#ThursleyCommonNNR
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jillholl.bsky.social
Emperor dragonfly that looks like it may have had the odd narrow escape! A sparkly day at #ThursleyCommonNNR #Sharemondays2025
Neon green and blue Emperor dragonfly perches on a grass stem by sparkly water. Its outstretched wings have a few bits missing along the edges
June 23, 2025 at 12:48 PM
sarahlonges.bsky.social
A Great Start! #ShareMondays2025 #fsprintmonday

My 1st visit to #ThursleyCommonNNR this #Spring and I found a gorgeous pair of redstarts 🥰 @fotospeed.bsky.social @naturalengland.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social #fujifilm_uk #nature #wildlife #birding @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social
A male redstart is perched on top of a wooden post made from a narrow silver birch trunk. There is a soft yellow glow of gorse shrubs in flower in the background. Here is the description of a redstart from the RSPB website - Redstarts are easily identified by their bright orange-red tails which they often quiver. Breeding males look smart, with slate grey upper parts, black faces and wings and an orange rump and chest. Females and young are browner with some chestnut tail feathers and pale bellies. Redstarts 'bob' in a very Robin-like manner, but spend little time at ground level. It's included on the Amber List of species with unfavourable conservation status in Europe where it is declining.
April 14, 2025 at 10:56 PM
sarahlonges.bsky.social
Finding Balance #ShareMondays2026

I went to #ThursleyCommonNNR on Saturday to look for #BlackDarter #dragonflies. It was lovely to see the heather too 💜 @surreyhillsnl.bsky.social @britishdragonflies.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social @naturalengland.bsky.social #wildlife #nature #odonata
The image captures a detailed, close-up photograph of a black darter dragonfly (Sympetrum danae). It’s positioned facing slightly toward the camera, showcasing its large, dark compound eyes and intricate body texture. The black darter is the only small dragonfly that is almost entirely black. Males are black with dark yellow spots along the sides, while females and juveniles are brownish-yellow. This is an overmature male, its thorax and abdomen appear a dark, dusty blackish-grey colour. Its four clear, membranous wings are spread wide horizontally. The complex, lace-like vein structure of the wings catches the soft light. Small, dark patches (pterostigmata) can be seen near the tips of the wings. It clings tightly with its thin, dark legs to the very end of a bare, slender stick that curves upward from the bottom centre of the frame. The background consists of a beautifully soft, completely blurred bokeh. It blends muted tones of earthy greens, soft oranges, purples, and browns, from a mix of plants in the natural heathland habitat of Thursley Common NNR, including heathers. Thursley renowned for dragonflies! The black darter is one of my favourites and this is the time of year to look for them. This is the UK’s smallest dragonfly and when they’re keeping still, perched on a twig or heather they’re really hard to spot without disturbing them!! Looking for them makes me completely slow down and take in every aspect of my surroundings, looking for the slightest hint of movement or the shimmer of light on an insect’s wing. That’s how I finally found this one. Much of Thursley is open lowland heath and boggy marshland. It’s internationally important habitat with some extraordinary flora and fauna. Although it’s tricky to access in the wheelchair, there’s a boardwalk that allows people to cross the marshes and ponds while protecting the habitat. It’s this type of habitat with damp moors, heath and bogs, where black darters are most likely to be found.
September 7, 2026 at 10:24 PM