This weekend in Preston area

[Colin Adams]

Yesterday, Large Red Damselflies (at Hurst Grange Park), Broad-bodied Chasers (at Priory Meadow and Howick Hall Farm) and (probably) Four-spotted Chaser (at Howick Hall Farm) were all still flying in Penwortham. I also saw my first male Emerald Damselfly (Allen and I saw three females near Grindleton last Sunday) of the year at Howick Hall Farm. 

Before that, I had the early morning (pre 9 o'clock) please of seeing a Banded Demoiselle and one or two Brown Hawkers as I walked downstream alongside the Ribble from Preston to the docks to do my shopping. This is where the Ribble is tidal.

Today at Brockholes was very windy. On top of that, there was no access to the best part of the site (the pools on far east), so I am unable to say for sure that  Large Red Damselflies, Broad-bodied Chasers and Four-spotted Chasers were not flying there - just that I didn't see any. Likewise for Emerald Damselfly.

I did see 8 species though (but only 1 Azure of each sex). Brown Hawkers were abundant. Common Blue Damselflies were super-abundant, Blue-tailed Damselflies less so, but still common. Emperor and Black-tailed Skimmer both had a few flying. Common Darters were very numerous, mostly in the shelter of trees, but I saw all age groups - many tenerals through to ovipositing tandems and even one female who was already reddening.

Banded Demoiselles were flying on the river where I could find a little shelter for them, and a few were on Brockholes itself.