Not some fairy tale or even about Game of Thrones but about Dragon & Dasmselflies! I took a trip to the old Mollington golf course, thats been deserted for some years, withMark, primarily to look at the Southern Marsh Orchids and Bee Orchids that grow there. Planning has been given for 6 houses on the site of the old clubhouse and as part of the mitigation the developers are saying they will develop the old course as a public amenity area.
What struck us was the sheer number of Dragonflies and Damselflies in and around the various ponds on site. The warm sunny weather has certainly helped them proliferate.
Azure Damselflies were by far the commonest but we also had Blue-tailed and, a new one for me, Red-eyed Damselfly.
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| Red-eyed Damselfly |
Blue-tailed Damselflies were also present but I couldn't get a clear enough photo.
Black-tailed Skimmer is also fairly common on site and we saw good numbers of this species that has gradually extended its range north and westwards.
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| Black-tailed Skimmer |
Four-spot Chasers were by far the commonest of the Dragonflies and gave good views as they patrolled their territories and occasionally perched up.
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| Four-spot Chaser |
We are also saw several Emperor Dragonfies and these also occasionally perched up allowing good photo opportunities.
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| Emperor Dragonfly |
A great site with lots of potential - if the developers keep their word and get it right! There were plenty of Common Blue butterflies on the wing and we also came across a day flying Mother Shipton moth.
As well as the orchids and invertebrates the site holds good numbers of Red listed bird species- especially Linnets, but there was also singing Grasshopper Warbler & Greenfinch. Common Whitethroats were everywhere and this is an Amber listed species along with singing Sedge Warblers, Willow Warbler, Bullfinch Song Thrush, Wren & Dunnock!
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| Sedge Warbler |
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