A new species of dragonfy has arrived in VC55. More...

Ian Merrill writes:

On 19th June 2025 the first Green-eyed Hawker, Aeshna isoceles, for VC55 was recorded on the Grantham Canal, close to Redmile. With a historic English name of Norfolk Hawker, this gorgeous dragonfly was once restricted to the fenlands of Norfolk and Suffolk, however the distribution atlases have been re-written in recent years. Climate change has accelerated a westwards expansion, with the first appearance in Northants two years back. Its arrival in our recording area is therefore not unexpected but a new dragonfly in VC55, with an Odonata list limited to just thirty species, is clearly something of a momentous event!  The Grantham Canal individual was a very worn female, and likely migrant, emphasised by its remoteness from known colonies, despite the suitability of the habitat in this area.

In a double-sequel to the first discovery, another two Green-eyed Hawkers were discovered in the two subsequent days, one in a much more likely location close to Lyddington on the Northants border, and another on the Grand Union Canal just south of Leicester City. Both were likely males, apparently patrolling territories.

With three records in just three days, one can only ponder as to how many more are out there? I would therefore like to take this opportunity to alert other observers of the potential presence of this newcomer species. In the coming weeks keep eyes peeled for a brown-bodied, green-eyed, clear-winged, medium-sized hawker dragonfly. They could potentially turn up anywhere, but the southeast of VC55 is clearly the prime hunting ground. Good luck! 

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