Vagrant Emperors Hemianax ephippiger  A new Lincolnshire dragonfly

On June 9th 2019 Chris Atkin located a male and probably three Vagrant Emperor Dragonflies at Donna Nook in an arrival that included three Red-veined Darters Sympetrum fonscolombii, large numbers of Painted Ladies Vanessa (Cynthia) cardui and a Clouded Yellow Colias croceus. On June 16th CA along with G Catley, N Drinkall and D Hursthouse located a minimum of six but probably ten Vagrant Emperors along the dunes trip between Pyes Hall and Ponderosa, Donna Nook along with four Red-veined Darters and 50+ Painted Ladies. On June 17th a number of observers located Vagrant Emperors in the same area and a pair were photographed in tandem. On June 20th at least three Vagrant Emperors were seen at Rimac (Saltfleetby - Theddlethorpe NNR) and a fine male photographed. Individuals were seen up to June 29th but none thereafter. These were the first records for the county of Lincolnshire. Total Number of Vagrant Emperors recorded:

An absolute minimum of 15 individuals were recorded, 10 at Donna Nook, singles at Gibraltar Point and Tetney Marsh and three at Rimac but clearly it is likely that many more were present and remained undiscovered along the coastal strip during this period.

Habitat:

With the exception of the wide ranging male that was feeding over the realignment and its embankments as well as over the dune system on June 29th all of the Vagrant Emperors were found in the marram and associated dune vegetation on the outer edge of the coastal dune systems where this habitat bordered the extensive areas of saltmarsh that dominates this part of the Lincolnshire coastline. It appeared that all of the first individuals encountered were probably recently arrived in warm south-easterly winds and they stayed in the areas in which they were first encountered for up to three weeks.

Images below are all © Graham Catley