As we head into the middle of November encounters with adult dragonflies in Cornwall will become a rare event. Indeed their smaller cousins the damselflies will have all disappeared at least a month ago.
New late dates added 7th December 2008
However it is still possible that 4 or 5 species may still be on the wing even at this late stage in the year. Late dates include, 21st November 1999 for the Southern Hawker – Aeshna cyanea, 10th November 1996 for the Common Hawker – Aeshna juncea, 3rd December 1994 for the Migrant Hawker - Aeshna mixta, 18th November 1998 for the Red Veined Darter – Sympetrum fonscolombei, and 6th December 2004 for the Common Darter – Sympetrum striolatum.
Of course the Common Darter is the most numerous of the species that hang on late into the Autumn and at this stage the survivors tend to seek out little pockets of warmth in sheltered spots where there is a beneficial micro climate. Quite often this will be in a bright reflective area, and sometimes the darters are tempted to land on those who are watching them perhaps enjoying the warmth of the human body. However as a folically challenged dragonfly recorder I have found that my attraction to dragonflies is in fact a mutual thing, and that my bright reflective head is highly attractive to an out of season darter! This particular individual wouldn’t move until I had got up and walked some distance, eventually flying off as I passed into shade!
If you come across any late flying dragonflies this autumn and would like to share your sighting do let me know via the Contact Steve section of this site.
2008 Reports of late Dragonflies
Since this article was originally posted I have had a few reports of fairly late dragonflies on the wing, although I'm not quite sure that Clive's Emperor reported from sunny Andalucia (below) quite qualifies! (Thanks Clive!).
Leon Truscott has reported a Southern Hawker on the wing at Seaton Valley on the south coast of east Cornwall on the 19th November and an even later Common Darter at the same location on the 3rd December, (thanks Leon).
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November the 7th here in Grazalema, Andalusia and we still have those great Anax imperator flying around. Mind you they are looking a little frayed around the edges now and they seem to be resting more on bushes and even on the ground amongst grasses.