Today, the 18th of May, was warm and fine, the water temperature just right for the emergence of huge numbers of Damselflies from the river bed. Terrific winter floods, with huge logs carried downstream like matchsticks, seemed to have scoured the banks and river bed of all life and growth, but recovery was rapid and river plants and wildlife have been thriving.
During the past few days, luxurious river bank vegetation has grown to provide just the right conditions for damselflies, dragonflies and the insects they thrive on. Stems of reeds and grasses to climb up out of the water and hazel and nettle leaves to perch on and dry out. Last year's dry nettle stalks were popular perches for the heavier Dragonflies to cling to whilst waiting for prey.
Orange Tip butterflies were still ranging along the river banks.
A Female Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly perches of a fresh Hazel leaf on the river bank together with many more in various stages of emergence. They have a very light butterfly-like flight and are found on clean, fast flowing rivers.
Our river here is certainly fast-flowing!
A newly emerged male Banded Demoiselle Damselfly warms up in the sun on a nettle leaf nearby the one above and can be found on slow-flowing muddy rivers as well.
Suitable habitats for both species can be found along the same river here, with fast flowing stretches and more sheltered, slow flowing meanders.
The river bank, on this stretch covered with flowering Cow Parsley
after the Wild Garlic has finished. A favourite area for Mallard and Moorhen to spend time foraging unseen in the river below.
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