June Sightings and News

Total species recorded during the 2007 season is 23

Teneral male Ruddy Darter at Tiverton 28.6.07. Photo © David Kitching 2007

28.6.07
When the sun finally showed for a while it was worth a look at the marlpits near Tiverton (56F SJ537616) where a few Variable Damselfly were still flying amidst a lot more Azure Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly with abundant Emerald Damselfly. Notable were the large numbers of teneral Ruddy Darter that were sheltering from the cool wind in the lee of the hedgerows and bushes.

A female Beautiful Demoiselle at Pettypool Brook 26.6.07. Photo © Bryan Roberts 2007

26.6.07
Bryan Roberts visited Pettypool Brook (66J SJ621697) today and found a pair of Beautiful Demoiselle.

Female Black Darter at Risley 24.6.07. Photo © Richard Buxton 2007

24.6.07
From garden a pond in Callands (58Z SJ599887) Ken Cross reports several Large Red Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly with a newly emerged Common Darter. Meanwhile at Plumley Reserve (77C SJ709751) Bryan Roberts found an Emerald Damselfly with several ovipositing Black-tailed Skimmer and Broad-bodied Chaser, Brown Hawker and teneral Common Darter. Richard Buxton saw a female Black Darter at Risley Moss (69Q SJ666918).

23.6.07
Bryan Roberts ventured down to the ponds at Woodend Lane (88G SJ802821) where he found a few Common Blue Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly with several teneral Common Darter. There were also teneral Common Darter and the first Emerald Damselfly of the season at Risley Moss (69Q SJ666918) reports Richard Buxton.

A pair of Blue-tailed Damselfly at Mobberley 23.6.07. Photo © Bryan Roberts 2007

20.6.07
Pete Leicester reports that Common Darter and Emperor Dragonfly are present on all ponds at Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651752) and also plenty of Common Darter and three Southern Hawker at Ashton's Flash (67S SJ665748).

18.6.07
Along the River Bollin at Macclesfield Riverside Park (97C) SJ909750 there were several Banded Demoiselle on territory and it once again looks as if this species is trying to establish here as the quality of he river improves.

Emerging Common Darter at Alderley Edge 16.6.07. Photo © Trisha Thompson 2007

16.6.07
Trisha Thompson reports a Common Darter emerging at Alderley Edge (87P SJ849785).

A well camouflaged female Emperor Dragonfly at Newchurch Common 12.6.2007. Photo © David Kitching 2007

12.6.07
At Newchurch Common (66E SJ607688) a female Emperor Dragonfly was flying near the lake whilst a female Southern Hawker was seen feeding amongst the trees. A newly emerged female Common Darter was also seen. Barry Shaw was at Arthur's Wood near Styal (88B SJ817833) where he saw another Southern Hawker.

11.6.07
A sultry day with little wind brought out plenty of insects around the county. Teneral Black-tailed Skimmer is reported by Peter Shaw from Vale Royal (66P SJ642699) and by Pete Leicester from Anderton (67M SJ651751) where he also saw several pairs of Emperor Dragonfly and Banded Demoiselle. The first Southern Hawker of the season was seen at Newchurch Common (66E SJ607688) along with a male Emperor Dragonfly and plenty of Four-spotted Chaser. A male Broad-bodied Chaser is reported by Tony Gittens from a garden pond at Mouldsworth (57A SJ501703).

In the uplands of East Cheshire near to Oakenclough (96P SJ958696) there were abundant Large Red Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly and Four-spotted Chaser. Evidence of Common Hawker was found in the form of two wings from a female that had fallen prey to the local birds shortly after emergence.

Male Broad-bodied Chaser at Moore 10.6.07. Photo © Richard Buxton 2007

10.6.07
Richard Buxton reports from Moore Nature Reserve (58S SJ578858) where he found several Emperor Dragonfly and Broad-bodied Chaser with a teneral female Black-tailed Skimmer. At Irby (28M SJ255849) Ken Rose spotted a female Azure Damselfly on a garden pond.

Male Emperor Dragonfly at Anderton. Photo © Alan Redley 2007

8.6.07
In search of Beautiful Demoiselle Barry Shaw headed for Oldcastle Mill (44S SJ471446 ) where he found 2 adults with eleven Banded Demoiselle. Moving on to Lower Wych (44X SJ 487444) he found only a few of the latter species. Finally, in dull conditions at Farndon (45B SJ411533) he located a single White-legged Damselfly and a few Banded Demoiselle and Blue-tailed Damselfly.

7.6.07
Although the day was dull a single female Emperor Dragonfly was busy feeding around the bushes at Wood Lane. Mobberley (78W SJ797822).

Tandem pair of Variable Damselfly at Hatchmere 6.6.07. Photo © David Kitching 2007

6.6.07
A sunny day in Delamere Forest (55L SJ550720) where a woodland pond held the first Brown Hawker of the year with lots of Four-spotted Chaser, several Emperor Dragonfly and Hairy Dragonfly. Nearby at Hatchmere (55L SJ552721) I saw a single female Hairy Dragonfly ovipositing with a single male Emperor Dragonfly and abundant ovipositing Variable Damselfly.

Male White-legged Damselfly in difficulties at Farndon 5.6.07. Photo © Bryan Roberts 2007

5.6.07
Bryan Roberts explored along the Dee today and found White-legged Damselfly at Farndon (45B SJ411533 and 45C SJ413542) and Aldford (45E SJ412591). At Anderton (67M SJ651752) there were single Black-tailed Skimmer and Hairy Dragonfly on the fishing ponds reports Pete Leicester who also saw eight further Common Darter. In the east of the county at Shellow Lane, Gawsworth (86Z SJ885681) a roadside pond yielded Large Red Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Azure Damselfly and several Four-spotted Chaser.

Male Black-tailed Skimmer at Anderton 5.6.07. Photo © Alan Redley 2007

4.6.07
From Vale Royal (67F SJ639703) Peter Shaw reports two male Hairy Dragonfly flying this morning along with plenty of Red-eyed Damselfly, Azure Damselfly and a few Banded Demoiselle. At Kitty's Flash on Thurstaston Common (28M SJ248844) and Red Rocks (28E SJ205882) Harry Davies saw Emperor Dragonfly, Four-spotted Chaser and Broad-bodied Chaser. Meanwhile Pete Leicester found the first Common Darter of 2007 at Anderton (67M SJ651751) where he also saw plenty of Emperor Dragonfly and Four-spotted Chaser.

Female Banded Demoiselle at Plumley 2.6.07. Photo © Richard Buxton 2007

2.6.07
Down to the Dee to look for more White-legged Damselfly and persistence was rewarded with sightings of at least 25 individuals above the Farndon bypass bridge (45B SJ411533). There is clearly an established population here and we can now hope to see this insect spread downriver in the next few years. Images have been placed on the new page for this species. Also seen were plenty of Banded Demoiselle and a few Blue-tailed Damselfly. Later, on a pond at Church Shocklach (45F SJ435502) there were several Red-eyed Damselfly, lots of Azure Damselfly and a single Four-spotted Chaser.

From the Llangollen Canal at Wrenbury (54Z SJ594482) Barrie Smith reports a pair of Banded Demoiselle. Mat Bingham headed for Vale Royal (67F SJ639703) and found three Hairy Dragonfly including a couple of ovipositing females. He also saw a few Banded Demoiselle, lots of Blue-tailed Damselfly and a Four-spotted Chaser.

Teneral female Black-tailed Skimmer at Plumley 1.6.07. Photo © David Kitching 2007

1.6.07
At Woodend Lane (88G SJ802821) Bryan Roberts saw an emerging male Four-spotted Chaser along with a few Large Red Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Azure Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly. Meanwhile a visit to Plumley Reserve (77C SJ708750) yielded very abundant Black-tailed Skimmer and a pair of Broad-bodied Chaser with a few Large Red Damselfly, Azure Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly and a single female Banded Demoiselle.

Pete Leicester reports from Anderton (67M SJ651751) that there was a male Emperor Dragonfly on territory and a male Black-tailed Skimmer also made an appearance.

Teneral female White-legged Damselfly near Farndon 1.6.07. First ever record for Cheshire. Photo © Harry Davies 2007

Harry Davies reports a new species for Cheshire having found and photographed a teneral female White-legged Damselfly on the Dee above Farndon Bridge (45C SJ413542). This species has been long sought in Cheshire and a move into the County from the Severn has been predicted for some time. It remains to be seen whether it is to become established or will remain a casual vagrant.

Teneral female Golden-ringed Dragonfly near Farndon 1.6.07. Photo © Harry Davies 2007

Interesting news from the Welsh side of the River Dee at Farndon (45C SJ409533) where Harry Davies this afternoon found a female Golden-ringed Dragonfly. This is a species that has never been confirmed as being in Cheshire and yet there have been a number of possible sightings in recent years. Clearly it could be very worthwhile to seek this insect on the Cheshire side, upriver from Farndon Bridge.

Teneral male Four-spotted Chaser at Mobberley 1.6.07. Photo © Bryan Roberts 2007

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. Good quality photographs of Cheshire Odonata for use on the news pages are also very welcome.

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