234: Rhyothemis aterrima Selys, 1891

          Number: 234 / Family: Libellulidae / Genus: Rhyothemis

Species: Rhyothemis aterrima / Black Jewel Flutter

Province(s) sighted: Narathiwat

Habitat: Peat Swamp Forest

In flight: August / Sightings (by me): Rare

Species easily confused with: Rhyothemis plutonia 

One species that had been reported from Thailand fairly recently but again from the deepest of deep south at Sirindhorn Peat Forest in Narathiwat, was Rhyothemis aterrima, commonly known as the Black Jewel Flutterer. It is well-known in Malaysia so it isn't that much of a surprise to be found here too. However, as with many species, this one also eluded myself and Noppadon Makbun. Frustrated, we gave up on the place and searched other areas in the locality for different species. On the last day in Narathiwat, we decided to take one last look at the place before heading to Yala and see if we could find it as the weather was much hotter and brighter than the previous visit. Opposite the entrance to Sirindhorn, there is a large open area with peat swamp. My brother, Paul, peering through his massive scope for birding saw something interesting... it was bloody R. aterrima but about 100 kilometres away! Maybe I am exaggerating a little but it was way too far out for my 180mm lens, let alone Noppadon's 100mm one. I switched up to 400mm and got a couple of very poor record shots, but at least we had now seen it! We couldn't understand how a few people had decent shots of it if it was so far out, but at the back my mind, one photo that had been taken of it was on wood... the boardwalk? Anyway, we decided to have one last scout around the boardwalks with fading embers of seeing it - and possibly see anything else. Amazingly, we saw another male on the first part of the peat forest but was really, really high up but kept on landing every 30-45 seconds or so. Sadly, this one was also way too high up. So we carried on and went to the second section. Here we saw one straightaway perched rather high on a branch but much lower. We got much better record shots but we were still a little unhappy with them. Finally, another male swooped down from somewhere and started doing the dance around the ponds but much lower, though faster. It then landed straight on the boardwalk... it stayed briefly and then took off... we were gutted. But then, 30-45 seconds later, it landed again on the boardwalk... and again... and again... we edged closer and closer to it as it was incredibly skittish but eventually we got into a decent position and fired off some nice shots as it perched on the bannister of the boardwalk. We couldn't have been happier and the shots really brings out the beautiful colours of this species... when in flight it just looks black.

The Male

From a distance, it just looks black. But on closer inspection (depending on the angle of the light), it's green, copper, reddish, black and even clear segments. It really is a truly stunning species and a fitting species for the last in Narathiwat ... until I return!