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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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Darters to be aware of…

Jan Shields has sent in some great photos of darters...not all from the UK, but all these species are now present in the UK so it's definitely worth being aware of some rarities you just…
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July 30, 2025
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A photo-bombing hoverfly…

Mark Underwood planned to photograph this Black Darter up at Pole Cottage Pools only to find someone else in the photo! The result is a beautiful display of black and yellow insects and a reminder…
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July 17, 2025
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Doing what it says on the tin…

Geoff Hall has sent in this wonderful photo of the white frons (face area) of the White-face Darter seen up at Whixall Moss. The photo below also shows white veins extending beyond the pterostigma towards…
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July 10, 2025
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Useful things to look for…

Andrew Turner has sent in these lovely photos of a male Golden-ringed Dragonfly seen at Cramer Gutter. They really illustrate close up the fabulous green eyes that meet just at a single point. You can…
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July 8, 2025
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Spots before the eyes…

Bob Kemp has sent in this great photo of a Four-spotted Chaser and wonderful reflection! It is a form called praenubila which simply has more black at the wing nodes and towards the end of…
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July 2, 2025
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2 more species on the wing…

Sightings of Small Red-eyed Damselfly have come in from Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre where Geoff Hall saw about 10 individuals - some beautifully pictured here. The red eyes on this species really do stand out…
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July 1, 2025
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A few more shots of Norfolk Hawker…

I make no apologies for more photos of Norfolk Hawker as I still find it incredible that we have it in 2 locations (so far) in Shropshire. Roger Wilkinson saw a mating pair and 1…
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June 26, 2025
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Keeled Skimmer & more…

Thank you so much for all the photos and records that are coming in -it makes it hard to select a few! Geoff Hall has been at Upper Darnford where he spotted this female Keeled…
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June 24, 2025
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Norfolk Hawker in flight…

There have now been 4 sightings of Norfolk Hawker (that I know of!) up on Whixall Moss. Bob Kemp has sent in these lovely inflight shots showing clearly the green eyes and clear wings that…
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June 24, 2025
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Norfolk Hawker photos…

Ron Kinrade has sent in these lovely photos of 3 Norfolk Hawkers seen at Whixall Moss on 19th June on the large lake when you have just passed the advertised White-faced Darter pool. The clear…
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June 20, 2025
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Let’s do lunch!

Mark Underwood has sent in this photo of a female Brown Hawker enjoying what looks like an exotic lunch? This was taken at Bayston Hill Quarry where reportedly there were loads of Broad-bodied and Four-spotted…
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June 18, 2025
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Four new species on the wing…

Tim Walter has sent in this beautiful multiple exposure photo of Ruddy Darter flying from a bramble at Pam's Pools. Tim also sent in the inflight Emperor (left below) which shows really clearly the blocks…
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June 16, 2025
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Between the downpours…

Heavy rain has postponed an afternoons damselfly identification course so I thought I'd post a couple of recent records showing what we may have seen! Planning to visit Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre we may well…
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June 12, 2025
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Black Darters at Whixall…

Daniel Johnson and Gwen Earlham have recorded the first early Black Darters emerging at Whixall Moss. 5 were seen in total and this photo (left) clearly shows the diagnostic black triangle on top of the…
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June 11, 2025
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Common Darter on the wing…

On the 6th June Tim Walter photographed this fairly fresh looking Common Darter. This close up enables us to clearly see the yellow stripe extending down the black legs - the most useful feature to…
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June 9, 2025
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Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly on the wing…

David Williams has sent in these great photos of Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly seen unexpectedly at Beckbury Meadows - a privately owned site on the River Worfe flood plain between Albrighton and Bridgnorth. This site is…
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June 5, 2025
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Southern Hawker possible sighting…

An anonymous record for Southern Hawker 2nd June has come into iRecord via Birdtrack which unfortunately I have no way of verifying, but please do let me know if you definitely see this species on…
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June 4, 2025
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Time to look for emeralds…

In between the threatening clouds on Saturday I was checking a privately owned site near Shrewsbury and saw 2 male Downy Emerald Dragonflies. I did my best to get a photo, but even with my…
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June 2, 2025
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River species on the move…

Mark Priest visited Shrewsbury in search of Clubtails to find they had emerged and were no where to be seen. He was rewarded however with White-legged Damselflies. This photo of a female (left) beautifully illustrates…
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May 29, 2025
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Beware the water boatman…

Mark Underwood has been monitoring the pools at Pole Cottage on the Longmynd and seen much ovipositing by Large Red Damselflies. On the whole this appeared to be going well, but closer inspection of the…
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May 27, 2025

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

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