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 2026 Shropshire Dragonfly Watch.

Blog

Southern Hawker possible sighting…

An anonymous record for Southern Hawker 2nd June has come into iRecord via Birdtrack which unfortunately I have no way of verifying, but please do let me know if you definitely see this species on…
admin
June 4, 2025
Blog

Time to look for emeralds…

In between the threatening clouds on Saturday I was checking a privately owned site near Shrewsbury and saw 2 male Downy Emerald Dragonflies. I did my best to get a photo, but even with my…
admin
June 2, 2025
Blog

River species on the move…

Mark Priest visited Shrewsbury in search of Clubtails to find they had emerged and were no where to be seen. He was rewarded however with White-legged Damselflies. This photo of a female (left) beautifully illustrates…
admin
May 29, 2025
Blog

Beware the water boatman…

Mark Underwood has been monitoring the pools at Pole Cottage on the Longmynd and seen much ovipositing by Large Red Damselflies. On the whole this appeared to be going well, but closer inspection of the…
admin
May 27, 2025
Blog

2 more species on the wing…

Tim Walter has seen Black-tailed Skimmers at Pam's Pools near Bridgnorth and sent in these lovely photos of a female ovipositing (and reflection) and in flight. I was lucky enough to see my first skimmers…
admin
May 22, 2025
Blog

Norfolk Hawker in Shropshire…again!!

I returned to Isle Pool near Shrewsbury today and to my amazement saw 2 Norfolk Hawkers! Both were too distant for my camera so I have posted here a reminder of their appearance using a…
admin
May 21, 2025
Blog

Exuviae – the best records you can make…

It's not very often that the exuvial records outnumber records of adults! Thanks to Nicole Matton discovering these 4 exuviae on the walls of an ornamental pool at Lilleshall Hall we now have 5 exuviae…
admin
May 19, 2025
Blog

3 more species on the wing…

Friday 16th May saw the emergence of 3 more species. Jan Shields saw White-legged Damselfly (female left) on the River Severn at Frankwell and Red-eyed Damselflies were seen near Berrington and by myself in Pontesbury…
admin
May 18, 2025
Blog

Hairy Dragonfly almost in Shropshire…

Stephen Barlow has seen a number of Hairy Dragonflies at Marbury Big Mere - just outside Whitchurch, but over the border in Cheshire. Stephen's photo illustrates the broad yet tapering antehumeral (shoulder) stripes of the…
admin
May 14, 2025
Blog

A time of plenty…

Numbers of dragons and damselflies are building with all this hot weather, and with them come the predators! Ron Kinrade  has been viewing blackbirds taking their share (left) on his pond in Hemford though some…
admin
May 14, 2025
Blog

Great weather for Demoiselles…

Some of you are heading to the River Severn in Shrewsbury in search of Clubtails and also finding good numbers of Banded Demoiselles. Jan Shields has sent in this male (left) illustrating the dark band…
admin
May 13, 2025
Blog

The hour of the Clubtail…

I'm always amazed how some species can emerge on mass at a similar time. On the same day Stephen Barlow was viewing Clubtails in Shrewsbury Paul Roughley was photographing emergents and exuviae much further upstream…
admin
May 7, 2025
Blog

Clubtails emerging in Shrewsbury…

Common Clubtails were reportedly seen yesterday emerging from the River Severn in Shrewsbury and today Stephen Barlow has sent in this photo of an individual emerging. You can clearly see the old tracheal linings as…
admin
May 6, 2025
Blog

Cooler temperatures slowing things down?

I had thought there would be a flurry of activity over this weekend but I think the cooler temperatures have really held things back a little and I still have no dragonflies emerging from my…
admin
May 5, 2025
Blog

Large Reds just emerging on higher ground

Paul Thomas has sent in some lovely photos of Large Red Damselflies on Brown Clee Hill where the higher altitude means things are only just getting underway. The photo (left) shows the exuviae beneath the…
admin
May 2, 2025
Blog

3 more species on the wing!

It's going to be a busy week! Yesterday Tim Walter sent in the first records for  Blue-tailed Damselfly (left) and Azure Damselfly (below left) both seen at Pam's Pools near Bridgnorth. Beautiful Demoiselle was also…
admin
April 29, 2025
Blog

Broad-bodied Chaser on the wing…

Hopefully I'll post the evidence of Broad-bodied Chaser shortly -seen in Minsterly on 27th April which is the second earliest sighting ever of this species in Shropshire! In the meantime Stephen Barlow has photographed 1…
admin
April 28, 2025
Blog

Signs of life on Whixall Moss…

Stephen Barlow has sent in the first records this year of White-faced Darters and an 'in-flight' Four-spotted Chaser at Whixall Moss. He photographed this emergent White-faced Darter (left) and one other low down in the…
admin
April 25, 2025
Blog

Very early Common Blue Damselfly…

As temperatures dropped and rain fell the dragonfly season it seems was put largely on hold until yesterday when a flurry of Large Red Damselfly records came in and this photograph taken by Tim Walter…
admin
April 23, 2025
Blog

Flight season starts with a record!

I was fairly sure the minute I left Shropshire for a holiday the flight season would start! On 5th April Stephen Barlow recorded this Large Red Damselfly (left) at Whixall Moss. This is a Shropshire…
admin
April 14, 2025
Blog

Sunshine in the forecast…

Still only 31st March, but sitting with a glass of wine in the garden yesterday things felt very summery! As this fair weather spell continues keep your eyes open for the first Large Red Damselflies…
admin
March 31, 2025

Species recorded in 2026…

Large Red Damselfly

13th April

Blue-tailed Damselfly

23rd April

White-faced Darter

24th April

Beautiful Demoiselle

25th April

Azure Damselfly

27th April

Common Blue Damselfly

29th April

Broad-bodied Chaser

30th April

Four-spotted Chaser

2nd May

Hairy Dragonfly

4th May

Common Clubtail

5th May

Banded Demoiselle

6th May

White-legged Damselfly

10th May

Red-eyed Damselfly

20th May

Emperor Dragonfly

24th May

Close Menu