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 2026 Shropshire Dragonfly Watch.

Blog

Slowly but surely…

Well it couldn't be more different to last spring when good numbers of damselflies were already out and about in early April. Here we have evidence from Stephen Barlow of the first individuals appearing up…
admin
April 16, 2026
Blog

2026 flight season underway!

Tricky April weather and tricky recording as I am unable to check iRecord for incoming records due to a security issue- hopefully soon to be resolved! Despite this the first Large Red Damselfly has been…
admin
April 13, 2026
Blog

On your marks…

Nothing reported yet, but keep your eyes open for the first Large Red Damselflies. 2025  saw the earliest ever Shropshire individuals emerge on April 5th! This exuviae was photographed by Jan Shields in previous years,…
admin
March 31, 2026
Blog

Any more sightings?….

It's that crazy time of year where people are already talking Christmas so I thought I'd post a reminder to please make sure you have all your records entered into iRecord or emailed to myself…
admin
November 12, 2025
Blog

Glorious autumn sunshine…

Once the day warms up there are still a reasonable number of dragonflies on the wing. Geoff Hall has sent in this pair of Migrant Hawkers seen at Dinham Bridge, Ludlow and Jan Shields has…
admin
September 25, 2025
Blog

How times change…

Just 7 years ago neither of these species were recorded in Shropshire and now Tim Walter has sent in photos from Comer Wood of Small Red-eyed Damselflies (left) and Willow Emeralds (below). In other counties…
admin
August 27, 2025
Blog

Heat and confusion…

Geoff Hall has sent in this pair of Darters in cop seen at The Bog. At a glance all seems well until you realise the male is a Black Darter and the female a Common…
admin
August 25, 2025
Blog

Second Site for Willow Emerald…

Geoff Hall has seen Willow Emerald at Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre at Craven Arms- only the second recorded site for this species in Shropshire! This male was seen illustrating the characteristic spread wings, the long…
admin
August 17, 2025
Blog

15 Keeled Skimmers!

Jan Shields was treated to no less than 15 Keeled Skimmers at Cramer Gutter last Friday. Lovely and surprising to see given how dry everything is becoming. Apparently they were all male and no females.…
admin
August 10, 2025
Blog

Declining species…

Mark Underwood has sent in some great photos from Pole Cottage Pools on the Longmynd - showing 2 of our sadly declining upland species that have both been classified as Endangered on the recently updated…
admin
August 7, 2025
Blog

ID close ups…

Julian Livsey has sent in a great close up of Migrant Hawker seen near Pontesbury. This male has text book 'reduced' antehumeral stripes and a perfect yellow 'golf tee' shape on segment 2 of the…
admin
August 5, 2025
Blog

Norfolk Hawker near Church Stretton!

Bob Dennison (County Dragonfly Recorder for Radnorshire) has seen a male Norfolk Hawker flying at New House farm Pools SO4694 9429 near Church Stretton. No photo, but incredible that we now have 3 separate locations…
admin
August 4, 2025
Blog

Darters to be aware of…

Jan Shields has sent in some great photos of darters...not all from the UK, but all these species are now present in the UK so it's definitely worth being aware of some rarities you just…
admin
July 30, 2025
Blog

A photo-bombing hoverfly…

Mark Underwood planned to photograph this Black Darter up at Pole Cottage Pools only to find someone else in the photo! The result is a beautiful display of black and yellow insects and a reminder…
admin
July 17, 2025
Blog

Doing what it says on the tin…

Geoff Hall has sent in this wonderful photo of the white frons (face area) of the White-face Darter seen up at Whixall Moss. The photo below also shows white veins extending beyond the pterostigma towards…
admin
July 10, 2025
Blog

Useful things to look for…

Andrew Turner has sent in these lovely photos of a male Golden-ringed Dragonfly seen at Cramer Gutter. They really illustrate close up the fabulous green eyes that meet just at a single point. You can…
admin
July 8, 2025
Blog

Spots before the eyes…

Bob Kemp has sent in this great photo of a Four-spotted Chaser and wonderful reflection! It is a form called praenubila which simply has more black at the wing nodes and towards the end of…
admin
July 2, 2025
Blog

2 more species on the wing…

Sightings of Small Red-eyed Damselfly have come in from Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre where Geoff Hall saw about 10 individuals - some beautifully pictured here. The red eyes on this species really do stand out…
admin
July 1, 2025
Blog

A few more shots of Norfolk Hawker…

I make no apologies for more photos of Norfolk Hawker as I still find it incredible that we have it in 2 locations (so far) in Shropshire. Roger Wilkinson saw a mating pair and 1…
admin
June 26, 2025
Blog

Keeled Skimmer & more…

Thank you so much for all the photos and records that are coming in -it makes it hard to select a few! Geoff Hall has been at Upper Darnford where he spotted this female Keeled…
admin
June 24, 2025

Species recorded in 2026…

Large Red Damselfly

13th April

Close Menu