As the new Odonata (Dragonfly and Damselfly) season gets underway, the checklist of these species in Bexley, first produced by Chris Rose a year ago, has been revised and updated by the author to include new records, and has been embellished with the addition of photographs, most taken within our Borough.
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For each species sites are given where it can be found, and there are complete species lists provided for the best sites for Dragonflies and Damselflies in Bexley.
A total of 18 species currently occur in Bexley as a whole, and the top site standings at present are Foots Cray Meadows 15 species, Crossness 14, Danson Park 12 (or 13) and Thames Road Wetland 12 (or 13). There is a reasonable chance that one or two more species could still be found at each of these sites, and Crossness is probably best-placed to host one of the new colonists populating the UK, a number of which are heading up the Thames estuary. Lamorbey lake would benefit from frequent watching as there must be more than the 5 species recorded to date, and the large ponds and smaller water-bodies at Woodlands Farm look promising (though these are on the Greenwich side of the border!). The pool at East Wickham Open Space may host a few species when it doesn’t dry up too much, and there are ponds on adjoining allotment sites which also provide Odonata habitat from which insects may wander into public areas.
Male Broad-bodied Chaser. This species is quick to colonise new ponds like those recently created at Foots Cray Meadows. (Photo: Ralph Todd).
