First Common Darters at North Cave Wetlands

I had an early morning trip to North Cave Wetlands. Already by 7:10 am there was a Male Black-tailed Skimmer feeding by the east path, it was already that warm. The ponds were quiet in general this early, only damselflies active, but there was an emerging darter, presumed Common, on the easternmost pond. A few more Common Darters (sp. 18 of the Yorkshire Dragonfly Challenge) were making their maiden flights, still weak, and trying to conceal themselves in the vegetation, as opposed to their exposed perching when mature.
In my walk on the north and west side of the reserve I came across at least three Brown Hawkers flying. After a walk around the reserve I returned to the dragonfly ponds, then was about 9:00, warmer and the dragonfly activity had increased significantly, with at least 3 male Emperors patrolling the western ponds, Four-spotted chaser an a mature male Common Darter, and an Emerald in the eastern pond right right at the end of the visit. I casually watched as a male Brown Hawker (top shot) landed on the stem of a bramble nearby, the first one I see stationary! It stayed long enough for a few photos.

Emerging Darter, I presume common. 

A teneral Darter with colours still subdued, hanging from vegetation as opposed to their usual perching.

A female Black-tailed Skimmer.

Twin-lobed Deer Fly, Chrysops relictus mating. Not my favourite insect!

Six spot burnet moth.

Male Black-tailed Skimmer.

Mating Common Blue Damselflies.

A mature male Common Darter.

Male Four-spotted Chaser. They were very active with several males in some ponds.

The westernmost pond had the largest number of species, with Emperor, Black-tailed Skimmer, C. Darter and two damselflies in attendance.

After some relentless patrolling, this male Emperor decided to take a break...

...and then another.

A male Emerald Damselfly on the easternmost pond.

A very fresh looking Painted Lady on Ragwort. There were many Small Tortoiseshells about, Ringlet Large White, Speckled Wood, and Small Skippers.

The River Hull at Snakeholm Pastures

I headed to Wansford and Snakeholm Pastures, a sunny, very warm morning. I tried to stay on exposed, breezy sites as horseflies were very aggressive, and took any opportunity to attack when I was holding the camera with both hands. I first had a little walk around Wansford, Driffield Navigation and the Mill Farm lake.

A school of Minnow near the bridge.

Roach and...

Brown Trout in Driffield Navigation

The only things of note on the lake were a family of Pied Wagtails with three fledglings and a Little Grebe.

Little Grebe.

Pied Wagtail.

 After that I walked by the river side on Snakeholm Pastures. An Oystercatcher flew over, and a Lapwing looked alarmed on an almost dry pond on the opposite shore. They were the only waders of the day.

 I was surprised to see a hunting Barn Owl in broad daylight, almost in the very same spot as last year during my walk on the River Hull. I watched it again on the way back, where it appeared to be hunting on a meadow. I saw a Kingfisher three times in my walk, as they were flying up or down river.

Dragonflies
I was very pleased to spot two Banded Demoiselle males patrolling along the riverbank. They didn't settle so I couldn't take photos. The same stretch of river was also hunted by a Brown Hawker, I only managed some poor flight shots as it was very active and didn't settle. I was luckier with Ruddy Darters, and damselflies, including my second Emerald Damselfly of the year. Altogether 7 odonata species.

A female Ruddy Darter perching in the obelisk position. This is a characteristic behaviour of sunny days adopted by dragonflies that hunt using the sit-and-wait strategy from a favourite perch and minimises the exposure of their abdomen to the sun.

A male Ruddy Darter on the obelisk position.

Male Ruddy Darter.

Female Ruddy Darter.

Mating Azure Damselflies.

Female Emerald Damselfly

A poor shot of one of the hunting Brown Hawkers. Their name doesn't make them justice as they look like burnished brass in the sunshine

Butterflies
Several species on the wing, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Small and Large Skippers, Ringlet and Meadow Brown. Several silver Y as well, which didn't settle.

Small Skipper.

Small Tortoiseshell.

The river was looking particularly stunning today, with the water crowfoot in bloom and the water very transparent.

 

Damsels and dragons at Noddle Hill

The warm spell continues, and after lunch I headed to Noddle Hill, to watch dragonflies. This local nature reserve on Bransholme has a fishing lake with plenty of marginal vegetation and several ponds, including one with a pond-dipping platform. The site was much drier than usual and the water level was low in some ponds. Male Black-tailed Skimmers sat on pretty much each fishing pontoon and they were surprisingly approachable.

At least three Four-spotted Chasers were also on the NW side of the pond, these favouring the tip of yellow flag leaves to keep watch.

This Four-spotted chaser had a few mites on its abdomen.

A male Emperor Dragonfly patrolled low over the water and a female was egg laying. It caught some larger prey and appeared to land on the trees, but I couldn't locate it.

Emperor patrolling and hunting.

 I walked around the reserve. By one of the ponds a single Emerald Damselfly (top shot), my first of the year and a nice addition to my year Yorkshire List. A Ruddy Darter was also about, and then I found another my the fishing lake, squabbling with a Four-spotted Chaser.

Ruddy darter, male.

Female or immature male Ruddy darter.

There were plenty of Common Blue, Black-tailed and Azure Damselflies, mating and ovipositing on the shore of the fishing lake and the pond-dipping pond.

Blue-tailed Damselfly.

Ovipositing Azure Damselflies.

Mating Azure Damselflies.

Common Blue Damselflies in tandem.

 Overall, a nice outing from a site well known for its dragonfly diversity, with 8 of the 14 species recorded active today.