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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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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 …
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July 6, 2015
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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!
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July 1, 2015
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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…
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July 1, 2015
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First sighting of Common Hawker for 2015

S. Barlow has been back at Whixall Moss where a good number of species are active. It seems to be one of those weeks where everything is catching up and Common Hawker Aeshna juncea has…
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July 1, 2015
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Up close emergence

W. Davies has been in touch with photos of Southern Hawker emerging from his pond near Oswestry. The photos below show some great detail of the head and anal appendages and highlight the huge change…
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June 30, 2015
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First records of late summer species!

A strange season which has taken so long to get going and yet I have recently received reports from S. Barlow of Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum and Emerald Damselfly Lestes sponsa at Whixall Moss. No…
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June 30, 2015
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Summer at last!

A hot day found me racing off from work to stroll along the canal between Blakemere and Colmere. Numerous White-legged Damselflies were a highlight on the canal and large numbers of Black-tailed Skimmer present at…
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June 30, 2015
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White-legged Damselflies at Whixall

Good to hear Whixall is busy with dragon and damselflies now that we've had some convincing summer weather! K.Lugg was still observing good numbers of White-faced Darters Leucorrhinia dubia last week as well as Large…
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June 29, 2015
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Skimmers and Brown Hawker on the wing!

Great to get some sunshine yesterday and to be surrounded on the Long mynd by numerous Four-spotted Chaser doing everything at 100 miles an hour! Records have started to come in for Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum…
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June 24, 2015
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The joy of exuviae!

More reports of Southern Hawker Aeshna cyanea emerging as M.Cousins found 10 exuviae around her pond near All Stretton on 14th June along with 2 older Broad Bodied Chaser Libellula depressa exuviae. It's always great…
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June 17, 2015
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Emperors and Southern Hawkers take flight!

No photos, but good news that 2 of our larger Shropshire based species have joined the scene. Having just suggested the chance of Emperors this morning I heard from J.Groom with a suspected sighting last…
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June 15, 2015
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Whixall Moss update

After a very soggy Saturday, Sunday was a big improvement and P. Hopwood reports a number of species seen at Whixall and better still some great photos:Four- spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata  Female Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma…
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June 15, 2015
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Downy Emeralds on the wing!

A much better day today involved checking a private site east of Shrewsbury where Downy Emerald Dragonfly Cordulia aenea has been spotted for the last few years and the good news is it is still…
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June 10, 2015
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Four more species on the wing!

Well it sounds like I was surrounded by dragons and damsels, but I had to work hard to find them! I ventured off to 2 privately owned meres near Shrewsbury today, and on my arrival…
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June 9, 2015
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Broad-bodied Chasers on the wing

Frustratingly things are still taking a while to get going! Records are drifting in of Common Blue Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Beautiful and Banded Demoiselles and Large Red Damselfly as seen below photographed by P. Roberts near…
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June 8, 2015
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On the wing at Whixall..

Good to hear news from Whixall Moss where Barrie Smith saw Four-spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata, Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula and White-faced Darter Leucorrhinia dubia all this morning.  Barrie's photos below show the mature male White-faced…
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May 27, 2015
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Azures aloft

Delaying work this morning I took a stroll around Radbrook and was pleased to see my first Azure Damselflies of the season.This is the female green form with extensive black on the abdomen. A closer…
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May 27, 2015
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Climbing the walls…

I often spend time scouring emergent vegetation looking for dragonfly and damselfly exuviae but this record of Four-spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata from Peter Roberts in Woore (NE Shropshire) is a great reminder to check everywhere!Larvae…
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May 27, 2015
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Beautiful sight near Morville

Fabulous to enjoy a bit of sunshine today and whilst visiting Pam's Pools near Mor Brook I was greeted by a good number of Beautiful Demoiselles Calopteryx virgo. Great to see both males and females in…
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May 26, 2015
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Free lunch!

Having received an email from David Williams entitled 'free lunch' I could never have imagined it meant the following.....Dragonfly recording on  the River Severn at Hampton Loade David came across the following Common Club-tail disaster:The…
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May 26, 2015
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Two more species finally on the wing!

Just when I was starting to wonder what was happening welcome news arrives from Roger Littleover that Common Club-tail Gomphus vulgatissimus has been seen over near Quatt. Roger's photo below shows the stocky straight sided…
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May 18, 2015

Species recorded in 2026…

None yet…

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