The Dragonflies of Strensall and Foxglove Covert

Freshwater Keith Gittens Habitats Trust and Anne Carter Contents Forward

Forward 3 Strensall and Foxglove Covert Local Nature Reserve are Strensall 4 Freshwater Habitats Trust Flagship Pond Sites. Part of a network Foxglove Covert 7 of the very best of Britain’s ponds; sites of exceptional importance for freshwater wildlife and some of our finest freshwater General features of dragonflies and damselflies 9 habitats. The Flagship sites can be a single special pond, or more Life cycle of dragonflies and damselflies 10 commonly group of ponds, selected because they support rich, often irreplaceable, communities and species at risk of extinction. Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens) 11 They represent some of the least impacted, most diverse pond Emerald Damselfly (Lestes sponsa) 12 habitats remaining in the country. Keith Gittens Keith Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) 13 Many of our nation’s most beautiful and biodiverse waterbodies Southern Hawker Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella) 14 have degraded irrevocably, and it’s critically important that the Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum) 15 remaining sites are well protected and well managed. In 2015, with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Freshwater Habitats Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans) 16 Trust launched the Flagship Ponds project, working with land Red-eyed Damselfly (Erythromma najas) 17 managers and community groups to ensure that the most critical Small Red-eyed Damselfly (Erythromma viridulum) 18 pond sites in Britain were protected for the long term. Common Hawker (Aeshna juncea) 19 This book has been published with the aim of enabling people Gittens Keith Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) 20 visiting these, immensely important Flagship Pond Sites in Emperor Dragonfly Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) 21 North Yorkshire, to identify the dragonflies and damselflies they Brown Hawker (Aeshna grandis) 22 encounter - by reference to a simple text and photographs. It Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator) 23 should also inform those visiting the site of the location of the majority of freshwater habitats. Golden-ringed Dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii) 24 Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata) 25 Please help to protect Strensall and Foxglove Covert for Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa) 26 dragonflies and damselflies and other wildlife by following these three simple rules: Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) 27 Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) 28 1. Ensure your footwear is cleaned and disinfected before visiting Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum) 29 this protected area; Black Darter (Sympetrum danae) 30 2. Enjoy the network of ponds from a safe distance remaining on Gittens Keith established tracks and paths and avoid entering the water; Golden-ringed Dragonfly 3. Always keep your dog’s under control and out of the water Author’s note 31 (and on a lead between March 1st and August 31st during the bird nesting season). Following these simples instructions will prevent disturbance to Acknowledgments Freshwater Habitats Trust would like to thank Defence Estates, Forestry England and Natural England who wildlife and reduce the spread of non-native invasive plants provided support and permitted access to these sites during the Flagship Ponds project. Their management of Strensall Common and wildlife diseases. and Foxglove Covert has consistently sought to minimise impacts on the dragonfly populations and other freshwater wildlife of these sites and where possible to enhance them for biodiversity. We must also thank Ken Crick, a dragonfly recorder at Bramshill SSSI in More information on the Flagship Pond project, access Hampshire, who first developed the concept of a Flagship Ponds Dragonfly booklet, and whose notes on species identification we restrictions to these sites, and data on the damselflies of Strensall have used for this publication. and Foxglove Covert can be found here:

Cover/back cover images: Keith Gittens, Paul Ashton, Chris Abbott, Bob Crick. freshwaterhabitats.org.uk/projects/flagship Copyright of the photographs and diagrams in this publication remain the property of the author unless otherwise stated. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior permission of the copyright holder.

2 3 Strensall Close to the City of York, in North Yorkshire, Strensall is a 579 hectare Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It is one of only two extensive areas of open heathland remaining in the Vale of York and represents 1% of the national habitat resource. In recognition of this importance, the site is notified as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

he heathland is dominated by iconic As well a supporting an array of rare and Tspecies; Cross-leaved Heath Erica threatened species, the site also supports tetralix and Purple Moor-grass Molinia a rich assemblage of Odonata including caerulea are common on wetter ground, eleven dragonfly and eight damselfly whilst Ling Heather Calluna vulgaris species. predominates on the drier areas. The site The most accessible pond is located close also consists of a mosaic of other habitats to the car park off Lords Moor Lane. This including acid grassland, woodland, and sheltered pond is well worth a visit as many a network of wetlands including mires, of the more common dragonfly species ditches, ponds and winter wet trackway can be seen. Early in the season Large Red pools. These smaller ponds and pools are Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula and Four- some of the most ecologically interesting spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata habitats on the site, supporting national are notable. Later on, all three darter rarities like Pillwort Pilularia globulifera, species can be seen, while Common Hawker Pond Mud Snail Omphiscola glabra, Marsh Aeshna juncea males patrol the margins Stitchwort Stellaria palustris and Tubular and Emerald Damselflies Lestes sponsa Water-dropwort Oenanthe fistulosa. perch amongst the rushes. In total thirteen Increasingly scarce species such as Lesser species are regularly recorded. Water-Plantain Baldellia ranunculoides, One of the oldest and largest ponds on Slender Sedge Carex lasiocarpa, Great the site, Kidney Pond, has been in existence Crested Newt Triturus cristatus, and since at least the 1890’s. Currently, only Common Toad Bufo bufo can also be found around 5% of the original pond area is on the site. visible as a crescent shaped area of open The majority of the site, which is known water, whilst the majority of the basin is as Strensall Military Training Area, is now occupied by possibly the best and most owned and managed by the Military of extensive example of floating fen habitat Defence, and it’s purchase by the War in lowland England. A variety of Dragonfly Office in 1884 has almost certainly ensured species including Southern Hawker Aeshna its survival and protected it from ploughing cyanea, Brown Hawker Aeshna grandis and and conifer plantations. The period of Ruddy Darter Sympertrum sanguineum can military occupation has also helped to be found around the pond. create many of the ponds, including several World’s End, to the East of Strensall excavated in recent years for conservation Military Training Area, is a Site of purposes. Some of the oldest however, Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC), probably originated as peat cuttings and and is considered to be one of the most clay pits, creating more permanent ponds important non-statutory wildlife sites in the alongside the many winter wet pools which City of York. Managed by Forestry England,

are a natural feature of heathland habitats. the 42 hectare site consists of a mosaic of Gittens Keith

4 5 Foxglove Covert Foxglove Covert Local Nature Reserve is he Friends of Foxglove Covert, a Tvoluntary group started in August owned and managed by the Military of 2004, carry out much of the management Defence and covers 40 hectares of moorland work on the reserve, helping to maintain the wildlife habitats and operate the Field at the edge of Catterick Garrison, North Centre. Yorkshire. In April 2001 the area was The reserve has a remarkable mix declared a Site of Local Nature Conservation of habitats including semi-natural woodland, willow and alder carr, Importance (SLNCI), the first Local Nature coniferous woodland, heathland, flower- Reserve in Richmondshire, and the first rich grassland, wet meadow, streams and ponds, with the most diverse on Ministry of Defence land in the UK. and important habitat for freshwater The overall management of the site is biodiversity comprising a complex of the responsibility of the Foxglove Covert ponds known as The Wetland. The complex includes a number of old shallow pools Management Group which is made up of very high quality, some of which dry of representatives of the Richmondshire out naturally every year, and a suite of connected ponds created in 2009, which District Council, MoD and Natural England. are fed by water abstracted from a spring. The reserves wildlife rich ponds support several of Britain’s most endangered Strensall Dragonflies: freshwater animals, including Great Crested Newt Triturus cristatus, Water Damselflies Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens Emerald Damselfly Lestes sponsa Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans Gittens Keith Red-eyed Damselfly Erythromma najas fen meadow, wet grassland, heathland and Small Red-eye Damselfly Erythromma viridulum pond and ditch habitats. It is particularly well known for dragonflies. In 1985, the Dragonflies area which now includes the ponds, was Common Hawker Aeshna juncea planted with Corsican Pine. The pines were Migrant Hawker Aeshna mixta felled between 2003 and 2005, and as part Southern Hawker Aeshna cyanea of the heathland restoration project, the Brown Hawker Aeshna grandis ponds were dug to increase the diversity of habitats available on the site and to link with Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator the nearby ponds on Strensall MTA. As well Four-Spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata as the five common species of damselfly, Broad-bodied Chaser Libellula depressa both Red eyed Damselfly Erythromma najas Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum and Small Red-eyed Damselfly Erythromma Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum viridulum breed here, making this one of the Ruddy Darter Sympetrum sanguineum most northerly breeding sites in the UK for Black Darter Sympetrum danae these species. Gittens Keith

6 7 Dragonflies and Damselflies

ragonflies and damselflies changing direction in the blink of Dragonflies are robust fast Dzipping around a pond, lake an eye, even flying backward. flying insects whose wings, when at or river are the essence of warm All dragonflies and damselflies rest, are held at 90 degrees to the sunny summer days. Their often belong to the order Odonata, body. The front pair of wings are a brightly coloured bodies flash an ancient group of insects that different shape to the hind wings. by, leaving the watcher slightly have been around for some 250 They have large compound eyes mystified as to what they have million years. The order is split which encompass a high percentage just seen and where it has gone. in to two sub-orders, Anisoptera, of the head. They are the helicopters of the the dragonflies, and Zygoptera the Damselflies are generally much insect world, highly maneuverable damselflies. smaller insects with slim bodies, weaker flight and all four wings of similar size and shape. Their eyes Dragonflies - Anisoptera are well separated to either side of Costa Frons a more rectangular head. Wings Node are folded along the abdomen when Head at rest.

Thorax Pterostigma

1 2 Damselflies - Zygoptera

3 Antehumeral stripe Separated eyes Pterostigma

Segments 1 to 10 4 Prothorax Abdomen Foxglove Covert Dragonflies: Covert Foxglove 5 6 Antehumeral Vole Arvicola amphibious and a small stripe unassuming Pond Mud Snail Omphiscola Damselflies 7 Emerald Damselfly Lestes sponsa 1 glabra, which is a specialist of high quality 8 2 ponds and an indicator of ancient wetland Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula 9 habitats. Delicate rare plants like Pillwort Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella 10 3 Pilularia glabulifera and Marsh Stitchwort Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum Segments 1 to 10

Stellaria palustris can also be found. Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans 4 The reserves nature trails will take you Anal Appendage past many of the ponds giving opportunity Dragonflies to see the variety of dragonfly and Glossary Common Hawker Aeshna juncea 5 damselfly species that can also be found in The stage of larval Southern Hawker Aeshna cyanea Abdominal Segments: Antehumeral Stripes: Instar: the spring and summer months. A total of The abdomen consists of Coloured stripes often development 6 fifteen species have been recorded from this Brown Hawker Aeshna grandis 10 segments often with present on the front of the Node: Point of a slight kink Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator fantastic reserve including the impressive distinctive markings. thorax which can vary in in the leading edge of the 7 black and yellow Golden-ringed dragonfly Golden-ringed Dragonfly Cordulegaster boltonii Anal Appendages: Often length and width. forewing. Cordulegaster boltonii, the females of which Four-Spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata called claspers, these Costa: The leading edge Prothorax: A shaped 8 appendages protrude of the wing which can plate behind the eyes on are the longest dragonfly in the UK. The 9 Broad-bodied Chaser Libellula depressa from the end of the vary in colour. damselflies. more abundant species include Common Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum abdomen and vary in Exuvia: A shed larval Pterostigma: A coloured Hawker Aeshna juncea, Four-spotted Chaser Ruddy Darter Sympetrum sanguineum shape. Males use these exoskeleton. segment on the leading edge Libellula quadrimaculata and Emerald Black Darter Sympetrum danae appendages to clasp the Frons: The face of the of the wing towards the tip. Damselfly Lestes sponsa. female during mating. insect. Teneral: An immature adult.

8 9 Life cycle Calopteryx splendens Banded Demoiselle

Only recorded at STRENSALL

Mating

Adults - just emerged Female - laying eggs

Top Tips One of our largest damselflies, Mature larvae its fluttering flight is pronounced crawls up a by the dark blotch on the wings plant stem of the male making it easy to Type laid in Type scattered

stems freely recognise. Ashton Paul Male Larva Eggs he life cycle is dependent on a Male Body metallic blue/green, Tsupply of fresh water in which the iridescent with a dark blue-black larvae live until ready to emerge as “thumb print” of variable size on Length = 45mm. an adult insect. A strong population metamorphosis takes place while egg-lay in tandem, the male retaining each wing. of these insects at a water body is a the larva is still under water. It its grasp on the female, in other good indicator that their environment then emerges from the water species the females egg-lay alone. Wing span = 61-65mm. is clean and healthy. often climbing a plant stem before Female Metallic green tinged with bronze; Once mated the females, splitting open the exoskeleton Tips on Observation wings pale green with white depending on species, use one of two to allow the immature adult to To aid observation of dragonflies marks towards the tip of the Female methods of oviposition. They may emerge. Once the wings are fully and damselflies it is useful to carry wing’s leading edge. lay their eggs freely, usually over opened and hardened the insect a pair of close focusing binoculars. open water but sometimes round the can take its maiden flight. Moving Identification of species can be made Habitat Occasionally lives out a full life margins, or place eggs individually away from water the immature easier by the taking of digital photos cycle in still water but more in to plant material. This may be insect will look for warm sheltered which can then be blown up on a usually on slow flowing rivers and submerged, floating or above the spots with plenty of other flying computer screen. streams with muddy bottoms. water line. insects to eat. On maturity only Tenerals are often drab but Eggs may hatch within a few weeks then will an adult look to return to change colour as they mature, or, in later species, often do not hatch water to breed. the males in particular becoming Distribution Occurs on the nearby River Foss at until the following spring. Copulation is unique in Odonata, brighter and developing in an Strensall, with occasional records The speed of larval development the males using their anal array of different colours. Females of wandering individuals on the is dependent on species and appendages to grab the females and tenerals can look very similar Common. No records for this environmental conditions. Some take behind the head before coupling requiring care on identification. species at Foxglove. just a few months but it can take as can take place. The coupled pair The dark often black patterning is long as five years. creating an outline in the shape of consistent through the life of Flight Period Mid May to September. Once the final install is reached a heart. Once mated some species many species. Ashton Paul

10 11 Lestes sponsa Emerald Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula Large Red Damselfly

Top Tips Usually the first species to emerge. Mostly from the end of April / early May but occasionally individuals are found in early April. Paul Ashton Paul Male Male Deep red abdomen with fine black Top Tips When active you will usually find banding at the segment boundaries. Emeralds perched among the Segments 7 – 9 have bronze/black Paul Ashton Paul upright stems of rushes with banding on the upper surface. Male their wings partly open. Length = 38mm. The legs are black, as is the thorax Length = 36mm. which is clearly marked with two Male Mainly metallic bronze green but Wing span = 40-46mm. red stripes. with eyes, sides of the thorax, Male wing span = 40mm. segment 1, 2, 8 and 9 all pastel Female Obviously larger than the male. Female wing span = 48mm. blue. The abdomen may be up to three

Female times as thick. The amount of red Metallic green, no blue markings, Female and black on the abdomen varies, Female sides of the thorax and abdomen while most commonly around buff to straw coloured. Wings two thirds red to one third black, clear, distinguishing it from the there are three darker forms female Demoiselle. varying from around 50% black to all black. Habitat On most of the sites water bodies, both ephemeral and permanent. Habitat Ditches, streams and still water bodies. Distribution Common across both sites, particularly where rushes of Distribution Occurs across both sites in Juncus species grow. virtually all water bodies.

Flight Period Late June to Early September. Flight Period April to August. Keith Gittens Keith Ashton Paul

12 13 Coenagrion puella Azure Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum Common Blue Damselfly

Top Tips The first of our two blue damselflies, it prefers to keep Top Tips Our second blue damselfly close to the margins of ponds and prefers to spend much more lakes where there is plenty time out over open water, where of vegetation. the females will egg lay in to submerged vegetation. Male Bearing a “U” shaped mark on

the second abdominal segment. Ashton Paul Male The antehumeral strips are very Blue with black markings, Male broad. Abdominal segment 2 is Paul Ashton Paul Male segment 8 blue, segment 9 has marked with a mushroom shaped another truncated “U” at its base. symbol. Towards the tip of the The thorax is marked with fine abdomen, segments 8 and 9 are Length = 32mm. Length = 33mm. antehumeral stripes. all blue, like a bright blue barrel.

Wing span = 36-42mm. Wing span = 41mm. Female Can be found in two colour forms, Female Can be found in three colour the abdominal background colour forms, the abdominal background will be either blue or pale green. colour will be blue, straw or drab green. The upper abdominal Female The upper abdominal markings Female are mainly black, segment 2 markings are mainly black, each bearing a clipped thistle emblem shaped like a bomb or rocket.

Bob Crick and segment 8 a black square. Segment 8 bears a black triangle.

Habitat On and around floating and Habitat Tends to have a preference for marginal vegetation, rarely strays large bodies of water but not far from water. exclusively so.

Distribution Common across both sites, most Distribution Common across both sites. commonly where there is plenty Immature individuals can often of marginal vegetation. be found far from water.

Flight Period Mid May to August. Flight Period Mid May to mid October. Paul Ashton Paul

14 15 Ischnura elegans Blue-tailed Damselfly Erythromma najas Red-eyed Damselfly

Top Tips Our smallest damselfly, the Only females have a number of recorded at different colour forms needing STRENSALL care with identification. Check for the bicoloured pterostigma.

Male Dark body with blue near the tip of the abdomen (8th segment only). Top of the thorax is dark with fine blue stripes. Noticeable fine pale rings define each segment.

Female Mature females maybe very similar to the male, only longer overall and with a thicker abdomen. In some females the thorax may change to drab green or brown as they mature and the blue abdominal segment become Top Tips A fairly robust damselfly, the obscured. Immature females’ males are usually observed thorax may be coloured violet or holding territory on floating

red pink. Gittens Keith Gittens Keith vegetation. Male Male Habitat Tolerant of some low levels of Male A dark species with bright red pollution, will use running and Length = 31mm. Length = 35mm. eyes and a blue tip at the end of its standing water. abdomen, segments 9 and 10. The

Wing span = 35mm. sides of the thorax are also blue. Distribution Found across both sites at any Wing span = 38-48mm.

water body. Female Female Dark, almost black from head to tail and with dull red eyes. The Flight Period Early May to Early September. sides of the thorax and underside are pale green. There are partial Immature Female - violet form Immature Female - red/pink form antehumeral stripes on the thorax.

Habitat Water bodies with slow or no flow; with floating vegetation such as water lilies and pondweed.

Distribution A recent coloniser of Strensall Common. To date only on the ponds at Worlds End.

Flight Period Mid May to mid August. Chris Abbott Ashton Paul Paul Ashton Paul

16 17 Erythromma viridulum Small Red-eyed Damselfly Aeshna juncea Common Hawker Length = 74mm. Only recorded at STRENSALL Wing span = 95mm.

Top Tips A recent coloniser to the UK and Yorkshire. Small Red-eyed is late on the wing, in general not being seen before July. Top Tips The yellow costa of this dragonfly Male A dark species with bright red helps to separate it from the eyes and a blue tip at the end of slightly smaller Migrant Hawker. its abdomen, segments 7 to 10 are Chris Abbott Male marked with blue. The sides of the Male A mainly, dark brown dragonfly thorax are also blue, the colour, with blue and yellow markings, less obviously extending onto with an excessively waisted Length = 30mm. abdominal segments 2 & 3. abdomen and narrow full length antehumeral stripes. Female Dark, almost black, from head Wing span =32-40mm. to tail and with dull eyes. The Female A lighter shade of brown but June Gittens June thorax upper surface usually without the excessively waisted Male carries complete, buff coloured, abdomen of the male. The Female antehumeral stripes. Female abdominal spots may be yellow, green or blue. The antehumeral Habitat Favours water bodies with floating stripes may be considerably

Paul Ashton Paul vegetation such as water lilies, shorter than those of the male. pondweed and algal mats. Habitat Prefers acid to neutral waters Distribution Only recently recorded at from heathland pools to larger Strensall Common on the ponds lakes. at Worlds End, where evidence of breeding has been recorded. Distribution Common across both sites.

Flight Period July to September. Flight Period Mid June to the end of September. Chris Abbott

18 19 Aeshna mixta Migrant Hawker Aeshna cyanea Southern Hawker

Length = 63mm. Length = 70mm.

Wing span = 87mm. Wing span = 100mm.

Top Tips The late summer hawker; often Top Tips The hawker dragonfly with which gregarious when feeding away you are most likely to have a close from water. Slightly smaller than encounter as they feed along other hawkers. woodland rides and hedgerows.

Male A Medium sized dragonfly Male Brown, green and blue but the with steel blue eyes and short large yellow/green antehumeral antehumeral stripes. In flight stripes are the most obvious the abdomen appears to be diagnostic feature. The green predominantly blue. At rest a sometimes blue dots along the yellow triangle outlined in black abdomen merge into solid blue and punctuating the large blue banding on segments 9 & 10. band, can be seen on the second segment of the abdomen. Female All brown with yellow markings that mature to green with the Female Brown with yellow markings exception of the triangle on the throughout. Has the same short second abdominal segment that antehumeral stripes and the remains yellow. The build of triangle on segment two is more female’s abdomen is significantly nail like. The two anal appendages more bulky. are notably long.

Keith Gittens Keith Gittens Keith Habitat Prefers more sheltered ponds Habitat Favours ponds containing tall Male Male often with shaded margins. marginal vegetation such as Female Female Common Reed, Bulrush or Flag Iris. Distribution At Strensall; mostly recorded on Kidney Pond and the wooded pond Distribution At Strensall most frequently near Galtres Road Car Park. recorded at Worlds End. At Foxglove; Voley Pond is a Currently no known records for favoured spot but also on The Foxglove although the lake Scrapes and Main Lake. should be suitable habitat. Flight Period Late June to Early September. Flight Period Late July to the end of October. Keith Gittens Keith Gittens Keith

20 21 Aeshna grandis Brown Hawker Anax imperator Emperor Dragonfly

Length = 73mm. Length = 78mm.

Wing span = 102mm. Wing span = 107mm. Paul Ashton Paul

Top Tips A strong flier, the male of this Top Tips This unmistakable large brown dragonfly rules supreme as dragonfly has a relaxed gliding he patrols a pond, although flight as it patrols on warm skirmishes with rival males are summer days. common.

Male Glowing ochre wings & blue Male Solid apple green thorax with two highlights in the eyes, stand out blue eye-like markings on the top. against a dark brown body. Males The blue abdomen has a black set up temporary territories stripe running the full length. The patrolled at about head height, leading edge of the wing is yellow. usually over water. It flies with a distinct downward curve of the abdomen. Outer anal Female A more robust version of the Male appendages are wide.

male, with abdominal yellow flank Gittens Keith markings, in contrast to the blue Male Female Apple green thorax and abdomen of the male and often a yellow Female with a wide black stripe running cast to the eye. its full length. Anal appendages are long and fine. Older females may Habitat Has a preference for ponds and develop a blue abdomen. lakes with well vegetated margins. Females will often egg lay in to Habitat A pioneer species which is not rotting wood as well as other too fussy about habitat, but plant debris. some vegetation, particularly submerged plants, is necessary. Distribution At Strensall most frequently recorded at Worlds End and Distribution Highly dispersive, this species Kidney Pond. Occasional records can be found just about anywhere. for Foxglove but not thought to Regularly recorded at both sites be breeding. but more so in hot summers.

Flight Period Mid June to mid October. Flight Period Early June to end of August. Female Gittens Keith Ashton Paul

22 23 Cordulegaster boltonii Golden-ringed Dragonfly Libellula quadrimaculata Four-spotted Chaser

Length = 74-85mm. Length = 43mm.

Wing span = 80-100mm. Wing span = 76mm.

Only recorded at FOXGLOVE COVERT

Top Tips A striking dragonfly and one of the largest British species. The females have a unique in-flight egg-laying technique allowing Top Tips While drab in colouration this them to push eggs in to the fine dragonfly can cause much gravel of stream beds. excitement as it can be abundant on ponds, resulting in many Male Pale yellow face, tear shaped clashes between males. green eyes that just meet to make a point contact. The thorax and Male Easily identified by the dark abdomen are black with yellow Gittens Keith brown appearance and distinctive stripes / bands. The end of the Male wing spots. The abdomen is abdomen is swollen giving a tapered to the rear with yellow clubbed appearance. marks on the flanks of each Paul Ashton Paul segment. The anal appendages Male Female Similar to the male only longer turn outwards. and more robust, with a very Female prominent egg laying tube which is Female Female Only close inspection of the anal clearly visible in the photo. appendages will separate the sexes. The anal appendages are Habitat Found on small gravel bottomed separate tending towards one streams that have slow to another the further they get from moderate flow rates and which are the abdomen. over hung with grasses and ferns. Habitat Can occur on almost any water Distribution Recorded along the rides at body. Likes taller marginal Foxglove. Small streams flowing vegetation on which to perch. off the moor are suitable breeding habitat. Distribution Widespread at both sites.

Flight Period Early June to the end of August. Flight Period Mid May to mid August Keith Gittens Keith Paul Ashton Paul

24 25 Libellula depressa Broad-bodied Chaser Orthetrum cancellatum Black-tailed Skimmer

Length = 44mm. Only recorded at Wing span = 76mm. STRENSALL

Top Tips Often uses a prominent perch on Top Tips This species has a distinctive low which to bask, returning to the skimming flight over the water same perch in between and prefers to perch on bare flying sorties. ground and stones.

Male There are rich dark brown wing Male An all brown thorax, pastel blue patches adjacent to the thorax. abdomen tipped with black. The brown thorax bears two Freshly matured males have white antehumeral stripes, these yellow scallop marks on both Paul Ashton Paul white marks are repeated at each Male sides of each abdominal segment;

Chris Abbott wing junction. The abdomen is these disappear over time. The Male flat, broad and pale blue with Length = 42mm. wings are clear with yellow marks on the flanks of a black pterostigma. each segment. Wing span = 60mm. Female Females & immature males have a Female The abdomen appears more Female yellow abdomen with longitudinal Female swollen and is olive brown with black bands. The ageing female yellow spots. Otherwise markings darkens to a steel grey with a are similar to the male. hint of blue. Paul Ashton Paul

Habitat Often found on smaller ponds but Habitat Has a strong preference for sites not exclusively. Can be an early with bare open margins of soil, coloniser of new ponds. stones and short vegetation.

Distribution On Strensall; most regularly Distribution Limited distribution at Strensall recorded on Horse Pasture Pond. where it has been most frequently At Foxglove noted at the recently recorded at Pillwort Pond. No created wader scrape. known records from Foxglove.

Flight Period May to early August. Flight Period Mid May to mid August. Keith Gittens Keith

26 27 Sympetrum striolatum Common Darter Sympetrum sanguineum Ruddy Darter

Top Tips One of our most abundant Top Tips The brighter red colouration and dragonflies often lingering late in all black legs separate the males

to autumn. Will readily bask on Chris Abbott of this species from the slightly you during cooler conditions. Male larger Common Darter. Chris Abbott Male The abdominal colour is variable Male All brown hairy thorax, with a Male from orange to red. The legs are waisted and club shaped, blood Length = 37mm. black with a yellow stripe on the red abdomen. The wings are clear Length = 34mm. outer sides. The thorax is brown with some yellowing at the roots, Wing span = 57mm. with yellow patches on the flanks. the legs are black and the area in Wing span = 55mm. The wings are clear with barely front of the eyes is red. There are a hint of yellow at the point of no yellow patches on the flanks of contact with the thorax. the thorax. Female Female Female Has the same brown thorax with Female A yellow dragonfly with black legs. yellow patches on the flanks. The The flanks of the thorax are all abdomen is straw coloured with yellow interrupted only by a fine black darts on the flank of each black line. segment. Antehumeral stripes may or may not be present. Habitat Prefers shallow ponds, often with well vegetated margins in to Habitat Occurs on many ponds and which the females will egg lay. lakes, also slow flowing rivers and canals. Distribution At Strensall, widespread across the common. Occurs at Foxglove Distribution Widespread across both sites. but in lower numbers.

Flight Period Mid June to end of October. Flight Period Late June to end of October. Chris Abbott Bob Crick

28 29 Sympetrum danae Black Darter Authors note Keith Gittens With a family background of over 100 years in horticulture, Keith grew up in an environment of plants and flowers and at home developed an interest in birds. Continuing on that tradition by following his own career in horticulture meant the long working hours gave little opportunity for bird watching. A move from the North-West to North Yorkshire and a change in career path gave him the opportunity to spend time ‘out in the field.’ He quickly became involved with volunteering for the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust at Ashberry Pasture and Garbutt Wood, both within the North York Moors National Park. Here he developed ID skills on a variety of flora and fauna but became particularly attracted to the Dragonflies seen around nearby Lake Gormire. He soon started to travel further afield to see Dragonflies and became a member of the British Dragonfly Society and the Yorkshire Dragonfly Group. As his experience grew, he became County Dragonfly Recorder for the vice-counties of NE and NW Yorkshire. He is currently chair of the Yorkshire Dragonfly Group and Ryedale Natural History Society.

Top Tips The all black males of this small

dragonfly can often be difficult Ashton Paul to spot as they hover over dark Male Anne Carter peaty pools. Anne has a longstanding interest in freshwater habitats following a childhood spent hanging around ponds in a pair of wellies searching for frogs, newts and toads. She Male A small black dragonfly with Length = 32mm. originally trained and worked as a Commercial Interior Designer before her love of all a waisted abdomen. Yellow things nature urged her towards a career change. After working as a Voluntary Officer markings on the thorax and Wing span = 47mm. with The Conservation Volunteers she completed a degree in Countryside Management abdomen when immature. and subsequently embarked on a career in Nature Conservation. She joined the team at Freshwater Habitats Trust in 2015 as the Northern Project Officer, and after helping Keith Female A small straw yellow dragonfly deliver training courses for FHT, developed a keen interest in Dragonflies. She is a member with black legs and a black Female of the British Dragonfly Society and the Yorkshire Dragonfly Group, and alongside Keith, triangle on the top of the thorax. helps to lead Dragonfly walks on Strensall Military Training Area and World’s End. There are small ochraceous patches on the wing’s at the junction with the thorax.

Habitat A strong preference for acid peaty Freshwater Habitats Trust is one of the UK’s principle research and conservation charities pools found on heathland and for the protection and recovery of our most endangered freshwater habitats and species. moorland. We work in partnership to develop and deliver practical advice to help people manage and create new clean water habitats for wildlife. Distribution Common across Strensall. Records at Foxglove are limited and mainly from the wetland. Freshwater Habitats Trust Flight Period Late June to end of October. Paul Ashton Paul www.freshwaterhabitatstrust.org.uk Registered charity number 1107708 30 31 Freshwater Habitats Trust Copyright 2019