Isle of Sheppey and Cliffe Marshes, Kent, 4 July 2011

During a weeks holiday in London, Kent and Sussex with my son Henry I wanted to visit these 2 sites in North Kent to try to see a couple of new damselflies for my (nearly complete) British dragonfly list. Luckily I was successful at both sites. Firstly we went to a pool under the A249 Sheppey Bridge where a coupled pair of Dainty Damselflies were quite quickly found. Apart from that the pool held Black-tailed Skimmers, Blue-tailed and Common Blue Damselflies and Common Darters. 
Later in the day after a walk in the North Downs and a visit to Rochester we ventured out on to Cliffe Marshes from Cliffe village. After a long hot walk we eventually found the spot (the directions I had were rather misleading!) and here I managed 2 Southern Emerald Damselflies, a male and a a very obliging female. Emerald Damselflies and Emperor Dragonfly were evident here too.

Later in the week we saw loads of Marbled Whites and several Dark Green Fritillaries in the South Downs between Brighton and Lewes.

Dainty Damselfly pool, under Sheppey Bridge

Southern Emerald Damselfly, Cliffe Marshes