Rarely observed in the New Forest, a trip into South East Dorset is often required to catch sight of the Brown Hawker. Unlike its other Hawker counterparts, the Brown Hawker can easily be identified by its bland colouration and brown wing tinting which is easily discernable in mid-flight.
Brown Hawkers typically appear in large numbers in late July to Mid August, yet are scarcely seen from September onwards. The reluctance of the Brown Hawker to perch coupled with its prosaic camouflage makes it one of the most challenging of the Hawker family to photograph.
However, the predictable flight path of the Brown Hawker makes it a potential target for ‘in-flight’ shots for the particularly adept and patient photographer. Dead and over shadowed sections of gorse are often selected as a preferred place to perch.
locations
media gallery
I am yet to observe Brown Hawkers in the New Forest, but a trip to the Ashley Rd nature reserve in Poole (next to Sainsburys) in the late summer will show them in abundance. High flying over the pond water. Also observed on the River Stour and at Ramsdown.
seasonal appearance
distinguishing features
Easily distinguishable even in flight, this large Hawker has distinct orange coloured wings that are quite visible against the sky backdrop. The mails also have vivid blue markings flanking their brown abdomen, with pale lemon colour stripes on the thorax.
Males also have a distinct 'nipped' waistline at the top of the abdomen, whereas the females have a consistently broad abodomen.
