I’m planning to upload some information about an interesting archaeological site in west Wicklow for my next instalment but am still researching what I feel must be an ancient carved stone cross on the site. Anyhow, in the meantime I would like to thank father and son team Martin and Wayne Nolan for the information they were able to give me and I promise to put the photos up very soon.

In the meantime, a few words on the Autumn Hawker dragonflies which are hunting in gardens and along roadside hedges.

The Autumn Hawker (Aeshna mixta) is only a very recent arrival in Wicklow, and of course Ireland. I first saw one in 2004 and there were only sporadic records before that. Because of their size they are impossible to miss. This large and very robust species gets its name because it tends to show up in Autumn. They hunt during rain or shine and are truly spectacular, and very difficult to photograph too. But that’s the sport.