Having fallen in love with Norfolk once again after an absence of more than 20 years, and my boss having run off back to Italy for a third week this year, this time in the company of her mother, I decided to return to Norfolk, just me and our caravan, Billy. I chose Norfolk not specifically for Odos – the Norfolk Hawkers (Aeshna isoceles), after all, were long gone – but more because it appeared to be the part of the country that would enjoy the best chance of settled weather during my visit.
The weather did turn out to be mostly sunny. Indeed, I enjoyed five days of mainly sunshine which was more than I could say for my Italian adventurers. Of course, with dry sunny conditions, I couldn’t resist seeing what dragonflies I could find but this late in the season I was really only ever expecting Common Darters (Sympetrum striolatum) and Migrant Hawkers (Aeshna mixta).
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I had a very pleasant late afternoon walk beside the River Ant from Ludham Bridge and ended up at the staithe on the river front just outside the How Hill estate.
- Sympetrum striolatum (Common Darter)
Having enjoyed the peace and solitude of Alderfen NR so much back in June, I just had to return and see who was around. Once again, it was just me and the Odos: more Common Darters (Sympetrum striolatum) than I could count and several Migrant Hawkers (Aeshna mixta). This place really is a delight.
- Aeshna mixta (Migrant Hawker)
- Sympetrum striolatum (Common Darter)
Johnson Street Campsite: 29 Sep 2013
I’d spotted a few individuals on the campsite back in June but, since they were less than a handful, I didn’t map them. Once again, I was in the company of Odos which added the the total species count so now I’ve included it.
- Aeshna mixta (Migrant Hawker)
- Sympetrum striolatum (Common Darter)
Winterton Dunes NNR: 29 Sep 2013
Wnterton Dunes has a reputation for rare wildlife, including Natterjack Toads, which we set of to see and failed to find during our June visit. In fact, we failed to find the correct area of the dunes themselves. In the Odonata line, my still-to-be-seen Small Bluetail/Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura pumilio) has apparently also been reported there. Of course, it was much too late in the year for that but I thought I’d make another visit anyway, just to try and find the correct location once and for all. I’m still not entirely sure I did, largely because my suspect pond had largely dried out. My trudge through the sandy dunes did disturb a few Common Darters (Sympetrum striolatum), though.
- Sympetrum striolatum (Common Darter)
My return visit to Upton Broad and Marshes was curtailed by too many unpleasant clouds rolling in. Still, it added the now familiar two species to my location list.
- Aeshna mixta (Migrant Hawker)
- Sympetrum striolatum (Common Darter)
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