Skip to main content
search

Shropshire Dragonfly Watch BlogKeeping an eye on the dragonflies flying in Shropshire

Common Darter male

The purpose of this blog is to keep dragonfly enthusiasts up to date with dragonfly activity throughout the season. This way we should all know first hand what’s on the wing in Shropshire.

 

All are very welcome to be part of this seasonal diary. Get in touch via the  contact form with sightings and photographs so I can post them on the blog. Even if you’re new to dragonflies and not sure what you have photographed please send it in and get involved in the 2024 Shropshire Dragonfly Watch.

Blog

Banded Demoiselles on the wing…

Gareth Lambe has been spotting Banded Demoiselles on the River Meese at Pickstock, just noth of Newport. Beautiful Demoiselles were also in and around the vegetation and a good number of Azure Damselflies. Let's see…
admin
May 10, 2024
Blog

The tricky end of damselfly ID…

Pictured left we have the teneral female Blue-tailed Damselfly photographed by Tim Walters at Pam's Pools on 4th May. Clearly not much sign of colour yet but some of the markings are still visible including…
admin
May 8, 2024
Blog

Three more species on the wing…

And finally the sun came out! ...and with it came 3 more species on the wing. Beautiful Demoiselle was seen on Dowles Brook in the Wyre Forest and also seen at Hodnet Hall where Dave…
admin
May 7, 2024
Blog

White-faced Darter on the wing…

Stephen Barlow reports White-faced Darters are starting to emerge at Whixall Moss and he spotted his first of the year on the Shropshire side on 28th April. Four-spotted Chasers are also out and about along…
admin
April 29, 2024
Blog

Four-spotted Chaser on the wing…

Just when we thought things were underway the temperature seems to have really put the breaks on dragonfly sightings...until now! Mike Sokolowski was lucky enough to spot a single Four-spotted Chaser on Whixall Moss on…
admin
April 26, 2024
Blog

Large Reds on the wing at Whixall..

Stephen Barlow reports around 12 Large Red Damselflies also seen on 12th April at Whixall Moss including the female pictured here. Reportedly they took a fair amount of hunting down in fairly windy and dull…
admin
April 15, 2024
Blog

Shropshire flight season launches!

Finally some sunshine..and yes the first Shropshire damselflies are on the wing...well damselfly! A single Large Red female seen at Jan Shields pond in Hanwood. This weekend is supposed to be relatively spring like so…
admin
April 12, 2024
Blog

Watching & Waiting…

April is here and that usually means the emergence of our first Large Red Damselflies. The earliest ever Shropshire record was April 8th so it's worth keeping an eye out (in between the endless rain)…
admin
April 3, 2024
Blog

Common Darters still about

Jan Shields has sent in some lovely Common Darter photos from Whixall Moss on November 5th. All individuals are pictured basking in the autumn sunshine. The female (pictured left) is over mature and so darker…
admin
November 8, 2023
Blog

Late records still coming in…

A number of you are still sending in records in late October and most recently Stephen Barlow sent in this image of a female Black Darter basking on the notice board at Whixall Moss on…
admin
October 24, 2023
Blog

Black Darter at Dolgoch Quarry…

So far the mild weather has meant a reasonable number of dragonflies are still about and it's worth keeping a close eye on them. Nicole and Gareth Lambe were observing Common Darters and Migrant Hawkers…
admin
October 13, 2023
Blog

Windy but warm…

Wild but warm weather is resulting in a good number of sightings in between the downpours. Julian Cartwright has photographed a nice selection of our autumnal species on Magpie Hill near Titterstone Clee Hill. Our…
admin
September 20, 2023
Blog

The hour of the Migrant Hawker…

With a burst of incredibly hot still weather I've been checking a few sites and the hawker most frequently encountered seems to be Migrant Hawker. Geoff Hall has been recording at Wildmoor Pool on the…
admin
September 7, 2023
Blog

Few and far between

Having been spoilt at the start of the summer with sustained hot weather leading to good numbers of dragonflies on the wing, it now seems sightings are few and far between. I'm still seeing a…
admin
August 22, 2023
Blog

Up close to Southern Hawker…

Geoff Hall has sent in this great inflight photo of Southern Hawker seen at Brokenstones just north of Woolston. Though I haven't ever taken a photo like this, I have been lucky enough to have…
admin
August 17, 2023
Blog

Beware the Emperor…

Tim Walters LRPS has sent in this fabulous composite image illustrating the behaviour of an Emperor towards an Emerald Damselfly at Pams Pools near Bridgnorth. The images are ordered left to right and it's fascinating…
admin
August 16, 2023
Blog

Snapshots of summer…

Having got so used to stable weather earlier in the year we now have to grab the sunny opportunities when they appear! Julian Cartwright has photographed Common Darters on Clee Hill both in tandem and…
admin
August 8, 2023
Blog

The joy of Darters…

As we head to late summer the Darters are often recorded and Jan Shields has been enjoying Ruddy Darter and Common Darter at Mousecroft Pool. At first glance these males are similar, but the Ruddy…
admin
July 25, 2023
Blog

Migrant Hawker on the wing…

In between the downpours Migrant Hawker has taken to the skies. Martin Barnes spotted this immature male in Whitchurch on 16th July which is an early sighting for this late summer/autumnal species. Migrant Hawkers are…
admin
July 20, 2023
Blog

Dodging the showers

Well it seems like ages since I have posted thanks to all the much needed rain (currently replenishing my pond!), but between the showers dragons and damsels are flying when they can. Chris Shaw has…
admin
July 14, 2023
Blog

Emeralds and Ruddy Darters on the wing..

Jan Shields has sent in the first photos of female Emerald Damselflies. Unlike the male they have no blue coloration and you can clearly see the ovipositor at the end of the abdomen. Jan has…
admin
June 26, 2023

Species recorded in 2024…

Large Red Damselfly

12th April

Four-spotted Chaser

24th April

White-faced Darter

28th April

Blue-tailed Damselfly

4th May

Beautiful Demoiselle

5th May

Azure Damselfly

6th May

Banded Demoiselle

9th May

Close Menu