Managed to get out for the morning on first Saturday of July to Smallhanger, a reliable site on the fringes of Plympton, which usually offers the possibility of picking up a few "specials".
The usual suspects were seen, mainly Common Blues, Bluetails and Large Red Damsels, but not an Emerald in sight. Graham got a bit excited when he thought he had spotted a Small Red but closer examination showed it to be a "small" Large Red!
The previously dried pond that we had got great shots at last year had mysteriously rehydrated itself since our visit earlier this year, despite the heat and was once again well populated but mainly with Common Blues and Bluetails with no Emeralds seen.
There were also patrolling Emperors and Four Spot Chasers and a stand out female Keeled Skimmer in prime condition.
We also witnessed a spectacular aerial dogfight between an Emperor and a large unidentified hawker which ended with them both plunging into the undergrowth just the other side of the pond but we were unable to find them despite a search of the surrounding area. It was impressive to watch while it lasted and quite brutal.
We also had the dubious pleasure of finding a Common Blue in the clutches of a Sundew plant which was not the way it hoped it's day would end I am sure.
Other than the dragons, there were huge numbers of small frogs/toads nearly ready to loose the tail and more newts than I can remember seeing for a long time inhabiting any minute bit of water in a tyre rut or any other indentation.
All in all a good morning.
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