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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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More Variable Damselflies spotted

Michael Foley took advantage of the weather window last Thursday and visited Berrington Pool where amongst the Common Blue and Azure damselflies he also spotted Variable Damselfly and Red-eyed Damselfly. This is a regular site…
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June 9, 2014
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The Emperor Arrives!

Just returned from checking a privately owned site to the north east of Shrewsbury where I was lucky enough to see Downy Emerald -recorded for the second year at this location which is great. Though the…
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June 6, 2014
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Southern Hawkers emerging

After a couple of suspected hawker sightings from Jonathan Groom in the last few days we now have definite proof that hawkers are on the wing. Warwick Davies spotted the emerging larvae on his pond near…
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June 6, 2014
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The joy of blue damselflies…

Barry Smith has been keeping an eye on Whixall Moss this weekend and reports numerous Azure, Large Red and Blue-tailed Damselflies and Four-spotted Chasers and White-faced Darters. A reported hive of activity with ovipositing and…
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June 2, 2014
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More Club-tails and White-legs

Good news from Jonathan Groom that amid numerous Banded Demoiselles a smattering of White-legged damselflies were putting in an appearance on the River Severn near Buildwas this weekend.Hopefully most of them looked in better order than…
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June 2, 2014
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Tricky female damselflies!

Gwyn and Sue Hiatt have been out enjoying the challenges of female damselflies at Newport Canal. Three lovely pics seen below all showing the same species Blue-tailed Damselfly: The first 2 show the immature female form…
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May 27, 2014
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Broad-bodied Chasers on the wing

Rob Stokes has been also been enjoying Whixall Moss and on the 18th May saw several Broad-bodied Chasers in addition to White-faced Darters and Large Red damsels.A lovely wide unmistakeable dragonfly, but not typically a fan…
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May 21, 2014
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Spots before the eyes at Whixall!

Barrie Smith reports Whixall Moss is a hot bed of activity recording over 100 Four-spotted Chasers on 19th May. Good numbers engaged in all activites from copulating on the wing to ovipositing to territorial battles-…
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May 20, 2014
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Demoiselle Double at Rea Brook

Having spotted Beautiful Demoiselle earlier this month Jonathan Groom has returned to Rea Brook to find Beautiful and Banded Demoiselle- the latter shown below.The guide books highlight the different habitats preferred by these species- typically…
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May 20, 2014
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Great weather and 3 more species on the wing!

A fabulous weekend had many people out enjoying dragonflies including Jay Mitchell spotting Large Red and Common Blue  damsels on the Rea Brook and Gwyn and Sue Hiatt recording over 10 Beautiful Demoiselles and a…
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May 18, 2014
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Four Spots take to the skies

Good to hear some more dragons are joining the fray with Barrie Smith spotting at least a dozen Four-spotted Chasers at Whixall Moss yesterday (15th May). Numerous White-faced Darter and Large Red Damselflies also seen at…
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May 16, 2014
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More Beauties on the Wing

Jonathan Groom has been spotting Beautiful Demoiselles again -and this time with a camera. 3 males were seen today at Mor Brook near Eardington. They have been seen on this brook before, but at Morville…
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May 14, 2014
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Tricky weather for emergence

The good news is damselflies are emerging from the top to the bottom of the county with Large Red Damselfly being recorded on May 13th down south in Ludlow by Peta Sams. The not so…
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May 14, 2014
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Beautiful Demoiselle on Rea Brook

An interesting sighting of Beautiful Demoiselle made by Jonathan Groom today on the Rea Brook in Shrewsbury. No photo, but I couldn't resist putting one in from the British Dragonfly Society as this is a…
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May 7, 2014
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Common Blue Damselfly enjoying the sun!

Very pleased to actually report some sightings myself today- Common Blue Damselfly recently emerged from it's nearby exuvia at a fishery pond near Pontesbury. The good news is I had a pot for the exuvia,…
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May 6, 2014
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Azure Damselflies take to the wing

A new week and a new species for 2014! Thanks to Warwick Davies continuing to watch his pond near Oswestry we have the first Azure Damselfly sighting for 2014 on 5th May. Warwick also reports…
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May 6, 2014
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Round up of the first week

The flight season is definitely underway with further reports of Large Red Damselfly spotted by Keith Fowler at Hope Valley SWT on 30th April. More individuals of this species were also seen on 3rd May…
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May 6, 2014
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Large Red Damselflies emerging in Oswestry

It seems like Monday the 28th April was definitely launch day for Shropshire's dragonflies. Thanks to Warwick Davies keeping a close eye on his garden pond near Oswestry we have sightings of 2 teneral Large Red…
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April 29, 2014
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White-faced Darter on the wing!

A great start to the blog thanks to Barrie Smith who saw 2 teneral White-faced Darters at Whixall Moss today April 28th. According to my data this is the earliest ever recorded sighting of this…
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April 28, 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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