Report for the London Natural History Society, Ecology and Entomology Section AGM: 15 November 2016
Summary for 2016:
Average year for most resident regulars not helped by indifferent weather in the first half of the season.
Highlights include at least 2 male Lesser Emperor at Hilfield Park Reservoir+ also a single date record of a female of this species photographed at Rainham RSPB. Surprisingly no records of Red-veined Darter this year- disappointing after 3 years worth of records from the Round Pond + seen ovipositing last year.
20+ Scarce Emerald Damselflies at Hertford Heath + still present at Rainham.
Max of 3 male Brilliant Emerald reported from Black Pond, Esher Common. Esher Common is a very important site; also supporting good numbers of Black Darter, Keeled Skimmer + Small Red Damselflies.
Just outside our area an amazing record of a Norfolk Hawker at Amwell. Used to be restricted to Norfolk Broads but spreading in parts of Norfolk + neighbouring Suffolk + recent colonies now established at Paxton Pits, Cambridgeshire + near Stodmarsh, Kent. One to look out for in the coming years. No LNHS records of Southern Migrant Hawker this year but some good counts in the Thames estuary outside our border.
Story of the year is the spread + consolidation of recent colonist, the Willow Emerald Damselfly which was first recorded in our area in 2013. Records this year received from 13 sites + no doubt overlooked at others due to its behaviour of spending time perched up on bushes/trees. Highest count received was from Wimbledon Common. Most of the south London boroughs now have records + I anticipate this will become a widespread resident in the next few years.
A full report will appear at a later date in the London Naturalist.
Neil Anderson
