Amazingly another four keeled skimmers at Bickershaw Country Park today, with a male and female in the reedbed on Nevisons and two more males and possibly a female on the stream between New Water & Nevisons. The keeled skimmers from two weeks ago were only the 2nd record ever from Greater Manchester and only the 2nd ever in either Lancs or GM away from the uplands! No idea what's going on, but that's at least six individuals on site, even assuming that the two on Nevisons today are the same as those that were there two weeks ago!
Yeah amazing Colin, I've highlighted the ponds for you, they are obscured by flowers and plants just head off the new road and you'll see them. Cheers Scott.
Wow that's amazing! I wonder what's going on? I don't know Bickershaw all that well beyond Nevisons and New Water so not really sure where the the ponds are that you mentioned.
-- Edited by colin davies on Friday 11th of July 2025 08:15:00 PM
I've also had two Keeled Skimmers today in the ponds dug out by the new road, we gets lots on Mull but was a nice find today, lots of Gatekeeper on the wing, Small Skipper, Small Heath seen. Common Darter, Broad Bodied Chaser, Four spotted Chaser, lots of Damselflys about aswell. Single White Plume Moth and some lovely 6 Spot Burnets too.
With a sunny day forecast and temperatures due to reach the low 30's I decided to head to Bickershaw Country Park in the hope that I might see a few dragonflies and possibly reconnect with the recent Norfolk hawkers that were there in June.
What I was certainly NOT expecting to find was a male keeled skimmer which performed well right in front of me. So far as I can tell this was only the 2nd or 3rd keeled skimmer ever in Greater Manchester. If that wasn't surprising enough, I was even more amazed when a female suddenly appeared from nowhere and the pair hooked up and proceeded to mate!
This is a species of moorland and peat bogs and the closest breeding populations are in the Lake District where I have seen them previously. An unbelievable record.
Incredible to spend the afternoon in the presence of at least 6 Norfolk hawkers at Bickershaw CP today. Is this a range expansion from Amberswood where they have been seen for at least the past 3 yrs or an influx from Europe due to the current weather systems? I'm not sure, but wow! Nice one for finding them Gordon.
At least one Norfolk hawker still present yesterday afternoon in less than optimum conditions. Sadly I can't match Gordon's photos but still easily identifiable.
This species has been at Amberswood for at least the past three years and is probably breeding there. It would be great if this this is an expansion of the breeding range, though I suppose it could just be an invasion from elsewhere given the recent southerly airflow.
Got to be worth a second look at any large brown dragonflies elsewhere in the county during this period of warm sunny weather which is forecast over the next week or two.
Thanks to Gordon for the tip off.
-- Edited by colin davies on Monday 16th of June 2025 05:59:39 AM
Think it's a species of Ichneumonid Wasp .... notoriously difficult to id David ... 2500 species in UK alone .... give you something to do during dark winter nights.
Roger.
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