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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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Migrant Hawker on the wing…

Jim Almond has seen the first Shropshire Migrant Hawkers on the wing at Venus Pool. Having followed what he thought was initially a male on the wing close up shots eventually revealed this female with…
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August 16, 2020
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Update on the broad brood…

David Williams has sent in some great photos of the Broad-bodied Chaser larvae that he has been following in his pond. It's amazing to see how much they have grown in stature over a short…
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August 16, 2020
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More Small Red-eyed Damselflies…

News just in- further sightings of Small Red-eyed Damselfly at Wellfield Fishery, Button Bridge, Wyre Forest. That's 3 sightings so far this year....keep us posted so we can see how quickly and how far they…
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August 14, 2020
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Darting around on Whixall…

Two lovely photos of Black Darter have been sent in from Whixall Moss and they provide a useful contrast to the Common Darter female pictured in the previous post. The female Black Darter (left) has…
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August 13, 2020
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Common but stunning species…

Jim Almond has been enjoying the darters in the surrounding fields at Venus Pool and has sent in these amazing close ups of a female Common Darter. Such a common and widespread species, but Jim's…
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August 12, 2020
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Small Red-eyed Damselfly at Dudmaston

Jim Almond has been to Dudmaston and recorded Small Red-eyed Damselfly on the main pond for the second year running which is great! Jim's photos show the Small Red-eyed (left), the Red-eyed (below left) and…
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August 12, 2020
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Small Red-eyed Damselfly at Whixall…

Last year we saw the first ever sightings of Small Red-eyed Damselfly in Shropshire towards the south and east of the county. We wondered when/if this species would spread across Shropshire and Stephen Barlow has…
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August 10, 2020
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Flying over acidic waters…

Jim Almond has been visiting some of our acidic boggy sites and sent in some lovely photos...not least these fabulous Common Hawker shots (left & left & right below)seen at Titterstone Clee Hill. The teneral…
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August 3, 2020
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Keeled Skimmer on the wing…sort of!

Jan Shields has sent in a great set of interesting photos- starting with the first picture of a Keeled Skimmer for this year...no head, but you can still make out the diagnostic ochre pterostigma on…
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July 21, 2020
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Ruddy Darter on the wing…

These fabulous photos of Ruddy Darter have been sent in by Jim Almond. Taken at Venus Pool they show a male with a clearly waisted abdomen, black legs (no yellow stripe as seen in Common…
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July 13, 2020
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The well named Variable Damselfly…

Jim Almond has sent in these great photos of Variable Damselfly taken at a private site in Shropshire. It's a great name as the markings can often show variability making identification challenging for this rarity.…
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July 7, 2020
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White-faced Darters still about..

David Williams has been enjoying White-faced Darters still on the wing at Whixall Moss. I would expect an individual of this early spring species to look far more world weary in late June, but this…
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June 28, 2020
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Southern Hawkers emerging…

Jan Shields has sent in some lovely photos of Southern Hawker emerging from her garden pond...15 so far and probably many more by the time I write this! The male is seen here (left) with…
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June 28, 2020
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High Summer…

Jan Shields has returned to Aston Locks to enjoy a good number of species on the wing. Common Darter (left with visible yellow stripe on leg), Black-tailed Skimmer (below left), Four-spotted Chaser (below right) and…
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June 22, 2020
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The eggs have hatched!

Following on from David Williams amazing photos of Broad-bodied Chaser eggs....they have now hatched and David has sent in some photos of the larvae. They are around 1.5mm in size and the photograph (left) shows…
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June 22, 2020
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Black Darter on the wing…

Paul Spear has sent in some great photos of the first Black Darters of our Shropshire summer. An immature male is seen here (left) with a diagnostic yellow splash pattern on the side of the…
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June 22, 2020
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Brown and Southern Hawkers on the wing…

It's great to have so many photos of exuviae coming in and it's these photos that give us absolute proof Brown Hawker and Southern Hawker are on the wing in Shropshire...though probably sheltering from the…
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June 18, 2020
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Early emergence for 2 species…

Fiona Argyle has sent in this lovely photo of a female Common Hawker emerging from Boyne Water on Brown Clee Hill in South Shropshire on 15th June which is fairly early for this species. Reports…
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June 17, 2020
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Emerging White-legged Damselflies

Paul Spear has sent in some fascinating photos of White-legged Damselflies emerging at Coalbrookdale. The individual shown here on the left is fascinating as you can actually see the mouthparts extended forward from the front…
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June 16, 2020

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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