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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 2026 Shropshire Dragonfly Watch.

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Good numbers of Small Red-eyed Damselfly…

Jim Almond has been back to Dudmaston and taken these fabulous photos of Small Red-eyed Damselfly seen in good numbers on the main pond. Jim saw lots of copulating pairs perhaps making the most of…
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September 2, 2020
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Coping with the torrid heat of Shropshire…

Who'd have thought you could get too hot up on the Longmynd? Miles Leach has taken this great shot of a Black Darter male obelisking at Pole Cottage Pools. Usually such black coloration helps to absorb…
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August 20, 2020
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Garden Pond regulars…

Jan Shields has sent in this stunning in flight shot of a Southern Hawker taken at Mousecroft Pool near Shrewsbury. Unfortunately numbers and abundance of species appears to be low possibly due to disturbance from current…
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August 17, 2020
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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

Species recorded in 2026…

Large Red Damselfly

13th April

Blue-tailed Damselfly

23rd April

White-faced Darter

24th April

Beautiful Demoiselle

25th April

Azure Damselfly

27th April

Common Blue Damselfly

29th April

Broad-bodied Chaser

30th April

Four-spotted Chaser

2nd May

Hairy Dragonfly

4th May

Common Clubtail

5th May

Banded Demoiselle

6th May

White-legged Damselfly

10th May

Red-eyed Damselfly

20th May

Emperor Dragonfly

24th May

Black-tailed Skimmer

29th May

Golden-ringed Dragonfly

5th June

Scarce Chaser

8th June

Emerald Damselfly

12th June

Ruddy Darter

14th June

Norfolk Hawker

18th June

Southern Hawker

18th June

Brown Hawker

20th June

Common Darter

21st June

Willow Emerald

21st June

Small Red-eyed Damselfly

29th June

Black Darter

29th June

Lesser Emperor

4th July

Red-veined Darter

6th July

Migrant Hawker

19th July

Keeled Skimmer

13th August

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