Red-veined Darter - RSPB Saltholme - 30/06/2019

[IanF]

Seen from Saltholme Hide this morning. A new species for me.

It was distant to view/photograph for such a small insect even with the Nikon P900. It kept trying to land on the reeds as it contended with a male Black-tailed Skimmer and the strong winds. I thought it was a Common Darter when I first saw it which would have been only the second I've seen on the reserve so far this year. Looking at the photos on the computer I saw the shaped sleek body, spiked end of abdomen and mostly dark legs and figured it was a Ruddy Darter. Steve Clifton kindly identified it as a Red-veined Darter which are pretty scarce this far north.