlet Darters. This dragonfly species is very rare, typically found in southern Europe and throughout Africa. I attempted to see them at this site last year, but when I arrived, the weather was overcast, and I could not spot them.
After finishing work early this morning in Oxfordshire, I made the two-hour journey, arriving around lunchtime on a day filled with promising heat and sunshine.
Silverlake
Upon my arrival at the lake, it didn’t take long before I spotted my first Scarlet Darter. Then another one appeared, and within the first few minutes, I had four flying in front of me—unbelievable!
As I circled the lake, I spotted 12 Scarlet darters, 8 of which were striking males.
The first recorded sighting of the Scarlet Darter in Britain occurred at Kimbro Pool on The Lizard in Cornwall on August 7, 1995. Since then, only a few additional sightings have been reported in various locations across Britain. It is believed that global warming has played a role in this species' northward expansion.
While searching for Scarlet Darters, I came across several other species, including the Small Red-eyed Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Black-tailed Skimmer, Emperor Dragonfly, and a male Lesser Emperor. This species is found throughout southern and central Europe and has gradually spread north. It was first recorded in Great Britain in 1996, where it has since successfully bred.
A superb afternoon, and nice to catch up with some familiar faces on site before starting the journey home.
