Sightings and News for June 2005

Total species recorded during the 2005 season is 21

Male Four-spotted Chaser at Whirley 28-6-05. Photo © David Kitching 2005

28.6.05
Tricia Thompson visited the new ponds close to the second runway at Stock-in-Hey Farm (88B SJ801829) where she found a pair of Black-tailed Skimmer in tandem with the female later ovipositing. This year is certainly turning out to be the one where this species is being found widely across Cheshire and this is the most north-easterly point that it has so far been recorded in the county.

Elsewhere there were lots of Emperor Dragonfly and Four-spotted Chaser flying at Whirley (88X) today. Also present were large numbers of Common Blue Damselfly and a few Red-eyed Damselfly. Barry Shaw called at Ross Mere (88F SJ821811) and was rewarded with eight species flying including six Black-tailed Skimmer, four Emperor Dragonfly and abundant Red-eyed Damselfly.

Male Emperor Dragonfly in flight 28-6-05. Photo © David Kitching 2005

A pair of Common Blue Damselfly 28-6-05. Photo © David Kitching 2005

27.6.05
Richard Castell reports from Chester Business Park (36W SJ397632) where he found Emperor Dragonfly ovipositing and a few Four-spotted Chaser with a single Brown Hawker and teneral Common Darter.

26.6.05
The numbers of Black-tailed Skimmer at Dairy House Meadow (67S SJ662757) reached ten when John Gregory visited the site. He also recorded the first Emerald Damselfly of the season along with a few Emperor Dragonfly and a single Ruddy Darter and plenty of emerging Common Darter. An unusually large number (20+) of Banded Demoiselle were also seen. Similar species were seen by Paul Hill at Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651751).

Male Common Blue Damselfly 28-6-05. Photo © David Kitching 2005

23.6.05
A single Brown Hawker was flying by the Caldy Brook in Huntington (46H SJ429646) this morning reports Richard Castell. Meanwhile at Whirley (88X) three Emperor Dragonfly were battling with a number of Four-spotted Chaser with plenty of damselflies also present, including a single male Large Red Damselfly. Matt Thomas saw the season's first Black Darter at Kitty's Flash, Thurstaston Common (28M SJ248844) along with Four-spotted Chaser and Large Red Damselfly.

Male Blue-tailed Damselfly at Whirley 23-6-05. Photo © David Kitching 2005

20.6.05
Today at Plumley Reserve (77C SJ708750) Dave Walters was surprised to find as many as 25 male Black-tailed Skimmer on territory. This is easily the largest number of this species recorded at an Cheshire site. There was also a teneral Common Darter, a few Large Red Damselfly and plenty of Azure Damselfly.

Andy Bissitt was at Dairy House Meadow (67S SJ662757) and reports seeing a couple of male Black-tailed Skimmer and abundant Four-spotted Chaser.

Male Black-tailed Skimmer at Plumley 20-6-05. Photo © Dave Walters 2005

19.6.05
Little Budworth Common (56Y SJ584661) yielded the first sightings of Brown Hawker and Southern Hawker when Paul Hill was there. Also present were Emperor Dragonfly, Broad-bodied Chaser and Four-spotted Chaser.

Bryan Roberts was at Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651751) and saw Black-tailed Skimmer in tandem and several newly emerged Common Darter. There were also plenty of Four-spotted Chaser and a couple of Broad-bodied Chaser with a single Emperor Dragonfly.

18.6.05
At Farndon (45C SJ411545) Barry Shaw found a single Club-tailed Dragonfly today. Neil Friswell was out along the Pettypool Brook (66J SJ621696) where he recorded three male and two female Beautiful Demoiselle.

17.6.05
Rob McHale was at Rixton Claypits (69V SJ685902) today and found a single Black-tailed Skimmer, three Emperor Dragonfly, with plenty of Four-spotted Chaser, Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Azure Damselfly and Large Red Damselfly.

10.6.05
At Haydn Pool on the Northwich Community Woodlands (67M SJ659753) Vernon Lundy saw the first Ruddy Darter of the season along with a single Emperor Dragonfly. At Little Budworth Common (56Y SJ584661) Dave Walters also recorded a single Emperor Dragonfly along with 40+ Four-spotted Chaser.

8.6.05
A single Downy Emerald was seen by Dave Walters at Gull Pool (56Z SJ599689) along with other wildlife :-).

7.6.05
On the Dee at Aldford (45E SJ418599) Ian Waller found abundant Banded Demoiselle, Blue-tailed Damselfly and Common Blue Damselfly. There were also Large Red Damselfly, Azure Damselfly and further downstream plenty of Red-eyed Damselfly. Meanwhile there were further Hairy Dragonfly at Vale Royal (66P SJ643699) reports Peter Shaw. He saw three males and a single female flying over the old river.

5.6.05
At Rixton Claypits (69V SJ685905) Ian Waller found six species flying. These included a single Broad-bodied Chaser, ten Four-spotted Chaser, abundant Large Red Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Azure Damselfly and a single Common Blue Damselfly.

4.6.05
From Rocksavage (58A SJ519802) Andy Harmer reports finding 64 Emperor Dragonfly exuviae but no adults in sight.

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