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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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Autumn glory…

Just checking records on iRecord and found this wonderful picture of Common Hawker taken by Geoff Hall at Wildmoor Pool a few days ago. The light on the wings is beautiful and I couldn't resist…
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September 16, 2021
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Bizarre Ovipositing…

Whenever dragonflies are spotted ovipositing in odd places it always seems to be a Southern Hawker. Jan Shields photographed this female ovipositing in dry moss at the base of an old dry birdbath just a…
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September 13, 2021
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Winging our way towards autumn…

Incredibly it's September tomorrow, but judging by records coming in from the weekend there's still a lot of dragonfly activity to be enjoyed. Miles Leach has been at a pond near the base of Brown Clee Hill…
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August 31, 2021
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Not for the faint hearted…

Jill Orme has witnessed some extraordinary behaviour whilst observing Common Hawkers at Pole Cottage Pools on the Long Mynd. As the photographs rather grimly show, a female was going about her business ovipositing when a…
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August 16, 2021
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Male and female Emerald Damselflies

Miles Leach has been enjoying Emerald Damselflies at a relatively new pond near the base of Brown Clee Hill. This photo shows beautifully the differences between male and females of this species. Whilst both insects…
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August 10, 2021
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A new site for Small Red-eyed Damselfly!

I finally returned to teaching dragonfly courses yesterday which was a joy! Not only did the sun come out, but at Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, Craven Arms we were treated to a first sighting of…
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August 5, 2021
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New record for Prees Heath

Prees Heath Common Reserve is well known to butterfly enthusiasts, but the warden Stephen Lewis has recently recorded the dragonfly Black Darter - pictured left. This male was seen on 1st August and represents the…
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August 3, 2021
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Beauties at the Bog…

Jan Shields has sent in some lovely photos from the Bog, Stiperstones. Pictured left is the UK's largest dragonfly the Emperor and if you look closely you can see nearly all of an Emerald Damselfly…
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July 28, 2021
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Common Hawker- female blue form

Andy Warr has been enjoying the dragonflies at Pole Cottage Pools on the Long Mynd and has come across the rarer female blue form of Common Hawker. Usually the females are brown with yellow spots as…
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July 27, 2021
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Migrant Hawker on the wing…

Stephen Barlow has seen 2 Migrant Hawker on Prees Heath. Firstly a male flying past and then a female who conveniently stopped for a photo. The picture shows the distinctive long anal appendages of the…
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July 27, 2021
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Now for something completely different..

This is a sighting made by Lauren Ollie Waldron in April 2020 which has only recently come to my attention...so I'm posting it 16 moths late (!) because it's still worth sharing. Lauren spotted a…
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July 26, 2021
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Another encore from White-faced Darters!

One more just for luck! Well 2 actually, seen by Stephen Barlow at Whixall Moss on 21st July chasing off an Emperor Dragonfly and reportedly being far more effective at this than Common Hawkers. The…
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July 22, 2021
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Look into my eyes…

Eyes can be a useful clue in dragonfly identification. Nearly all dragonflies in the UK have a degree of contact between the eyes however the Golden-ringed Dragonfly photographed here by Jan Shields at Carding Mill…
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July 22, 2021
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Keeled Skimmer on the wing

Whilst I cower in the shade Jan Shields has been out in the midday sun at Cramer Gutter enjoying the first sightings of Keeled Skimmers. These dragonflies are fairly discreet, but well worth the effort…
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July 20, 2021
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Those Ruddy Darters!

Darters can present a challenge with respect to identification and it's always worth taking a good look at your photos. At first glance you may well think the photo (left) is a Common Darter, but…
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July 20, 2021
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…well maybe one more!

I almost knew as I typed the words 'there'll be no more White-faced Darters' that I was tempting fate...and here we are with a photo from John Kirkland taken on 16th July at Whixall Moss.…
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July 19, 2021
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Last of the White-faced Darters for 2021…

Stephen Barlow reports that White-faced Darters are now very few and far between on Whixall Moss. On July 14th he found just 1 solitary male pictured left and Stephen knows all the best places to…
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July 16, 2021
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Piecing the clues together…

Miles Leach noticed this female Southern Hawker emerging from his garden pond and was surprised to find it still there the following day...and a few days after that. On closer inspection there was no sign…
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July 16, 2021
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White-legged Damselfly form lactea

Julie Rogers has sent in more great photos taken near the canal at Whixall Moss. This immature female White-legged Damselfly (left) is really pale with barely any markings and referred to as form lactea. She…
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July 15, 2021
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The most important records…

Yes, exuviae are rather brown and drab, but they are also the most important biological records as they are proof that a species has successfully bred at a particular waterbody. In this case Andy Warr…
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July 14, 2021
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A Garden Favourite…

Well 2 garden favourites really...raspberries and Southern Hawkers! Liz Honer has sent in this lovely photo of a male Southern Hawker...still maturing as the colours are quite pale, but the diagnostic abdominal markings are very…
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July 13, 2021

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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