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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 2025 Shropshire Dragonfly Watch.

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Small Red-eyed Damselflies on the wing…

Geoff Hall has sent in these great photos of Small Red-eyed Damselflies at their regular location of Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre in Craven Arms. They are probably present in many more locations than have been…
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August 8, 2024
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Black Darters at Prees Heath…

Chris Shaw has sent in these photos of a female Black Darter - one of several individuals seen at Prees Higher Heath just southeast of the southern car park. Black Darter was also recorded here…
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August 2, 2024
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The heat is on…

...and many of you are sending in some great records and photos thank you! Paul Thomas has sent in this truly stunning photo of a Common Darter seen at pools near Cleestanton along with the…
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July 31, 2024
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Only a Common Darter….

Only a Common Darter, but so beautifully photographed by Geoff Hall near Wistanstow that I had to post it! This close up gives us a really good view of the frons area- you can see…
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July 25, 2024
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Emerging Southern Hawkers…

Just a hint of summer has prompted more emergence. Jan Shields photographed this very fresh teneral male by her pond and also captured the comparison below of the adult head next to the exuvia. Fascinating…
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July 22, 2024
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Spots before the eyes…

Geoff Hall has sent in this fabulous head on shot of a Four-spotted Chaser seen at Whixall Moss. You can see the four spots - one in the middle (node) of each wing- that give…
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July 8, 2024
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Majestic Emperor…

Paul Thomas has sent in some wonderful inflight photos of our largest UK species the Emperor Dragonfly. Pictured left is the female and below, the male and both photos clearly show how they neatly tuck…
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July 6, 2024
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Keeled Skimmers out and about…

Anna McCann has sent in the first sighting of Keeled Skimmer for this year. This female (left) was recorded roughley half a km from a known breeding area on the Long Mynd, but is a…
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June 25, 2024
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Black Darters on the wing…

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…
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June 21, 2024
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As fresh as it gets…

Miles Leach has sent in this great photo of a female Azure Damselfly dining out in Tugford...fly apparently optimistically still kicking! It will be interesting to see how our species fare as June seems to…
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June 14, 2024
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2 more important species on the wing…

12th June saw the emergence of 2 more species at Whixall Moss. Stephen Barlow recorded this teneral Common Hawker (left) and then Stephen and Nathan Brake both saw Emerald Damselflies (below left) on different areas…
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June 13, 2024
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Golden-ringed Dragonfly on the wing…

Golden-ringed Dragonfly has been photographed on June 2nd near The Lawley. Sadly this was reported via iNat where the default licensing means I cannot use the photo and I cannot contact the recorder....so if you're…
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June 10, 2024
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A couple of new Darters for the weekend…

Despite the cooler weather 2 more Darter species have been seen at Whixall Moss. Firstly on the 6th June Stephen Barlow recorded Common Darter (top left) followed today by Nathn Brake recording the very similar…
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June 7, 2024
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Black-tailed Skimmer on the wing…

Sightings of Black-tailed Skimmer have been made at Aston Locks and Venus Pool, both on 2nd June. As no photos came with the records I've posted this female photographed a couple of years ago by…
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June 6, 2024
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New County Record…Norfolk Hawker!

In recent talks about dragonflies I've mentioned the possibility of Norfolk Hawker turning up and incredibly it has! I was surveying a privately owned site Isle Pool and saw a male and a separate mating…
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June 2, 2024
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Southern Hawker on the wing…

Surprisingly amidst such changeable weather the first Southern Hawker sighting has been made by Julian Bromhead in Snailbeach. Julian's photo (left) shows this teneral male with unmistakeable broad antehumeral (shoulder) stripes seen perched on hawthorn…
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May 28, 2024
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A Bundle of Blues…

Jim Almond has been enjoying 'the blues' at a private site just south of Shrewsbury. Pictured left is a male Variable Damselfly- a rare species in Shropshire identified by the characteristic broken antehumeral stripes giving…
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May 23, 2024
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Emperors take to the skies…

19th May saw the emergence of our first Emperor Dragonflies. Neil Gregory spotted this immature male near Dowles Brook in the Wyre Forest and elsewhere in a pond near Minsterley good numbers of exuviae were…
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May 21, 2024
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2 more species on the wing…

A slower couple of days (which gives me a chance to catch up!), but a sighting of Red-eyed Damselfly has been reported and elsewhere Steve Oates has seen White-legged Damselfly on the River Severn near…
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May 16, 2024
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Clubtails are emerging…

Saturday 11th saw the first Clubtails emerging from the River Severn and these were beautifully photographed by Jan Shields at Frankwell. Shrewsbury is a great place to see these rare insects emerging along the river…
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May 13, 2024

Species recorded in 2025…

Large Red Damselfly

5th April

Common Blue Damselfly

22nd April

White-faced Darter

24th April

Four-spotted Chaser

24th April

Broad-bodied Chaser

27th April

Azure Damselfly

28th April

Blue-tailed Damselfly

28th April

Beautiful Demoiselle

28th April

Common Clubtail

5th May

Banded Demoiselle

6th May

Red-eyed Damselfly

16th May

White-legged Damselfly

16th May

Emperor Dragonfly

16th May

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