Common Darters on the wing!

Following a conversation with Keith Fowler re a possible sighting of Common Darter a number of days ago (to be confirmed...) I subsequently received proof from Ian Barrie with the following photo of a teneral female.

This was taken on 18th June at Eardington NR and is the joint second earliest sighting of this species made in Shropshire in recent years (post 2000). The earliest recent sighting was made on 14th June at Granville C.P. in 2006. This species usually appears later in the season and can be seen on the wing into October in Shropshire- weather permitting!