We arrived at Hong Kong airport at 08:00 local time, and spent some of the afternoon visiting Hong Kong Park on the main island.

We saw five species of dragonflies - Trithemis aurora and T. festiva. Orthetrum glaucum and O. pruinosum neglectum, and Pantala flavescens (also spotted earlier in Kowloon Park).

On Monday I went along to do a count, without taking my camera. Along with the expected Common Darters on the three main ponds, there was a male Migrant Hawker searching for females on Long Bob. So yesterday I went again, this time armed with the camera. Needless to say, no Migrant Hawker.

I think I must be responsible for the poor summer we have had this year. With now 5 fine days in a row, starting on 09-09-09 (my 50th birthday), it is clear that nature held back the summer in order to properly celebrate the occasion ( being the principle present she gave me - at Tim's Tarn, Eskdale - not Heysham).

A few Common Blue Damselflies were still flying, along with a couple of Blue Tails and a solitary Emerald Damselfly. Common Darters were not all that numerous. Only one Southern Hawker. Also a few Brown Hawkers and a few more Migrant Hawkers (including this one):

To celebrate my 50th birthday (09-09-09), we visited Eskdale for a couple of days (and a meal at The Woolpack Inn :-)). The weather was in great contrast with the rest of the "summer", and Tim's Tarn brought out seven species (including a very late Keeled Skimmer, patrolling the outflow stream as we approached the site).

I made a circuit of the tarn to do a count (finishing at 13:45 BST):

This lunchtime was the best day I've had in the park for at least a month. Four species in all (plenty of Common Darters, 1 Brown Hawker laying eggs, 1 Southern Hawker, and at least 3 Migrant Hawkers). One of the Migrant Hawkers was a female - twice she declined to have anything to do with a male.

As far as I can remeber, this is the first female I've seen there.

Today actually bore a fair resemblance to a day in late August.

Common Darters were everywhere, easily outnumbering Common Blue Damselflies. I saw 4 male Blue Tailed Damselflies at the visitors centre.

Despite the forecast, the weather was quite decent this morning (though not up to normal expectations for August), so i went to Hurst Grange Park at lunchtime.

Still only 3 Brown Hawkers, 2 or 3 Emerald Damselflies, and a score of Common Darters.

:-(

On Saturday I gave a talk to the Friends of Hurst Grange Park, walking around the ponds. Most of them only saw three species (Brown Hawker, Common darter and Emerald Damselfly), as had been my experience all week. One saw a female Southern Hawker just before the walk, and I saw solitary male Common Blue Damselfly and Blue Tailed Damselfly.

A sunny and warm (but not hot) day at Leighton Moss produced 7 or 8 species today.

There were a few Blue Tailed Damselflies and even fewer Azure Damselflies.

At least 4 male Black Tailed Skimmers (which I don't think I've seen there before).

Maybe 8 Brown Hawkers.

Only 5 Common Darters.

A probable male Common Hawker (I didn't get a good view of it though.