Hairy Hawker

2025 was the year, and I am absolutely thrilled.

For the last twelve years, at least, I have been seriously frustrated by the lack of Hairy Hawkers on the Axe so have always put extra Odonata-effort in, in late spring.  To the west of us, they are on the Otter near Budleigh, north of us they have been seen in Chard and are super abundant on the Somerset Levels, and east of us they are on the Fleet and have colonised Weymouth.  Can see no reason why Hairy Hawkers are not seen here regularly, let alone the fact that as far as I am aware not a single one has ever been recorded on the Axe!

Most years I try and cover as much likely habitat as possible during early May, but this year I changed tack.  Lower Bruckland Ponds is by a mile our best dragonfly site, plus it's 100% fresh water whereas any water body in the river valley is always likely to have some salinity to it.  So in 2025 I decided to focus all my effort here.  

Yesterday saw my third visit to the Ponds within the last ten days, and much to my surprise as I walked up to only the second pond on my loop, a small hawker was right there patrolling the near bank...  I'D ONLY GONE AND DONE IT! 

An in-habitat shot, Hairy Hawker near bottom left corner of shot

I spent half an hour watching at times TWO Hairy Hawkers zooming around on one of the smallest ponds.  Neither stopped still even for a second, so photographs were a challenge, and I think I have only captured one of the insects as the other appeared sporadically whereas this one remained on view the whole time patrolling the northern half of this pond, zipping off course only to munch on a tasty flying insect.

The best photo I managed, and am chuffed with it!  Can even just about see the hairs on its thorax which gives the species its name

This shot shows the abdomen pattern well - typical hawker. Stripes on sides on thorax also classic hawker

This is poorest photo I am posting, but shows the antehumeral stripes well, as well as the general colour of the insect

You wouldn't believe how many photos of blurred lilypads I have had to go through to find the above photos! 

Despite all this excitement on just one small pond, I did check the whole site.  Saw no more larger dragonflies, but my first Four-spotted and Broad-bodied Chasers, and Large Red-eyed Damselflies of the year were good to see.

A fresh out the packet Four-spotted Chaser

A good few months before the smaller version of these emerge

 

 Love it when a plan works out. Even if it does take twelve years...