Glimpses of summer have brought out the Black Darters at Whixall Moss. Stephen Barlow reports a number of tenerals including this female (left) showing clearly the diagnostic black triangle on top of the thorax. Common Hawkers and Emerald Damselflies are also about in increasing numbers as well as Golden-ringed Dragonflies. Charlie Bell pictured this female (below left) at Barnes Farm near Asterton at the southern end of the Long Mynd. All these aforementioned species are of great interest to the Stepping Stones Project so please do send in all records of species found in our upland acidic pools and streams.
And finally (below right) something less specialist but clearly very appetizing to arachnids is this poor Azure Damselfly photographed by Geoff Hall.