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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 2023 Shropshire Dragonfly Watch.

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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…
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November 8, 2023
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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…
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October 24, 2023
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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…
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October 13, 2023
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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…
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September 20, 2023
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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…
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September 7, 2023
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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…
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August 22, 2023
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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…
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August 17, 2023
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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…
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August 16, 2023
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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…
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August 8, 2023
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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…
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July 25, 2023
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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…
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July 20, 2023
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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…
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July 14, 2023
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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…
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June 26, 2023
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Exciting times…

Interesting records are coming in thick and fast! Firstly we have this great photo from Dave Emley who saw Small Red-eyed Damselfly at Prees Heath Common Reserve ridiculously early on 15th June. The following 2…
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June 23, 2023
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New sites for 2 rarities…

Geoff Hall has been out looking for butterflies on the less travelled part of the Long Mynd and happened across 4 Keeled Skimmers on a wet flush area. This is 1km away from another flush…
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June 22, 2023
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2 Shropshire rarities arriving early…

Julian Cartwright has been doing some great recording on Titterstone Clee Hill spotting a couple of our Shropshire rarities far earlier than expected. Keeled Skimmer (picture left)  has only been recorded at this location once…
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June 15, 2023
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Three more species on the wing!

Huge heat is bringing out huge dragonflies! Jan Shields has found the first evidence of Southern Hawker emerging from her pond and these photos show the diagnostic long shape of the mask on the underside…
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June 13, 2023
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Black Darters on the wing…

Jan Shields has braved the heat at Whixall Moss and been rewarded with the first Black Darters emerging in the sunshine. The photos show a teneral female and though the colours are still developing you…
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June 11, 2023
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Little and Large…

Julian Cartwright has sent in some lovely photos that happen to illustrate the range of Odonate abdomen widths! These female Broad-bodied Chasers (seen on Titterstone Clee ovipositing in a wheel rut)are actually even broader than…
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June 8, 2023
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Spot the difference…

With all this hot weather it's now possible to get 2 dragonflies per photo! Julian Cartwright has sent in a pair of male Large Red Damselflies and Jim Almond has sent in a pair of…
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June 5, 2023
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Big, bold and blue…

Jim Almond has sent in this fabulous close up of a Broad-bodied Chaser male. These are often the first species to investigate new water bodies and having recently built our pond we have already seen…
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June 1, 2023

Species recorded in 2023…

Large Red Damselfly

15th April

Four-spotted Chaser

3rd May

Broad-bodied Chaser

7th May

White-faced Darter

7th May

Azure Damselfly

10th May

Variable Damselfly

11th May

Blue-tailed Damselfly

11th May

Red-eyed Damselfly

11th May

Beautiful Demoiselle

11th May

Common Clubtail

12th May

Banded Demoiselle

13th May

Common Blue Damselfly

16th May

Golden-ringed Dragonfly

16th May

White-legged Damselfly

20th May

Downy Emerald

24th May

Emperor Dragonfly

27th May

Black-tailed Skimmer

29th May

Common Hawker

2nd June

Black Darter

10th June

Southern Hawker

12th June

Common Darter

12th June

Keeled Skimmer

14th June

Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly

14th June

Small Red-eyed Damselfly

15th June

Brown Hawker

19th June

Emerald Damselfly

24th June

Ruddy Darter

25th June

Migrant Hawker

16th July

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