In the BDS Dragonfly Week I travelled to RSPB Geltsdale in Cumbria in the hope of seeing a golden-ringed dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii). It was a long hot dusty walk in from the car but as soon as I reached Howgill Beck I saw a male patrolling the stream. He settled for only a couple of seconds, just long enough for me to take three shots. I think he has some kind of insect in his mouth and so had been hunting.
I saw two more but neither of them settled so I didn't get a photo to match last year's pictures of the female.
On the way to Geltsdale I visited Muckle Moss. The first time I went there I fell through the floating bog and was very lucky to get out again. This time I was more careful and carried a stick and only one camera. There were several male common hawkers (Aeshna juncea) patrolling and fighting but I never saw one at rest.
One of them obviously broke off from the fighting for long enough to mate as I also saw one ovipositing female.
I was pleased to get away from Muckle Moss unscathed this time. It is a magical place but is quite a challenge. Walking across the floating unstable bog is hard work and the dragonflies seem to fly ceaselessly. There are quite a few stunted trees around but I have never seen a dragonfly at rest there.
And so this morning I went to Muckle Moss, a National Nature Reserve 2 km south of Housteads Fort on Hadrian's Wall, as the dragon flies. Unfortunately just after arriving I fell in, or rather sank in up to my waist. I managed to get out with some difficulty. Could have been dodgy. I saved both cameras from the water but the iPhone was in my pocket and is u/s. I decided to stay but it was a soggy enterprise. At least the water was warm.
Muckle Moss is a beautiful place and is dragonfly heaven. There are several deep ponds surrounded by a unique peat bog. There were darters, hawkers, chasers, damsels and an emperor. Lots and lots of common blue damsels, large red damsels, emerald damsels and four-spotted chasers. The male common hawkers were on constant patrol at the water's edge but never paused for a photo so this was the best I could manage.
The females were more helpful when ovipositing.
The male black darters were happy to pose.
This is a female black darter ovipositing.
I'll be back another time, with only one camera, a waterproof case for the phone, and a change of clothes!
