DAINTY DAMSELFLY-OARE MARSHES-FAVERSHAM-KENT

I finished work midday today and drove to Oare Marshes near Faversham in Kent. I had never visited this reserve before and needed the Dainty damselfly for my list.

Oare Marshes

Walking along the inland side of the reserve towards Dan's dock, I enjoyed great views of Ruddy Darters, Scarce Chasers, Scarce Emerald Damselflies, Black-tailed Skimmers, and two Norfolk Hawkers.

Ruddy darter

Scarce Emerald Damselfly

Black-tailed Skimmer

When I reached Dan's dock, I could hear Marsh Frogs calling. I couldn't believe my eyes; I counted 37 individuals.

Dan's Dock

The Marsh frog is Europe's largest frog, naturally found in a wide range across Europe and east into Asia. They are not native to the UK, but a small number were released at a site in Kent in the 1930s and were able to survive in the wild. Over the next few decades, they spread into the surrounding wetlands and can now be found throughout the southeast of England. Their spread was aided by more people releasing marsh frogs into the wild, and some scattered populations exist in other parts of the UK. Releasing Marsh frogs into the wild is now classed as a criminal offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Among the Marsh frogs that were sitting out in the open were the Dainty damselflies—around fifty present, some in tandem and others in the heart-shaped copulation wheel.

The Dainty damselfly is only found in Kent, with green-yellow underside markings. Male: “wine-goblet” shaped marking on segment 2 below the wing base.Female: “rocket-shaped” markings on the abdomen.

The Dainty Damselfly was recorded in the Hadleigh area of Essex between 1946 and 1952, but became extinct there after the severe coastal floods in early 1953. The species successfully recolonised in England around 2010, specifically in the Isle of Sheppey area of north Kent. This population has remained generally stable; however, a new site was discovered in the Sandwich Bay area of Kent in 2019.

After great views of the damselflies, while walking back to the car, I noticed a Yellow wagtail nearby.

Well, that's another damselfly added to the list and another great site visited!