September Sightings and News

Total species recorded during the 2005 season is 23

30.9.05
In an Alderley Edge (87P SJ843789) garden Peter Morgan saw a male Southern Hawker this afternoon.

27.9.05
Rob McHale went to Rixton Claypits (69V SJ685902) today and reports plenty of Common Darter, Black Darter and Ruddy Darter with a few Common Hawker and Southern Hawker. A single Migrant Hawker was seen there on 28th.

26.9.05
This afternoon at the Weaver Parkway (66N SJ655668) it may have been dull but a Migrant Hawker was still busily feeding around the trees.

25.9.05
Ken Rose reports a female Common Darter in his garden at Irby (28M SJ255849).

At Rixton Claypits (69V SJ685902) today Ian Waller saw four Hawker species on the wing:- he recorded eleven Common Hawker, with Brown Hawker, Southern Hawker and Migrant Hawker. There were also three darter species:- Common Darter, Black Darter and Ruddy Darter.

23.9.05
At Vale Royal Locks (66P SJ642699) there were plenty of Common Darter and a few Migrant Hawker on the wing in the afternoon sunshine.

Male Migrant Hawker at Newchurch Common 20.9.05. Photo © David Kitching 2005

20.9.05
Paul Hillyer reports 20 Common Darter and a single female Southern Hawker at Brindles Pond near Pickerings Pasture (48X SJ483842) today. Meanwhile at Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690) conditions were ideal for watching dragonflies with lots of sun and only a gentle breeze. I saw at least eight Brown Hawker, lots of Common Darter and two Common Blue Damselfly. Migrant Hawker were everywhere with dozens of males flying and several copulating pairs seen.

Male Brown Hawker at Newchurch Common 20.9.05. Photo © David Kitching 2005

19.9.05
A quick visit to Cicely Mill Pool (78G SJ738870) yielded just a couple of Common Darter in windy conditions.

18.9.05
At Irby (28M SJ255849) Ken Rose reports a female Southern Hawker ovipositing at his garden pond this afternoon.

16.9.05
This afternoon at Lindow Moss (88F SJ822804) a single Brown Hawker was ovipositing in the ditches. Also seen was a singlel Black Darter and Emerald Damselfly. There were also plenty of Common Darter.

13.9.05
This afternoon at Sandhole Farm in Marton (86M SJ852660) a single female Southern Hawker was feeding over the pond.

A pair of Migrant Hawker at Newchurch Common 12.9.05. Photo © Alan Redley 2005

12.9.05
After several wet and dark days this was a scorcher by lunchtime. At Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690) there were five female Migrant Hawker ovipositing deep in the reedmace with several males patrolling nearby. Four male Brown Hawker, abundant Common Darter and a few Common Blue Damselfly and a single Blue-tailed Damselfly were also seen. Later on the Weaver Parkway (66N SJ655668) there were plenty of Common Darter and Migrant Hawker with a pair of Southern Hawker.

Female Southern Hawker at Weaver Parkway 12.9.05. Photo © David Kitching 2005

8-9-05
On the Wirral Way (37D SJ309773) a single female Southern Hawker was feeding in the gloom.

6-9-05
A very warm sunny afternoon and at Stanlow (47H SJ420752) several Migrant Hawker and Common Darter were flying. A single Brown Hawker was also seen.

A well immersed female Common Hawker at Oakenclough 4.9.05. Photo © David Kitching 2005

4.9.05
Another beautiful sunny day, although rather windier than Friday. I walked up to Oakenclough (96P SJ958696) where the Black Darter (Sympetrum danae) were abundant but keeping low to avoid being blown away, as were the large numbers of Emerald Damselfly and a single Common Blue Damselfly. Common Hawker were represented by a single male and ab ovipositing female that had climbed so far into the water that only her front wings and thorax were visible. I have never before seen a large dragonfly this far under water to oviposit. On the way back a tandem pair of Common Darter flew overhead.

Bryan Roberts went to Pickmere (67Y SJ682768) where there were plenty of Migrant Hawker, Brown Hawker and Common Darter, with a few Common Blue Damselfly.

Male Common Hawker at Newchurch Common 2.9-05. Photo © David Kitching 2005

2.9.05
A perfect late summer day. I have been trying to take a photograph of male Common Hawker for some time and had only managed a tandem pair a couple of years ago. Today at Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690) I was delighted to find a male that immediately landed close to me. Whilst it soon flew off I was able to take a couple of shots from a distance. Also present were several Red-eyed Damselfly and Common Blue Damselfly along with plenty of Brown Hawker, Migrant Hawker and Common Darter.

In the morning I was by the Weaver at Newbridge (66P SJ652686) where a male Brown Hawker was flying well before 8.00am.

1.9.05
Common Darter and Migrant Hawker were both flying in the rain today at Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651751).

Male Black Darter at Oakenclough 4.9-05. Photo © David Kitching 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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