Sightings and News for August 2005

Total species recorded during the 2005 season is 23

Male Black Darter at Shemmy Moss 30-8-05. Photo © David Kitching 2005

30.8.05
At Shemmy Moss (56Z SJ595687) there were lots of Black Darter and Common Darter to be seen. Eight male Migrant Hawker were on territory with three Brown Hawker and a single Common Hawker. Damselflies seen were Common Blue Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly and Emerald Damselfly.

Ken Rose spotted plenty of Common Darter in his garden pond in Irby (28M SJ2584).

Male Banded Demoiselle at Aldford 29-8-05. Photo © Paul Hillyer 2005

29.8.05
Paul Hillyer was on the Dee at Aldford (45E SJ410592) where he saw several male and female Banded Demoiselle along with six Emerald Damselfly and a single Common Darter.

A female Common Darter finds an unusual perch at Irby 28-8-05. Photo © Ken Rose 2005

Female Southern Hawker at Irby 20-8-05. Photo © Ken Rose 2005

28.8.05
From a garden pond in Irby (28M SJ2584) Ken Rose reports Common Darter and Southern Hawker.

Male Ruddy Darter at Tiverton Marlpits 23-8-05. Photo © David Kitching 2005

23.8.05
To Tiverton Marlpits (56F SJ535616) where there were lots of Ruddy Darter with several pairs ovipositing in the marginal mud. Also present were single Migrant Hawker and Emerald Damselfly.

Ovipositing female Migrant Hawker at Cholmondeston Hall 23-8-05. Photo © David Kitching 2005

22.8.05
Up along the Gritstone Trail in the hills at Dumkins (96M SJ948648) a female Southern Hawker was busy feeding amongst the alder trees this afternoon. A male of the same species was down by the Dane at (96L SJ944637).

Female Southern Hawker at Neston 20-8-05. Photo © Bernard Rose Photography 2005

21.8.05
Mat Bingham reports several Migrant Hawker and Common Darter at Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690). He also saw single Brown Hawker and Ruddy Darter.

20.8.05
Bernard Rose has sent a lovely photograph of a female Southern Hawker ovipositing on a sandstone block by a garden pond in Neston (27Y SJ2977). Elsewhere, on the Macclesfield Canal at Congleton (86K S858614) there were male Southern Hawker and Brown Hawker flying. At Clincton Wood near Widnes (48X SJ482855) Paul Hillyer saw Emperor Dragonfly, Brown Hawker, Common Darter and Blue-tailed Damselfly.

Female Black-tailed Skimmer at Rixton 20-8-05. Photo © Ian Waller2005

At Rixton Claypits (69V SJ685902) Ian Waller recorded eleven species comprising a very late female Black-tailed Skimmer, Common Hawker, Brown Hawker, Southern Hawker, Migrant Hawker, Common Darter, Black Darter, Common-blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Azure Damselfly and Emerald Damselfly.

Female Brown Hawker at Lindow Moss 18-8-05. Photo © David Kitching 2005

18-8-05
At Lindow Moss (88F SJ822804) there were several Brown Hawker flying and ovipositing along with several Black Darter and Common Darter. Also seen were a single Migrant Hawker and a few Common Blue Damselfly.

Male Emperor Dragonfly at Cholmondeston Hall 17-8-05. Photo © David Kitching 2005

17.8.05
A nice sunny day and a walk across to the marlpits in Church Minshull (66K SJ645615). Plenty of action there with several Emperor Dragonfly and Brown Hawker and just one Migrant Hawker. There were also plenty of Common Darter and Ruddy Darter and there was plenty of opportunity to observe how the latter species behaves. The males were keeping close to the lush bankside vegetation and making short flights along the bank with some forays out into the field where they would alight in the grass for a short time. Damselflies comprised Emerald Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly. Some of the ponds in the adjacent field look similar to those elsewhere that support populations of Blue-tailed Damselfly and a late May/early June visit might be worthwhile next year.

Up the road at Cholmondeston Hall (65P SJ644595) there were several more Emperor Dragonfly and Brown Hawker with a few Common Darter and Common Blue Damselfly.

Male Black Darter at Oakenclough 14-8-05. Photo © David Kitching 2005

14-8-05
Another trip to Oakenclough (96P SJ958696) where there were plenty of Emerald Damselfly and Black Darter in cool and windy conditions.

		11.8.05 A trip to Dairyhouse Meadows (67S SJ665755) resulted in sightings of late examples of Emperor Dragonfly and Four-spotted Chaser. There were lots of Brown Hawker ovipositing too. This appears to be the peak week each year for quantity of this latter species in Cheshire. At Rixton Claypits (69V SJ685902) Ian Waller found more late Emperor Dragonfly and Four-spotted Chaser. There were also Common Hawker, Southern Hawker, Brown Hawker and Migrant Hawker flying along with Common Darter and Black Darter. Damselflies comprised Common Blue Damselfly and Emerald Damselfly.
Male Brown Hawker at Rixton 11-8-05. Photo © Ian Waller 2005

10.8.05
From a garden in Sutton Weaver (58K SJ549802) David Norman reports a teneral male Migrant Hawker.

Teneral male Migrant Hawker at Sutton Weaver 10-8-05. Photo © David Norman 2005

9.8.05
At Plumley Limebeds (77C SJ708750) today Dave Walters found that there were still good numbers of Black-tailed Skimmer flying and ovipositing. There were plenty of Common Darter and single Brown Hawker and Migrant Hawker.

8.8.05
I was delighted to see a female Migrant Hawker at Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690) this lunchtime. It had not developed full adult colouring and the markings were still grey rather than the full yellow that will develop. The insect stayed put whilst I photographed it and I was able to see just how small this species is compared to the Southern Hawker, a male of which species was hanging in a bush nearby.

Bryan Roberts was at Danes Moss (97A SJ908705) where he found Common Hawker flying with plenty of Black Darter.

Female Common Hawker at Oakenclough 7-8-05. Photo © David Kitching 2005

7.8.05
Another trip to Oakenclough (96P SJ958696) ponds in an attempt to obtain photographs of the abundant Common Hawker there. Photographing this species is never easy as it is so easily spooked into the air when approached. It is also hard work finding this insect on the ground. I was lucky in finding a female that tolerated my approach for a few seconds before returning to ovipositing along with several others. There were plenty of males around but I could not catch one with the camera. Also present were plenty of Black Darter and a few Common Darter. Emerald Damselfly was conspicuous on all ponds.

Male Emerald Damselfly at Newchurch Common 5-8-05. Photo © David Kitching 2005

5-8-05
A breezy afternoon at Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690) and for the first time this year I was able to get close enough to a Brown Hawker for photographs. Several Southern Hawker were flying in the sheltered areas near the trees and a few Emerald Damselfly were also seen.

Male Brown Hawker eating a Gatekeeper butterfly at Newchurch Common 5-8-05. Photo © David Kitching 2005

4.8.05
Ian Waller visited Rixton Claypits (69V SJ685902) where he found seven species flying. These were Southern Hawker, Brown Hawker, Common Darter, Black Darter, Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly and Azure Damselfly. This nature reserve is well worth a visit as it has a large number of species breeding

2.8.05
A walk across Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690) yielded two teneral male Migrant Hawker, a single male Southern Hawker and Ruddy Darter with plenty of Brown Hawker. A single male Emperor Dragonfly was feeding over the grasslands. Across Northwich at Anderton Nature Park ( 67M SJ651751) there were lots of Brown Hawker ovipositing, a single Emperor Dragonfly and masses of Common Darter.

At Burton (37C SJ315743) Bernard Rose photographed a teneral female Southern Hawker.

Female Southern Hawker at Burton 2-8-05. Photo © Bernard Rose Photography 2005

If you have made any Odonata observations in Cheshire and would like to share them with others or wish to take part in the recording scheme please email me.

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