This is one of the largest flowers (up to 65mm across) in the area and it has one of the longest flowering periods. It is common on shingle and the first flower was out today… and it can still be in flower into October. But each flower only lasts a day or two.
Yesterday at Castle Water several small ponds that were dug during phase two of the Bittern Excavation Project were sampled for dragonfly larva. The ponds are close in proximity but all have different characteristics, size, shape, depth (water temperature) and different degrees of early plant colonisation are obvious features. All three ponds produced some larvae, but in one pond it was much easier, in a short time at least forty larvae were found. Four species in their final instar could be identified Broad-bodied Chaser, Black-tailed Skimmer, Common Darter and Blue-tailed Damselfly. Three species are pictured below.
Broad-bodied Chaser, muddy coating shows that it lives partially buried in fine mud .