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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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A pair of Golden-Ringeds

Meurig Garbutt recently journeyed to Titterstone Clee Hill in search of the aptly named Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly. Unfortunately she had no luck in that department, but amongst the Blue-tailed, Common Blue and Large Red Damsels…
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July 7, 2014
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Catherton Common in full swing!

Gary Palmer and Rob Stokes both report visiting this area recently, Gary recording a good number of male and female Keeled Skimmers and pairs in cop. Gary's photo below clearly shows the antehumeral stripes on…
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July 7, 2014
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Four-spotted Chaser – form praenubila

A great shot below taken by Paul Hopwood at Whixall Moss on 3rd July. When four-spots have more extensive patches of black at the wing nodes and sometimes dark smudges of colour towards the end…
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July 7, 2014
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More Ruddy Darters

Paul Hopwood was also at Venus Pool yesterday and captured some fantastic shots of Ruddy Darter. Thought I'd put them on the blog firstly because they're great shots, but also because they show a more…
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July 2, 2014
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Ruddy Darters on the wing!

1st July and the first Ruddy Darter record received from Rob Stokes. This immature male specimen was seen at Venus Pool just south of Shrewsbury and the lovely photo below clearly shows the waisted abdomen. Zooming…
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July 1, 2014
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Scarce Blue-tailed Damselflies on the wing!

Jason Kernohan has recorded Scarce Blue-tailed Damselflies in the south of the county at Titterstone Clee Hill. This species has been recorded here before, but as the name suggests it is rare in Shropshire so…
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June 27, 2014
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White-legged Damselfies at Whixall

Another sunny day yesterday and Barrie Smith was out spotting White-legged Damselflies on Whixall Moss. In recent years 1 or 2 sightings have come in from this area but records for this species on Whixall are…
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June 26, 2014
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A Brace of Club-tails!

For all those frustrated by fruitless searches for Club-tails I thought I'd share David William's sighting of 'a marvellous brace of club-tails' seen at Hampton Loade last Saturday (21st June). Not only were they numerous, but also…
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June 26, 2014
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The joy of exuviae!

Popped out to a couple of ponds near The Bog, Stiperstones and saw a good number of hawkers emerging. Fantastic to see both a Common Hawker (first I've heard of this season!) and a Southern…
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June 25, 2014
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Black Darter recorded on Whixall Moss

Sue Loose was out enjoying the heat of Whixall Moss on Sun 22nd and recorded the first Black Darter of the season- a female photographed beautifully below showing the diagnostic black triangle on top of…
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June 24, 2014
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Emerald Damselfly seen in Pontesbury!

Just a quick update.....struggling to work in the heat I thought time would be better served drifting past a pond or two...and it was...Brown Hawkers, Emperor Dragonfly, a smattering of blue and red damsels and a…
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June 23, 2014
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More early Common Darters enjoying the sunshine

Kain Prestwood has recorded more female Common Darters at Eardington NR on 22nd June amongst numerous Common Blue Damselflies and a number of Four-spotted Chasers.This photo shows a fully intact specimen at the start of…
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June 23, 2014
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Possible sighting of Emerald Damselfly

Fabulous weather and lots of records coming in including a possible sighting of Emerald Damselfly at Whixall Moss by Meurig Garbutt on 20th June. Unfortunately no photos due to Meurig doing battle with biting insects- something…
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June 23, 2014
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Common Darters on the wing!

Following a conversation with Keith Fowler re a possible sighting of Common Darter a number of days ago (to be confirmed...) I subsequently received proof from Ian Barrie with the following photo of a teneral…
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June 20, 2014
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White-legged Damselflies on Rea Brook

Having spent a frustrating cloudy hour stood at Rea Brook yesterday I was very pleased to hear from David Williams who had been the day before and seen everything! Banded and Beautiful Demoiselles, Large Red…
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June 20, 2014
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Black-tailed Skimmers on the wing

David Williams was out enjoying 'clouds of bewildering blue damsels' at Dudmaston on Saturday 14th. Amongst the Common Blues, Blue-tailed and Azures he took this great shot of Red-eyed Damselflies in cop at Seggy Pool.Also…
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June 16, 2014
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Friday 13th -lucky for some!

Paul Hope and Christian East both struck lucky last Friday with early separate sightings of the magnificent Brown Hawker. Paul saw an individual hawking along the hedgerow near Betton Abbots just south east of Shrewsbury…
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June 16, 2014
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Dabbling in Damselflies

Gwyn and Sue Hiatt have been very busy recording near Telford which keeps me occupied (!) and also provides some lovely photos to share. At Priorslee Lake on 6th June amongst a plethora of damselflies they…
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June 9, 2014

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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