The male of this migrant species is a very bright blue including its eyes from which it gets its alternative name of ‘Blue-eyed Hawker’. It is a very recent colonist of ditches in certain river valleys and marshy areas within Sussex.
National status
There was just a single confirmed record during the twentieth century (in 1952). There were then four in southern England during 2006 and in 2010 many individuals were seen in south Essex and north Kent, with oviposition being noted at two sites (BDS website). Since then the species has spread along considerable stretches of coastal East Anglia and southern England as far as Poole with outlying records from Cornwall, the Bristol Channel and the Lancashire and Yorkshire coasts.
Status in Sussex
This species was not even mooted as a potential colonist in the Dragonflies of Sussex (2004). An adult was reported from Shoreham on 13 July 2006. There were then no records until a male at Southease on 22 August 2015 was found by Richard Mundy and later by Jon Curson. There were then subsequent records in 2018 from the Ouse valley between Southease and Rodmell, West Rise Marsh (Eastbourne) and Rye Harbour. In 2019, there was further expansion to the Knepp Estate, Fairlight, Winchelsea and Pevensey Level. Since then consolidation has continued.
Distribution at 1km scale
Flight times
Preliminary records indicate that it is primarily to be seen from mid June into mid August.
Phenology (adult)
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Southern Migrant Hawker habitat at Ouse Valley near Rodmell Photo: Simon Linington
Habitat
Damp reedy ditches. Surprisingly, after post-emergent dispersal, individuals have been found in woodland e.g., Knowlands Wood near Barcombe in both 2020 (two) and 2021 (four).
Similar species
The potential confusion species are discussed under Southern Hawker (where there is a photographic comparison).
The male of this migrant species is a very bright blue including its eyes from which it gets its alternative name of ‘Blue-eyed Hawker’. It is a very recent colonist of ditches in certain river valleys and marshy areas within Sussex.
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young male Photo: Simon Linington
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female Photo: David Sadler
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male Photo: David Sadler
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male Photo: David Sadler
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male Photo: David Sadler
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male Photo: Simon Linington
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mating Photo: David Sadler
National status
There was just a single confirmed record during the twentieth century (in 1952). There were then four in southern England during 2006 and in 2010 many individuals were seen in south Essex and north Kent, with oviposition being noted at two sites (BDS website). Since then the species has spread along considerable stretches of coastal East Anglia and southern England as far as Poole with outlying records from Cornwall, the Bristol Channel and the Lancashire and Yorkshire coasts.
Status in Sussex
This species was not even mooted as a potential colonist in the Dragonflies of Sussex (2004). An adult was reported from Shoreham on 13 July 2006. There were then no records until a male at Southease on 22 August 2015 was found by Richard Mundy and later by Jon Curson. There were then subsequent records in 2018 from the Ouse valley between Southease and Rodmell, West Rise Marsh (Eastbourne) and Rye Harbour. In 2019, there was further expansion to the Knepp Estate, Fairlight, Winchelsea and Pevensey Level. Since then consolidation has continued.
Distribution at 1km scale
Flight times
Preliminary records indicate that it is primarily to be seen from mid June into mid August.
Phenology (adult)
1 / 1
Southern Migrant Hawker habitat at Ouse Valley near Rodmell Photo: Simon Linington
Habitat
Damp reedy ditches. Surprisingly, after post-emergent dispersal, individuals have been found in woodland e.g., Knowlands Wood near Barcombe in both 2020 (two) and 2021 (four).
Similar species
The potential confusion species are discussed under Southern Hawker (where there is a photographic comparison).
-Southern-Migrant-Hawker.jpg)
