Beautiful demoiselles of Clyne Valley

An unexpected treat today on the walk from my house, along the coastal footpath to Clyne Valley country park. While it is a regular walk I've never been this time of year, because I'm usually off on the Gower at nature reserves and walking the coast, so its fantastic to see something new.  

Swansea Bay towards Mumbles.

As well as the far more common common broomrape in the dunes, in the wooded area backing the dunes and along the cycle path some impressive stands of ivy broomrape can be found- note the more distinct and darker purple colour and yellow stigmas.

Ivy Broomrape- spectacular stands next to the cycle path just before Blackpill.

Once in Clyne valley I made it down to the ghyll to a small glade/opening in the trees where there were two, a male and a female, beautiful demoiselles, but they were incredibly flighty and generally stayed in the canopy of a river-side tree.

Beautiful demoiselles high in the canopy.

All along the river the demoiselles fluttered, making an audible sound, until I came to another opening where there were 6 males and 3 females in around 1m^2. 

Male beautiful demoiselles in flight.

This included a female laying eggs.

A female laying eggs on submerged vegetation.

Males and a female (bottom right).

An unlucky individual caught be a grey wagtail.

Large red damselfly.

Female beautiful demoiselle.

Male beautiful demoiselle.

On the way back I stopped off at spot where last year I had seen small pearl-bordered fritillary. This time there was only one and it was very flighty due to the heat, so no photos, likewise with the speckled woods and common blues. 

Space for small pearl-bordered fritillary.