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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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Winging around Whixall…

Stephen Barlow has been keeping an eye on Whixall Moss observing numerous Black Darters and Common Hawkers, Common Darter (photo left), Brown Hawker and a solitary Emperor. Interestingly only a few damselflies were spotted and I've certainly…
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August 19, 2016
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Keeled Skimmer on the wing

Finally a bit of summertime and with it some Keeled Skimmers. I checked a remote site for these insects about a month ago with no success so was very pleased when I returned to the Long…
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August 17, 2016
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Ruddy Darter feeling the heat?!

Jan Shields has been grabbing the recent windows of sunshine at Mousecroft Pool in Shrewsbury and took this lovely shot of a Ruddy Darter in the 'obelisk' position. The insect points it's abdomen directly at…
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August 10, 2016
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Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly sighted…

After much hunting Jim Almond spotted this lovely female immature Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly on Titterstone Clee Hill. Having tried to find this species myself (with no success!) I'm really pleased Jim has spotted this often…
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August 2, 2016
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Common Hawker in action….

J. Shields seems to have the magic touch when it comes to Common Hawkers; firstly catching this beautiful in flight shot at Whixall Moss and then being 'landed on' by a lunching individual at Carding…
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July 28, 2016
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Golden-ringed on the move?

An interesting record has been received from M. Rogers who saw this Golden-ringed Dragonfly on 21st July at Severn Valley Country Park, Alveley. This species is typically associated with a few acidic running water sites…
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July 26, 2016
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Keeping an eye on Blue-tailed Damselflies

Just returned from teaching a dragonfly course in County Durham and received such a great couple of photos from A.Kelly that they had to make it on to the Shropshire blog! The Blue-tailed Damselfly is…
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July 26, 2016
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Black Darters at Bettisfield

P.Sams braved the heat on Wednesday and saw Black Darters on Bettisfield NNR including this pair incop showing clearly the diagnostic yellow splash pattern on the side of the thorax. R. Drew has also sent…
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July 21, 2016
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The Heat is on!

And I shouldn't complain as I wilt at the laptop! Traditionally as a course finishes the weather turns spectacularly hot and much more dragonfly activity abounds. A cycle trip to Country Garden Roses just near Hadnall revealed…
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July 20, 2016
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Ruddy Darter on the wing

Last weekend was the Preston Montford FSC Dragonfly course and despite a dubious forecast we managed to dodge all the showers and see 16 species which was great. These included several sightings of Ruddy Darter…
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July 20, 2016
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Five Golden-Ringeds!

Not quite the Christmas carol, but the real thing! 5 of these fabulous large dragonflies seen by J. Shields on 8th July at Carding Mill Valley and an earlier one seen by R. Webster on…
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July 11, 2016
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Half a Common Hawker record…

S. Barlow has been keeping an eye on things at Whixall Moss and reports that numbers are generally down following this recent lack of summer weather. That said, he did spot a partial Common Hawker…
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July 5, 2016
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Southern Hawkers emerging…

P. Sams reports finding 8 Southern Hawker exuviae on her pond just south of Shrewsbury on 22nd June. Great to have this gregarious species on the wing and definitely a favourite on garden ponds as W.Davies…
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June 28, 2016
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Face to face with early Black Darters…

Jan Shields came face to face with the first Black Darters of the season on Friday 24th June at Whixall Moss- seeing 6 in total.Jan's photo (left) and Stephen Barlow's photo (taken on 26th June…
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June 27, 2016
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New Shropshire Species!!!

Excellent news -Paul Hope has spotted a male Lesser Emperor Anax parthenope whilst cycling close to Fenemere north of Shrewsbury (SJ442226). In his own words he was so shocked he nearly fell of his bike,…
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June 21, 2016
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Emerald Damselflies on the wing

S. Barlow has been enjoying the first Emerald Damselflies of the year at Whixall Moss along with numerous White-faced Darters, Four-spotted Chasers and Azure, Common Blue, Blue-tailed and Large Red Damselflies. The male Emerald is…
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June 21, 2016
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Persevering in the downpour…

Despite the dramatic change in weather S. Barlow has still managed to seek out some White-legged Damselflies sheltering in the vegetation up near Whitchurch. This lovely photo shows the broad flattened legs of the male…
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June 16, 2016
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Downy Emerald in flight

Two more lovely photos taken by J. Almond last week showing the Downy Emerald in all it's glory with striking eyes and a really noticeable club shaped abdomen.J. Almond also photographed this female Blue-tailed damselfly…
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June 14, 2016
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Very Variable Damselflies…

Just a few of the great photos taken by Jim Almond last week showing firstly a textbook Variable Damselfly with great exclamation marks on the thorax, a black spur on the side of the thorax…
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June 14, 2016
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Not so successful emergence…

R. Knisely-Marpole has been in touch with some grim yet fascinating photos of a failed Common Hawker emergence -not in Shropshire but still worth posting. Richard thinks the poor individual probably fell from it's emergence…
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June 10, 2016
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The heat is on!

Wow- amazing dragonfly weather and things have really picked up. I visited a number of private sites yesterday and was rewarded with great records of Downy Emeralds, Variable Damselflies, Emperor Dragonflies, 100s of Common Blue…
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June 9, 2016

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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