Skip to main content
search

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.

Blog

Autumn activity

Still a few records coming in so if weather and time permit it's worth keeping an eye out for our later species. Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum have been seen recently by J.Groom at Devil's Dingle near…
admin
October 22, 2015
Blog

October records

Good to report late sightings of a number of species. P. Spear was back at Eardington NR on 2nd October and saw: Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans Common Hawker Aeshna cyanea (with fabulous view of yellow costa)…
admin
October 15, 2015
Blog

Late Bulletin

Have just returned from a trip away and catching up with records it's good to see some species were flying well into September. P. Spear has been at Eardington Nature Reserve on 24th September and got…
admin
October 14, 2015
Blog

Migrant Hawker….just about!

I would like to report Migrant Hawker on the wing, but it's not entirely true. P.Roberts has reported seeing the specimen below (near Woore) being eaten by a wasp.Fortunately the wasp attacked the head and…
admin
August 21, 2015
Blog

Missing the sunshine!

 Just a couple of great photos to brighten a soggy Friday! This ovipositing female Brown Hawker Aeshna grandis was observed by P. Spear at Dudmaston Pools along with Common Blue and Blue-tailed Damselflies and Common…
admin
August 14, 2015
Blog

Dramatic Scenes!

This is definitely a Shropshire based blog, but by accident I was sent a record from northern France by Steve Davenport and thought it was definitely worth sharing. Steve observed an Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator…
admin
August 12, 2015
Blog

Species to look out for…..

Just to mention Small Red-eyed Damselfly Erythromma viridulum -as yet unrecorded in Shropshire, but recorded in neighbouring counties. We are now in the flight period for this species so please do look carefully at any…
admin
August 10, 2015
Blog

Dodging the showers….

It's certainly not been stable weather of late, but many of you are persevering and in between showers and cold spells are seeing some lovely dragons and damsels:S. Loose photographed this fabulous Brown Hawker Aeshna…
admin
August 10, 2015
Blog

Darting around Whixall Moss…

P. Spear has been enjoying the later summer darters at Whixall Moss and has sent in some great photos: This female Black Darter Sympetrum danae is clearly showing the characteristic yellow splash pattern on the side…
admin
July 27, 2015
Blog

Shropshire dragonfly course with sunshine!

Usually when I plan dragonfly teaching events there's every chance of cloud and rain, but last weekend we were lucky and the FSC course at Preston Montford witnessed 17 species! Katherine Gee has sent in…
admin
July 21, 2015
Blog

The hour of the Southern Hawker

It definitely seems to be the time to catch these fantastic insects emerging from garden ponds and is certainly the best chance of getting a photo- when they're relatively still! Lots of records received in the last…
admin
July 17, 2015
Blog

Just an after thought…

If you want to compare the face of Ruddy Darter below with Common Darter- the top photograph on this blog is a Common Darter!
admin
July 14, 2015
Blog

Ruddy Darters at last!

P. Spear has been enjoying the dragonflies at Venus Pools and has sent in the first great photo this year of Ruddy Darter Sympetrum sanguineum.  Enlarging the photo here makes the frons side line visible- this…
admin
July 14, 2015
Blog

8 species at Dearnford Lake

S. Barlow has been out and about at Dearnford Lake near Whitchurch and recorded 8 species on the wing. This is good to hear as apart from Whixall Moss there haven't been may species rich…
admin
July 10, 2015
Blog

Those Southern Hawkers!

Whenever slightly 'different things' occur it seems to be Southern Hawkers in the middle of it! P.Roberts has been in touch reporting this species emerging under his garage window some distance from the pond.......and M.Randall…
admin
July 10, 2015
Blog

A selection of great photos!

J.Almond has sent in some lovely photos of his sightings reported recently on the blog.A female Golden-ringed Dragonfly Cordulegaster boltonii ovipositing on Catherton Common. This species has a fairly distinctive ovipositing motion, almost appearing to be bouncing…
admin
July 8, 2015
Blog

A bumper year for White-legged Damselfly?

More reports of White-legged Damselflies Platycnemis pennipes seen in noticeably large numbers- this time by D.Williams on the River Severn near Hampton Loade. This year appearing to outnumber the Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens population. David's photo…
admin
July 6, 2015
Blog

4 more species on the wing!

Lots of sunshine and lots of records coming in including reports from J. Almond of Keeled Skimmer Orthetrum coerulescens and Golden-ringed Dragonfly Cordulegaster boltonii on Catherton Common. Jim also reports Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura pumilio …
admin
July 6, 2015
Blog

First photos of Emerald Damselfly

Just a couple of follow up photos from S. Barlow following his sighting of Emerald Damselfly Lestes sponsa at Whixall Moss.......and White-legged Damselfly Platycnemis pennipes in good numbers along Llangollen Canal...this one having lunch!
admin
July 1, 2015
Blog

Magnificent Emperors at Maesbrook!

P. Hopwood has been to a privately owned site near Maesbrook and reports large numbers of dragonflies and damselflies on the wing. The photos of Emperors Anax imperator he has taken are stunning- enjoy!And a…
admin
July 1, 2015

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

Close Menu