As well as dragonfly walks and talks there are a number of Shropshire based courses that focus on adults, larvae and exuviae and the fascinating life cycle of these insects. If you know of any up and coming Shropshire dragonfly events that you would like me to list here then please do get in touch. In addition if you are a teacher you may like to know the BDS have just developed some great educational resources to help inspire the next generation – click here for details.
STOP PRESS: Dates for 2019 events below. Further details to follow.
Biolinks Dragonfly Larvae & Exuviae Workshop
Thursday 11th April, 2019
Bishops Wood Field Centre, Worcestershire
Aim: Taught by Sue Rees Evans this course is aimed at beginners. It will commence with an introduction to dragonfly larvae and the part they play in the dragonfly lifecycle. Indoor practical sessions will then focus on the identification of exuviae. After lunch the afternoon will be spent out and about at the field centre dipping in ponds and practising some hands on identification.
Meet: Bishops Wood Field Centre. The workshop will start at 10am and finish at 4pm. For further directions see
http://www.field-studies-council.org/centres/bishopswood.aspx
Requirements: Packed lunch. Wellies/walking boots and waterproofs as we will be venturing out! Total walking will be no more than 1km. Identification guides and hand lens if owned.
Contact: For full details please click on the Biolinks Larval Course. Booking can be done online via www.fscbiodiversity.uk/courses or by telephone 01743852100 or via email enquiries.bw@field-studies-council.org
Cost: £5
NB: For those who wish, the ‘Field Guide to the larvae and exuviae of British Dragonflies’ by Steve Cham will be available for purchase at £7.50 (correct cash/cheque only).
Biolinks Dragonfly Courses
Further dragonfly related Biolinks courses will be run by Sue Rees Evans in 2019. Full details and booking are not yet available but dates and locations are listed below. Full details will soon be available via www.fscbiodiversity.uk/courses and will be posted below.
Dragonfly Recording Day, Whixall Moss and Alderford Lakes
Tuesday 18th June, 2019
Learn to Love Dragonflies, Wolverhampton
Wednesday 3rd July, 2019
Damselfly Identification, Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, Craven Arms
Wednesday 10th July, 2019
Dragonfly Identification, RSPB Sandwell, Birmingham
Tuesday 16th July, 2019
Introduction to Dragonflies and Damselflies
19th– 21st July, 2019
Preston Montford Field Centre, Shropshire
Aim: This course is aimed at all those with a desire to learn more about these stunning insects. Open to all levels of ability we aim to introduce you close up to a good number of our Shropshire species of dragonfly and damselfly so that you will leave confident in your own abilities to identify them and make species records. Classroom sessions on identification, life history, larvae and exuviae will be combined with a number of field visits to a range of aquatic habitats. This will allow you to put your skills into practice and to observe and understand the visual spectacle of these fascinating insects on the wing.
Tutor: Sue Rees Evans – previously the County recorder for Dragonflies in Shropshire for 8 years and Odonata Tsar for the Shropshire Ecological Data Network.
Location: Preston Montford Field Centre (SJ433143). For further directions see
http://www.field-studies-council.org/centres/prestonmontford.aspx
The course will start on Friday evening and finish on Sunday late afternoon.
Contact: For futher details and booking please contact Preston Montford Field Centre Tel: 01743 852040 or email: enquiries.pm@field-studies-council.org
Cost: £270 (residential shared room price)
NB: For those who wish, the latest ‘Field Guide to the damselflies and dragonflies of Britain and Ireland’ by D. Smallshire & A. Swash will be available for purchase at £17.95 and the ‘Field Guide to the larvae and exuviae of British Dragonflies’ by S. Cham will be available for purchase at £7.50 (correct cash/cheque only).
Identifying Dragonflies
10am-4pm Saturday 27th July, 2019
Bishops Wood FSC Field Centre, Worcestershire
Aim: Dragonfly enthusiasts of all levels of ability are welcome to come along and learn more about these stunning insects. The day will start with a classroom session introducing this group of insects and focusing on their identification. We then head outside to the pools at the centre and hopefully introduce you close up to a good number of local species.
Tutor: Sue Rees Evans – previously the County recorder for Dragonflies in Shropshire for 8 years and Odonata Tsar for the Shropshire Ecological Data Network.
Location: Bishops Wood Field Centre. For further directions see http://www.field-studies-council.org/centres/bishopswood.aspx
Contact: For further details and booking please contact Bishops Wood Field Centre. Tel:01299 250513 or email enquiries.bw@field-studies-council.org
Cost: £45
Requirements: Packed lunch. Wellies/walking boots and waterproofs as we will be venturing! Total walking will be no more than 1km. Identification guides and hand lens if owned.
NB. For those who wish, the latest ‘Field Guide to the damselflies and dragonflies of Britain and Ireland’ by D. Smallshire & A. Swash will be available for purchase at £17.95 (correct cash/cheque only).
Dragonfly and Damselfly Walk at Whixall Moss
Sunday 16th June, 2019
Whixall Moss 2-5pm
Join Stephen Barlow at Whixall Moss NNR for a dragonfly walk at one of the best sites in Shropshire. Whixall Moss is home to numerous species of dragon and damselfly including the rare White-faced Darter. Stephen has a wealth of knowledge about the species in this area as he regularly records and photographs dragon and damselflies (and many other animals!) at Whixall Moss. Stephen will be sharing identification tips that can be used when looking at individuals that are stationary or in flight.
Meet at the Manor House NNR Base for a 2pm prompt start. For full details please click the link below: