Dragonflies - July 2025

On 11th July I set out late afternoon to Blenheim on the search for Lesser Emperor dragonflies. I had seen one the evening before after a tip off from Ian Lewington who informed me Roger Wyatt had seen one or two earlier in the week. It seemed clear there were a good number around in the county and so likely there were more to be found at Blenheim given the size of the lakes. Without much effort I found at least two males at the north end of the Queen Pool. One in particular gave great views and allowed for some nice photos. Buoyed by the initial success I continued around the Queen Pool to the Main lake and found another couple in the area near Rosamund's Well. By this point I hadn't got to where I'd seen one the previous evening so I was delighted with the number I had found so far. I haven't yet seen any females but it seems likely there will be some breeding success given the number of males present. I headed round to the area of the Main Lake where I'd seen the Lesser Emperor the previous evening, expecting to see it and again, and possibly others. If it was still in the same area, I didn't see it. However, I wasn't too fussed having seen at least four up to that point. I continued along the path to what is known as Cannon Point. The Main Lake tapers off at here and there is quite a nice little reed bed and plenty of emergent vegetation. 

This area was busy with dragonflies and damselflies. Several Emperors, two or three Brown Hawkers, and a few Four-spotted Chasers. As I tried to pick out any more Lesser Emperors, my attention was drawn to a brown dragonfly flying quite low to the surface of the lake. Having already clocked some Brown Hawkers, this struck me as different somehow. It then landed on a piece of reed which allowed me to take a quick shot with my camera. I was then able to see that it was indeed different. I have never seen a Norfolk Hawker before, but am familiar with the basic ID differences with the Brown Hawker. This one had green eyes so it could only be a Norfolk, or Green-eyed Hawker, as it's also known. I couldn't quite believe it and had that initial pang of doubt that comes with ID'ing things you're not familiar with. After last year's individual found by Jeremy Dexter on Otmoor, it seemed inevitable with their increase in numbers that more would appear in Oxon, but definitely wasn't on my radar here. It flew around this small area on and off and I was able to get a flight shot. The green eyes weren't always obvious in flight but the clear wings were, which is the other obvious ID feature to separate them from Brown. As IDs go it was fairly simple so I was then confident to put it out on the Birding WhatsApp group. I didn't have much time so couldn't stay long to savour it. But quite a visit! I'd have been happy with the Lesser Emperors, so this was quite exceptional. With another hot day to follow I knew there would be a good chance of seeing it again the next morning.

I headed out about 9am following the same route again, clocking a few Lesser Emperors along the way. To some degree they had now been over-shadowed by the rarer species! I arrived at the spot and within minutes spotted the Norfolk Hawker again. It was almost constantly on view, perching occasionally on the emergent vegetation and aggressively defending what was clearly its small territory. It would regularly clash with Brown Hawkers as well as Emperors, and even chased a Chiffchaff at one point. So it was clearly established here. On one of its dashing flights to intercept a dragonfly entering its patch it looked to me like it was chasing a very similar looking insect. But as is the case with these things, they are so quick and trying to keep tabs on two at once is very difficult. But I briefly thought there might be two, as unlikely as that seemed. I couldn't confirm it with any other obvious interactions though. I was then joined by Adam to share the enjoyment and we stood and watched it patrolling right in front of us, almost constantly in view. This allowed me to take some more flight shots. On reflection, I now know this one was the second insect, although didn't realise at the time. Having read a bit more about the species, males can have territories in quite close proximity to one another which is unusual for Hawker species. This second insect wasn't quite in the same spot as I had watched the first one, but it wasn't so far away as to make it obviously a different insect. The first one also wasn't flying about at this point, although being so focused on one probably distracts from what's around it. Adam and I then headed back to towards the Main Lake to look for Lesser Emperors. The sunlight was very harsh by this time and although we did see one or two they were mainly out over the water giving unsatisfactory views. I then headed home and sorted through the many photos. It then struck me that I had photos of two different insects. I am assuming both are male. The second insect looks to have a slightly longer and darker abdomen than the first and its frons more prominent. These may just be artefacts of the light, however. The clear difference was in the wing damage. Although it wasn't out of the question a single insect might have acquired some damage over the course of me watching it, if this was only a single insect, it had healed damage on one of its wings in that time too! So it had to be a second insect. That then confirmed my brief suspicion in the field and fitted with the slight change in position of the second insect. I see from reports today that there has been two seen again. So an even more remarkable record! Hopefully they remain for a while to allow all those who want and need to see them to do so. 

This and the one below are Insect 1. This is the same insect as shown in the photos above. There is some quite obvious damage near the tip of its left forewing. Its other wings lack obvious damage.

This and the images below are of Insect 2. The left forewing lacks any obvious damage unlike Insect 1. And both right wings have obvious damage, unlike insect 1.