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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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Setting the record straight…

After writing the last post I thought it was time for some 'textbook' dragonflies and Nick Moss has sent in this perfectly straight male Golden-ringed Dragonfly..and what's more this wasn't in his living room, but…
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July 9, 2021
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Golden-ringed dragonfly moves in!

Theresa Jones has had the extraordinary experience of wondering into her living room to find a Golden-ringed Dragonfly! Even stranger, Theresa's living room is not surrounded by typical Golden-ringed habitat, but in Longden just southwest…
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July 6, 2021
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Southern Hawker finally emerges!

Finally against the 'hungry birds odds' a Southern Hawker has successfully emerged from Jan Shields pond! Lovely to see these garden pond favourites on the wing and if you have a close encounter with a…
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July 1, 2021
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The joys and frustrations of your own pond…

Miles Leach has been keeping an eye on a friends new farm pond on the western slopes of Brown Clee Hill and has photographed Broad-bodied Chasers (left) and Azure Damselflies (below left). Broad-bodied Chasers are…
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June 28, 2021
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A couple of common species?

...well both called 'common' but that's misleading! Pictured left is a female teneral Common Darter - a common and widespread species found at almost any kind of waterbody from mid/late summer onwards. This individual was…
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June 25, 2021
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2 more species on the wing…

Black Darters have been seen by Gareth and Nicole Lambe on Whixall Moss and they have sent in 2 lovely photos of females.  The upper photo shows clearly the black triangle shape on top of…
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June 24, 2021
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A closer look at Downy Emerald …

A bit of cloud has given Jim Almond a chance to look through his recent pictures and he has sent in 2 more glorious photos of male Downy Emerald. You can clearly see the waisted…
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June 17, 2021
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The heat is on…

..and chaos ensues! Stephen Barlow has sent in these images of White-faced Darters from Whixall Moss. The image left shows a male attempting to drag another male away from the female (far left in the…
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June 15, 2021
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Club sandwich

Andy Beech has sent in this photo of a female Clubtail lunching on what we think is/was a damselfly. This individual was seen in Copthorne Park away from the River Severn. The majority of records…
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June 15, 2021
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All hail the Emperor…

It seems the hour of the Emperor Dragonfly is upon us! Returning to email I found several sightings of this fabulous insect starting on 11th June at the Wyre Forest and then on 12th June…
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June 15, 2021
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2 more species on the wing

Another hot day yesterday saw Jim Almond and myself battling through bogs and undergrowth to survey a private pool near Shrewsbury, but all was worth it when we saw Downy Emerald (left and below left)…
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June 10, 2021
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Tricky Blue-tailed Females

Tricky because female Blue-tailed Damselflies come in 5 colour forms. Two of these forms are immatures; form violacea with a purple thorax that we featured recently on the blog, and form rufescens. The latter is…
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June 8, 2021
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Clouds of Four-spotted Chasers

Jan Shields has had an amazing visit to Aston Locks where she saw up to 100 Four-spotted Chasers including emergent and teneral individuals and many on the wing- really great to hear of such numbers…
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June 3, 2021
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Chasing round the pond

Well my garden pond has mostly birds chasing around it who are sadly clearing up most of the emergent damselflies in the process! Warwick Davies is having more luck, after a slow start to the year…
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June 2, 2021
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Wonderful White-faced Darters!

Paul Spear has been out in the heat of the day at Whixall Moss and has sent in some wonderful photos of White-faced Darters. A male (left) and female (below left) in flight and a…
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June 1, 2021
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A closer look at female Common Blues…

Jim Almond has sent in these photos of a female Common Blue Damselfly which illustrate some of the useful diagnostic points to split these from other species. Broad antehumeral stripes are clearly visible on top…
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June 1, 2021
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Two more species on the wing…

A taste of sunshine has allowed 2 more species to emerge. Stephen Barlow saw this teneral male White-legged Damselfly on Marl Allotment at Whixall Moss, presumably having emerged from the nearby canal and now sheltering in the…
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May 28, 2021
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Emergent Demoiselles…

Paul Spear has sent in these great photos of Demoiselles emerging at Coalbrookdale. Pictured left is the mature larvae...though difficult to tell if Beautiful or Banded without a closer look...and both species were present. Below…
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May 27, 2021
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A closer look at form violacea

These lovely photos sent in by Jim Almond show us an immature female Blue-tailed Damselfly form violacea. Strictly speaking this is really an immature immature form violacea as even the purple coloration hasn't fully developed…
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May 26, 2021
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Worth the wait!

Jim Almond has sent further photos and some fascinating detail about the Broad-bodied Chaser emerging from his pond. The dragonfly emerged on 20th May just in time for 'biblical rains' which then ensued for a number…
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May 26, 2021
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Common Clubtail & Demoiselles on the wing

Paul Spear has sent in some lovely photos of the first Common Clubtails seen at Coalbrookdale on 19th May. You can clearly see the diagnostic separation between the eyes and the Clubbed tail - more…
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May 25, 2021

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

Black-tailed Skimmer

19th May

Norfolk Hawker

21st May

Variable Damselfly

21st May

Golden-ringed Dragonfly

29th May

Emerald Damselfly

30th May

Downy Emerald Dragonfly

31st May

Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly

4th June

Common Darter

6th June

Black Darter

11th June

Common Hawker

13th June

Ruddy Darter

14th June

Keeled Skimmer

14th June

Brown Hawker

15th June

Southern Hawker

28th June

Small Red-eyed Damselfly

29th June

Migrant Hawker

24th July

Willow Emerald Damselfly 

30th July

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