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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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Emerald Damselfly on the wing…

Stephen Barlow has sent in a photo of the first Emerald Damselfly of the Shropshire flight season seen on the Marl Allotment at Whixall Moss. This photo shows a female with a stockier body than…
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June 16, 2020
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Eggstaordinary photos…

David Williams has dug a brand new garden pond in lockdown and just a couple of weeks after adding water it was visited by Broad-bodied Chasers. These are known to colonise new ponds and have…
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June 10, 2020
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Red-eyed Damselflies on the wing…

Jan Shields took a lunch break at Aston Locks recently and was rewarded with Emperors, Four-spotted Chasers, Black-tailed Skimmers, Azure Damselflies, Banded Demoiselles and our first photo of Red-eyed Damselfly- doing what it's nearly always…
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June 9, 2020
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Downy Emerald in new location…

Tom Harwood has made an exciting discovery- a Downy Emerald seen on June 1st on the Llangollen Canal near Ellesmere. This is no where near the few known sites for this species in Shropshire which…
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June 4, 2020
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Definitely White-faces…

Charles Thompson has sent in this very pleasing photo of White-faced Darters as happily they're both facing the camera with white faces (frons) clearly visible. Taken at Whixall Moss a couple of days ago in…
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June 3, 2020
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Black-tailed Skimmer on the wing…

Paul Spear has pictured this recently emerged Black-tailed Skimmer at Whixall Moss showing the distinctive black and yellow abdominal markings seen in both females and immature males. He also saw numerous Four-spotted Chaser, blue damselflies, White-faced…
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May 31, 2020
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Great weather for dragonflies…

Paul Spear has been out and about in the sunshine at Coalbrookdale and taken some glorious photos. The male Banded Demoiselle (left) looks stunning when captured with all 4 wings visible- leaving us in no…
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May 28, 2020
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The rewards of having your own pond…

I'm always thrilled when dragons and damsels emerge from our own pond, but I'd be exceedingly happy if like Yvonne from Cross Houses I had a regular emergence of Emperor Dragonflies! Yvonne has seen many…
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May 24, 2020
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Blue Damselflies abound…

Jan Shields has been to Mousecroft Pool near Shrewsbury and has managed to grab 2 quick photos of 2 different species of blue damselfly - both new to our list for 2020. Common Blue Damselfly is…
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May 24, 2020
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White-faced Darter in Woore!!

Peter Roberts has amazingly recorded this female White-faced Darter on his garden furniture in Woore! This rare species is (usually!) only recorded at Whixall Moss in Shropshire where there are ample acidic bog pools full…
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May 21, 2020
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White-legged Damselflies on the wing

19th May saw White-legged Damselflies take to the skies both at Coalbrookdale (pictured left photographed by Paul Spear) and the Marl Allotment area of Whixall Moss (pictured below photographed by Stephen Barlow). Both images show…
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May 20, 2020
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Fabulous Clubtail Emergence…

Paul Spear has sent in this fabulous set of photos illustrating Clubtail emergence. This first photo is fascinating (not just because the dragonfly has a fly on it's head!) but if you click to enlarge it…
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May 20, 2020
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Clubtails emerging in Shrewsbury…

Sam Rees has sent in these great shots of Common Clubtail seen in Doctor's Field on the River Severn in Shrewsbury. The close up left shows the clearly separated eyes - the only dragonfly (as…
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May 14, 2020
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Emperor on the wing…somewhere

Well we haven't seen it, but there's proof right here! Yvonne from Cross Houses has sent in these great exuvia shots- complete with measurements. The Emperor exuvia is really unlike anything else in this country…
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May 12, 2020
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Broad-bodied Chaser emergence

Cecilia Young has sent in some lovely emergence shots of Broad-bodied Chaser taken at her garden pond near Oswestry - presumably just before this cold snap. Over 30 exuviae were found which makes me very…
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May 12, 2020
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Banded Demoiselles on the wing

Jan Shields has seen Banded Demoiselles on the River Severn at Shrewsbury and this lovely photo (left) shows clearly the band of pigment on the wing of the male. It also illustrates the amazing spines…
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May 10, 2020
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Emergent White-faced Darter

Stephen Barlow has sent in this fabulous photo of a female White-faced Darter emerging in the spring sunshine. He described how difficult it was to achieve this photo due to this species typically emerging over 'out of…
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May 10, 2020
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2 more species spring into action!

Jan Shields has been enjoying Beautiful Demoiselles on her daily exercise along the Rea Brook. These lovely photos show a teneral female (left) and a teneral male (below left). The opaque brown eyes typical of…
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May 7, 2020
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Broad-bodied Chaser takes to the skies…

The first 2 sightings of Broad-bodied Chaser have been reported. Yvonne in Cross Houses was lucky enough to see this female (below right) emerge from her own garden pond and also gets to keep the…
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April 27, 2020
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The joy of garden ponds…

Jan Shields has also been very grateful for her own garden pond in lockdown and has sent in these fabulous photos. The exuvia below left has been left behind by an emergent Large Red Damselfly. It…
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April 24, 2020
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White-faced Darter confirmed

Stephen Barlow has today confirmed White-faced Darter are flying on Whixall Moss. He saw 6 on 22nd April (female pictured left) which equals the earliest ever records in the UK...and don't forget he's fairly sure…
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April 23, 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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