Dungeness Bird Observatory

Fauna

Insects – Go to: Dragonflies, Butterflies

Dragonflies of the Dungeness Bird Observatory – 1995-2006

Records are kept of the Dragonflies (Odonata) seen in the Observatory recording area although recording was fairly casual before 1995.

Common name	Latin name	Status
BANDED DEMOISELLE	Calopteryx splendens	Recorded for the first in 2004 when up to 16 were seen at the Long Pits in mid-June. One in 2006.
RED-EYED DAMSELFLY	Erythromma najas	Very common since 1996 and now occasionally abundant.
SMALL RED-EYED DAMSELFLY	Erythromma viridulum	Recorded for the first time in 2004 when up to 16 were seen at the Long Pits in mid-August. Small numbers again in 2005 and 2006.
AZURE DRAGONFLY	Coenagrion puella	Generally uncommon but now mainly common to very common and abundant in 2003.
VARIABLE DAMSELFLY	Coenagrion pulchellum	First seen in 2002 and common in 2003. Three records in 2005. Not seen in 2006.
COMMON BLUE DAMSELFLY	Enallagma cyathigerum	Abundant.
BLUE-TAILED DAMSELFLY	Ischnura elegans	Abundant.
EMERALD DAMSELFLY	Lestes sponsa	Uncommon to rare.
HAIRY HAWKER	Brachytron pratense	Common.
BROWN HAWKER	Aeshna grandis	Common.
MIGRANT HAWKER	Aeshna mixta	Very common.
EMPEROR DRAGONFLY	Anax imperator	Common.
LESSER EMPEROR DRAGONFLY	Anax parthenope	Rare. Single records in 1998, 1999 and 2005 and 2006, three in 2000 and two in 2003.
BLACK-TAILED SKIMMER	Orthetrum cancellatum	Common.
FOUR-SPOTTED CHASER	Libellula quadrimaculata	Common. Very common in 2004 and 2005.
BROAD-BODIED CHASER	Libellula depressa	Rare.
BLACK DARTER	Symetrum danae	Rare. Only records in 1995.
YELLOW-WINGED DARTER	Sympetrum flaveolum	Rare. Only seen in 1995 when seen in large numbers.
RED-VEINED DARTER	Sympetrum fonscolombii	Rare. Four records in 1996, one in 1998, two in 2000 and three in 2002.
RUDDY DARTER	Sympetrum sanguineum	Formerly common but numbers seem to be declining and now uncommon. Numbers improved to common to be common in 2006
COMMON DARTER	Sympetrum striolatum	Abundant.
VAGRANT DARTER	Sympetrum vulgatum	Rare. Seven records in 1995.

KEY
Abundant	Peak counts over 1000
Very common	Peak counts between 100-1000
Common	Peak counts between 10-100
Uncommon	Peak counts less than 10
Rare	Less than annual

The first dragonflies to appear are Red-eyed Damselflies, Common Blue and Blue-tailed Damselflies and Hairy Hawkers. The first three of these are usually found around the banks of the Long Pits but the Hairy Hawker is just as likely to be seen amongst the bushes of the trapping area or in the moat.

Hairy Hawker - Brachytron pratense

Black-tailed Skimmers and Four-spotted Chasers are the next to appear with the former usually found holding small territories on open stretches of shingle bank on the Long Pits. Emperor Dragonflies, whilst not occurring in large numbers are very obvious as they patrol large territories over open areas of water. From the end of July it is always worth checking the large dragonflies as in recent years a number of Lesser Emperors have been seen.The first British record of this species was in 1996 but numbers have increased since then and Dungeness has provided a considerable proportion of the records.

Lesser Emperor - Anax parthenope

Late autumn sees the emergence of large numbers of Migrant Hawkers and Common Darters and their numbers are also increased by the arrival of immigrants from the continent. In some years, exceptional numbers of darters can arrive and when this occurs it is possible that other rarer species will also be involved. The year 1995 was one such year and large numbers of Yellow-winged Darters arrived and with seven individuals of the Vagrant Darter were also identified. However, with the latter species it is almost impossible to separate them from Common Darters without catching them for examination. A small number of the heathland species, the Black Darter were also seen at this time.

Yellow-winged darter - Sympetrum flaveolum

Vagrant darter - Sympetrum vulgatum

Go to: Dragonflies, Butterflies

Butterflies of the Dungeness Bird Observatory – 1989-2006

Records are kept of all the Butterflies seen in the Observatory recording area.

Common name	*Latin name*	Status
SMALL SKIPPER	Thymelicus sylvestris	Very common.
ESSEX SKIPPER	Thymelicus lineola	Numbers very variable but generally common.
LARGE SKIPPER	Ochlodes venata	Generally common but numbers appear to be declining.
GRIZZLED SKIPPER	Pyrgus malvae	Uncommon.
SWALLOWTAIL	Papilio machaon	One on Sep.3rd 2005. Singles on May 16th and July 24th 2006.
CLOUDED YELLOW	Colias croceus	Uncommon migrant.
BRIMSTONE	Gonepteryx rhamni	Rare.
LARGE WHITE	Pieris brassicae	Very common, occasionally abundant.
SMALL WHITE	Pieris rapae	Very common.
GREEN-VEINED WHITE	Pieris napi	Uncommon.
ORANGE-TIP	Anthocharis cardamines	Rare. Two records in May 1993 and two in April 1999.
SMALL COPPER	Lycaena phlaeas	Very common
BROWN ARGUS	Aricia agestis	Formerly rare but now uncommon following colonisation in 1997.
COMMON BLUE	Polyommatus icarus	Very common
HOLLY BLUE	Celastrina argiolus	Rare. Numbers fluctuate.
RED ADMIRAL	Vanessa atalanta	Common, occasionally very common.
PAINTED LADY	Vanessa cardui	Uncommon to common. 1996 was an exceptional year with counts of up to 1000.
SMALL TORTOISESHELL	Aglais urticae	Common.
LARGE TORTOISESHELL	Nymphalis polychloros	One on July 3rd and 4th 2005.
CAMBERWELL BEAUTY	Nymphalis antiope	Rare. The only recent records are of singles on Aug.3rd and 24th 1995.
PEACOCK	Inachis io	Common.
COMMA	Polygonia c-album	Uncommon.
SPECKLED WOOD	Pararge aegeria	Formerly uncommon but numbers have increased annually in recent years and common since 2004.
WALL	Lasiommata megera	Uncommon, possibly now becoming rare.
MARBLED WHITE	Melanargia galathea	Formerly rare, now common following colonisation since 1991.
GATEKEEPER	Pyronia tithonus	Very common.
MEADOW BROWN	Maniola jurtina	Abundant.
RINGLET	Aphantopus hyperantus	Rare. Only recorded in 2000.
SMALL HEATH	Coenonympha pamphilus	Very common, occasionally abundant.
MONARCH	Danaus plexippus	Rare. One on Oct.13th 2001.

KEY
Abundant	Peak counts over 500
Very common	Peak counts between 100-500
Common	Peak counts between 10-100
Uncommon	Peak counts less than 10
Rare	Less than annual

The recording area is not noted for its uncommon or rare breeding species of butterflies but it more than makes up for this in terms of abundance. Common Blues, Small Coppers, Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns can all occur in very large numbers. Small Copper and Small Heaths, and to a lesser extent Common Blue, also appear on several broods so that they can be seen throughout the warmer spring, summer and autumn.

Red Admiral - Vanessa atalanta

Some species, notably Holly Blue, tend to only occur during good years at a national level.

Holly Blue - Celastrina argiolus

Grizzled Skipper also occur in variable numbers, although always low, and are usually one of the first species to appear in the spring.

Grizzled Skipper - Pyrgus malvae

In recent years several species appear to have colonised the area. The most obvious example of this is the Marbled White. This butterfly was almost unknown in the area until 1991. Numbers have since increased so that it is now a very common insect in certain areas. The best areas to look for this species are around the Old Lighthouse and on the rough ground in front of the Observatory. The Brown Argus is another species which has colonised the area since but numbers remain very small and recent, prolonged winter flooding may have adversely affected the population.

Marbled White - Melanargia galathea

Dungeness is also well situated the receive migrant butterflies and Clouded Yellows are recorded in most years along with large numbers of Large Whites and Red Admirals and smaller numbers of Painted Ladies but the highlight of 2001 was the all too brief appearance of a Monarch on 13th October, the first Dungeness record. A Large Tortoiseshell was the highlight of 2005 and Swallowtails have been seen in 2005 and 2006.

Go to: Dragonflies, Butterflies