SCARLET DARTER-KNIGHTON RESERVOIR-SILVERLAKE-DORSET

On 18th June, a visitor to Silverlake in Dorset photographed two teneral Scarlet Darters (Crocothemis erythraea), a very rare dragonfly species typically found in southern Europe and across Africa. I had attempted to see them at this site last year, but overcast weather prevented any sightings.

After finishing work early this morning in Oxfordshire, I made the two-hour journey, arriving around lunchtime under a promising sky of heat and sunshine.

Silverlake

It didn’t take long to spot my first Scarlet Darter, and soon another appeared. Within the first few minutes, four were flying before me—absolutely unbelievable. As I circled the lake, I counted a total of twelve Scarlet Darters, eight of which were striking males.

As I circled the lake, I spotted 12 Scarlet darters, 8 of which were striking males.

The first recorded sighting of this species in Britain was at Kimbro Pool on The Lizard, Cornwall, on 7 August 1995. Since then, only a handful of additional records have been made across the country. Its recent northward expansion is thought to be influenced by global warming.

While searching for Scarlet Darters, I also encountered several other species, including Small Red-eyed Damselfly (Erythromma viridulum), Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum), Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans), Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum), Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator), and a male Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope). The Lesser Emperor, originally from southern and central Europe, was first recorded in Great Britain in 1996 and has since established successful breeding populations.

It was a superb afternoon, made all the more enjoyable by catching up with familiar faces on site before heading home.