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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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Evidence Of Common Hawker…

Jason Kernohan has been on the trail of the aptly named Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly on Titterstone Clee Hill. Sadly to no avail this time, but he did find the first evidence of Common Hawker emerging…
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June 20, 2018
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Brown Hawker on the wing

Brown Hawker has been recorded at Prees Heath Common and is seen (albeit fairly well camouflaged) ovipositing in this photograph taken by Stephen Barlow. Also recorded on this visit were Common Blue, Blue-tailed and Azure…
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June 19, 2018
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A lack of personal space…

Jan Shields has sent in a lovely photo of a Red-eyed Damselfly annoying a female Emperor Dragonfly whilst ovipositing at Mousecroft Pool. I'm not sure why some damselflies do this- please get in touch if…
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June 18, 2018
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2 more species on the wing!

James Gloyn has had a successful trip to Crammer Gutter and sent in our first 2018 photos of Golden-ringed Dragonfly (left) and Keeled Skimmer (below). Stephen Barlow also had a possible sighting of Keeled Skimmer…
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June 15, 2018
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Emerald Damselfly on the wing

Stephen Barlow has recorded the first Emerald Damselflies on the wing this year at Whixall Moss. He spotted several tenerals including this one pictured left. Elsewhere Jan Shields has been enjoying Beautiful Demoiselles at Shawbury…
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June 11, 2018
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Red-eyed Damselflies at Whixall Moss

Stephen Barlow has recently spotted Red-eyed Damselflies at Whixall Moss -the first records at this location since 1986! As Stephen points out they have probably drifted across from the nearby canal -a more typical recording…
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June 8, 2018
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Great weather for dragonflies!

The sun keeps shining and the photos keep coming! Stuart Bolt has been back to Sainsburys in Telford..not for shopping I hasten to add, but for Emperor Dragonflies (left). Elsewhere Ron Parnell has been enjoying…
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June 6, 2018
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Demoiselles on Display…

Paul Spear has been enjoying beautiful Beautiful (below left) and Banded (left) Demoiselles at Venus Pool. A female demoiselle is also seen (below right) though I'm not stating Banded or Beautiful as they are far…
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June 4, 2018
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All in a day at Dudmaston

Tim Preston recently saw a good number of species at Big Pool, Dudmaston; Four-spotted and Broad-bodied Chasers, Banded Demoiselles, Azure Damselflies and Red-eyed and Blue-tailed Damselflies having a close encounter in this stunning shot. Tim…
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June 4, 2018
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Mites at Mousecroft…

Jan Shields has sent in an interesting photo of a Common Blue Damselfly taken at Mousecroft pool near Shrewsbury. The damselfly is clearly covered in a good number of mites seen around the thorax. These…
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June 4, 2018
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White-faced Darter emergence

Jan Shields has been enjoying White-faced Darters both at Whixall Moss and Chartley Moss and has sent in these lovely emergence shots and a fabulous adult male. Jan also saw Four-spotted Chasers (bottom left) and…
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May 31, 2018
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Common Darters emerging…proof!

Finally a few pictures from my own pond in Shrewsbury showing Common Darter emerging. I spent far too long this morning trying to rescue a failed emergence before suddenly spotting another 4 more successful attempts…
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May 30, 2018
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Busy Bank Holiday…

A very exciting bank holiday as my relatively new pond here in Shrewsbury yielded it's first exuvia on Monday- an early Common Darter. And just to underline the success, a second emerged this morning and…
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May 29, 2018
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Broad-bodied and slightly slimmer…

Tim Preston has sent in a great photo of the male Broad-bodied Chaser (left) also seen at Shawbury Heath this week and it gives me a chance to post this alongside the female (right). When seen…
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May 25, 2018
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White-legged Damselflies at Whixall

Stephen Barlow reports White-legged Damselflies on Llangollen Canal at Whixall Moss and Whixall Marl Allotment -seeing in excess of 50. This species is being surveyed by the BDS this year so all sightings are particularly  important…
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May 24, 2018
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Common Clubtails in Shrewsbury

Andy Beech has been enjoying the highs and lows of emerging Club-tails right in the middle of Shrewsbury on the River Severn in the Quarry. He took this great sequence of emergence shots which I…
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May 23, 2018
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Collection of species at Coalbrookdale

Paul Spear has already seen a good few species this year at Coalbrookdale. The first Common Blue Damselfly (left) was recorded here on May 13th along with Large Red Damselfly (below left). A subsequent visit…
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May 23, 2018
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White-faced Darters

So things really got underway just as I headed out of the county! Stephen Barlow saw the first White-faced Darters emerging on 4th May and captured this photo of a teneral female. Large Red Damselflies…
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May 23, 2018
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Things hotting up…

Just returned from the wind and rain of the Outer Hebrides to find incredible Shropshire temperatures. Unsurprisingly a good few sightings have taken place whilst away and the current species list for 2018 is now…
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May 21, 2018

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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