Sightings and News for July 2005

Total species recorded during the 2005 season is 23

27.7.05
Barry Shaw saw a single Red-eyed Damselfly at Stock-in-Hey Farm (88B SJ800826). At Oakenclough (96P SJ958696) there were several pairs of Common Hawker in tandem and ovipositing. Also seen were several Black Darter and Emerald Damselfly.

Male Black Darter near Oakenclough 27-7-05. Photo © David Kitching 2005

26.7.05
A bit of sunshine at last and at Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690) there were several Emperor Dragonfly and Brown Hawker seen. Also present were a few ovipositing Common Darter and Four-spotted Chaser with a single Southern Hawker. Meanwhile Bernard Rose saw another Southern Hawker at Chester Zoo (47A SJ413704).

Male Southern Hawker at Newchurch Common 26-7-05. Photo © David Kitching 2005

25.7.05
Today I found a single teneral male Black Darter flying at Blakemere Moss (57K SJ545713). Also present were a few Blue-tailed Damselfly..

23.7.05
Sightings of female Black-tailed Skimmer have been scarce, but today Bryan Roberts saw an ageing female around allotments at Knutsford (77P SJ744788).

22.7.05
Paul Hill reports a single Migrant Hawker flying in Holmes Chapel (76N SJ759672).

Newly emerged male Migrant Hawker at Anderton 20-7-05. Photo © David Kitching 2005

20-7-05
At Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651751) the first Migrant Hawker of the season was observed before it took its maiden flight. Also seen were masses of Common Darter, a single Ruddy Darter, Brown Hawker and Emperor Dragonfly along with a pair of Four-spotted Chaser. Damselflies comprised lots of Common Blue Damselfly and several Blue-tailed Damselfly.

Male Four-spotted Chaser at Mobberley 17-7-05. Photo © David Kitching 2005

17.7.05
This morning I took a look at the ponds close to the new runway at Wood Lane , Mobberley (78V SJ792819, 79W SJ795821, SJ797822 and 88B SJ800825). There were lots of Emperor Dragonfly flying and ovipositing and every hedgerow seemed to have a Brown Hawker feeding along it. One pond had lots of Black-tailed Skimmer and there were lots of Four-spotted Chaser and Common Darter around. A single teneral Emerald Damselfly was seen.

A rather battered female Emperor Dragonfly at Mobberley17-7-05. Photo © David Kitching 2005

16.7.05
Ian Waller visited Rixton Claypits (69V SJ685902) and was rewarded with seeing twelve species. There were three hawkers, Common Hawker, Southern Hawker and Brown Hawker, with Emperor Dragonfly, Four-spotted Chaser, Broad-bodied Chaser, Black-tailed Skimmer and Common Darter. Damselflies included a single male Banded Demoiselle and several teneral Emerald Damselfly.

Aberrant markings on a deformed Common Blue Damselfly at Rixton 16-7-05. Photo © Ian Waller 2005

First Common Darter image of the year taken at Mobberley 17-7-05. Photo © David Kitching 2005

14.7.05
Further evidence of Banded Demoiselle along the River Bollin comes from Tony Catsworth who reports a female at Thorns Green (77Z SJ797841). Meanwhile Rob McHale and Craig Higson were out along the Checkley Brook (74E SJ705484 to 74I SJ735462) where they found abundant Beautiful Demoiselle and a number of other damselflies including a single Banded Demoiselle and also Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly and Azure Damselfly.

Female Beautiful Demoiselle ovipositing on the Checkley Brook 14-7-05. Photo © Craig Higson 2005

12.7.05
A scorching hot day at Billinge Green Flash (67V SJ681713) where large numbers of male Black-tailed Skimmer were seen over both pools. There was incessant clashing with a couple of Four-spotted Chaser whilst a number of Brown Hawker patrolled the trees and a few teneral Common Darter were also seen.

Male Black-tailed Skimmer at Billinge Green 12-7-05. Photo © David Kitching 2005

11.7.05
It was a delight to find a number of Banded Demoiselle along the River Bollin at Macclesfield Riverside Park (97C SJ909750). The river has always been rather polluted here and maybe these first records for the Bollin in Macclesfield indicate an improvement in water quality. Also seen was a single Brown Hawker over the river and a few Azure Damselfly on an adjacent pond.

The delightful pond at Lower Moss Wood 11-7-05. Photo © David Kitching 2005

At Lower Moss Wood ( 77X SJ782749) the main pond was busy with Emperor Dragonfly and Brown Hawker competing for territory with several Four-spotted Chaser. Damselflies seen included a number of Red-eyed Damselfly.

Male Red-eyed Damselfly at Lower Moss Wood 11-7-05. Photo © David Kitching 2005

10.7.05
The were lots of teneral Common Darter and Ruddy Darter at Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651751) today when Mat Bingham visited. A short distance away at Dairy House Meadow (67S SJ662757) Paul Hill reports lots of dragonflies on the ponds there. These included Emperor Dragonfly, Black-tailed Skimmer, Southern Hawker, Brown Hawker, Common Darter and Ruddy Darter.

9.7.05
Up on the moors at Oakenclough (96P SJ958696) there were two Emperor Dragonfly on territory and several teneral Common Hawker having recently emerged. There were also a number of sets of wings on the ground where the local birds had been feeding on the latter species. Also seen were several Four-spotted Chaser and Large Red Damselfly with plenty of Common Blue Damselfly and Azure Damselfly.

Bryan Roberts was in the hills at Dunge Valley (97T SJ979765) and also recorded Common Hawker flying.

Male Emperor Dragonfly at Oakenclough 9-7-05. Photo © David Kitching 2005

8.7.05
Dave Walters returned to Plumley Reserve (77C SJ708750) where he found three male Black-tailed Skimmer on a windy day. Eight other species were flying there: Southern, Common and Brown Hawker, Common and Ruddy Darter, Blue-tailed, Azure and Large Red Damselfly. I have also been advised by Kim Connolly of a sighting of Beautiful Demoiselle on the Pettypool Brook (66J SJ621696).

Male Beautiful Demoiselle at Petty Pool Brook 8-7-05. Photo © K Connolly 2005

2.7.05
The month has begun with poor weather and a lack of reports. The first record to reach me has come from Alan Redley who discovered a number of Southern Hawker emerging from the pond in his garden at Leftwich (67Q).

Teneral Southern Hawker at Leftwich 2-7-05. Photo © A Redley 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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