May Sightings and News

Total species recorded during the 2007 season is 15

29.5.07
After the rain and wind the afternoon sunshine soon brought the Odonata back into the air. Alan Redley reports lots of Banded Demoiselle along the Weaver at Anderton (67M SJ651751). Business took me to Woodend Lane at Mobberley (88G SJ804823) where a newish pond yielded lots of Azure Damselfly and several Common Blue Damselfly with single Four-spotted Chaser and Blue-tailed Damselfly. At Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690) two male Downy Emerald were seen with the usual selection of damselflies and a single Four-spotted Chaser.

Tandem Banded Demoiselle at Anderton 29.5.07. Photo © Alan Redley 2007

24.5.07
The first Black-tailed Skimmer of the year are reported by Dave Walters who visited Plumley Reserve (77C SJ708750) and found two males and an ovipositing female. Nearby was a male Broad-bodied Chaser.

22.5.07
Pete Leicester went to Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651751) and found several Four-spotted Chaser with abundant and ovipositing Large Red Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Red-eyed Damselfly and Azure Damselfly. On the Broad-bodied Chaser (66S SJ665757) were several male Banded Demoiselle. Richard Buxton travelled to Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690) but only found a male Four-spotted Chaser.

Male Banded Demoiselle at Anderton 20.5.07. Photo © Richard Buxton 2007

20.5.07
At Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651751) Richard Buxton found a male Banded Demoiselle. The 'Gomphus Day' walk along the Dee at Aldford (45E SJ415596) was a success with at least seven Club-tailed Dragonfly seen along with Four-spotted Chaser, Hairy Dragonfly, Banded Demoiselle, Large Red Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Red-eyed Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly and Azure Damselfly. In the afternoon at Churton (45I SJ430565) we added Variable Damselfly and noted several Hairy Dragonfly on territory and also ovipositing.

Meanwhile at Stapeley Water Gardens (65Q SJ663513) Bob Bradshaw watched several pairs of Azure Damselfly ovipositing whilst a number of Robins worked hard at collecting the damselflies to feed their young.

Azure Damselflies meet a premature end in the beak of a Robin at Stapeley Water Gardens 20-5-07. Photo © Bob Bradshaw 2007

Male Blue-tailed Damselfly at Anderton 18.5.07. Photo © Alan Redley 2007

18.5.07
Alan Redley had a windswept visit to Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651751) where he saw a male Hairy Dragonfly and also Blue-tailed Damselfly. Meanwhile at Newchurch Common (66E SJ604686) Neil Friswell found ten Downy Emerald in a sheltered clearing. Later he travelled to the Petty Pool Brook at Whitegate (66J SJ621696) and found a single male Beautiful Demoiselle.

Bluer form of Azure Damselfly at Woodend Lane 15.5.07. Photo © Bryan Roberts 2007

15.5.07
Mel Bellingham reports that Red-eyed Damselfly are to be found on the Shropshire Union Canal at Backford (47A SJ413712) where a number were observed including a tandem pair. Aquatic vegetation was a bit sparse but a floating crisp packet provided a good perch! This is a new 10k square record for the species. At the other end of the county Bryan Roberts visited ponds at Woodend Lane (88G SJ802821) and saw a single Four-spotted Chaser and several Large Red Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Azure Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly.

Male Broad-bodied Chaser at Newchurch Common 14.5.07. Photo © David Kitching 2007

14.5.07
On a bright but windy afternoon at Newchurch Common (66E SJ604686) a male Broad-bodied Chaser was feeding around the gorse. Dave Walters saw another Broad-bodied Chaser at Little Budworth Common (56Y SJ584661). Nearby the numbers of Downy Emerald were greater than ever with plenty of females around. At Woolston Eyes (68N SJ651879) Richard Buxton photographed Red-eyed Damselfly.

Male Red-eyed Damselfly at Woolston Eyes 14.5.07. Photo © Richard Buxton 2007

Female Hairy Dragonfly at Tilston 12.5.07. Photo © Neil Friswell 2007

12.5.07
From the Carden Brook at Tilston (45K SJ453508) Neil Friswell reports a pair of Hairy Dragonfly with plenty of Large Red Damselfly, Azure Damselfly and a single Blue-tailed Damselfly. Pete Leicester recorded a male Banded Demoiselle on the Witton Brook (67M SJ657750) and Richard Buxton photographed a teneral female Four-spotted Chaser at Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690). Mat Bingham went down to the Weaver at Vale Royal (67F SJ639703) and found a female Hairy Dragonfly ovipositing and a single female Banded Demoiselle with a few Red-eyed Damselfly and plenty of Blue-tailed Damselfly. He also found an Emperor Dragonfly emerging at Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651751).

11.5.07
Down at Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651751) I met Pete Leicester and we both observed a male Hairy Dragonfly, a few Four-spotted Chaser and plenty of Common Blue Damselfly and Large Red Damselfly. At Churton (45I SJ430565 ) Neil Friswell found three Hairy Dragonfly with a single Four-spotted Chaser and a couple of Variable Damselfly. There were also plenty of Large Red Damselfly and Azure Damselfly.

Female Club-tailed Dragonfly at Aldford 10.5.07. Photo © Dave Walters 2007

10.5.07
At Aldford (45E SJ415596) Dave Walters found four more Club-tailed Dragonfly this afternoon. Earlier at Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690) the Downy Emerald were more numerous than ever with several Four-spotted Chaser also seen. Azure Damselfly, Red-eyed Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly and Large Red Damselfly were very abundant and a few Blue-tailed Damselfly were also present.

9.5.07
Pete Leicester was at Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651752) and recorded Red-eyed Damselfly with plenty of Large Red Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly. On the Witton Brook (67M SJ657750) he saw a male Hairy Dragonfly. Trisha Thompson also found Red-eyed Damselfly at Woolston Eyes (68N SJ651879).

8.5.07
Seven species were recorded today at Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690) where the Downy Emerald were particularly abundant as were the teneral Red-eyed Damselfly. Also seen were Four-spotted Chaser, Large Red Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly and Azure Damselfly.

Female Four-spotted Chaser at Newchurch Common 12.5.07. Photo © Richard Buxton 2007

7.5.07
A dull day but Dave Walters was able to find a teneral Red-eyed Damselfly with male Banded Demoiselle and Azure Damselfly on the old river at Vale Royal (67F SJ639703). Meanwhile at Danes Moss (97A SJ907704) I found a single Large Red Damselfly. Mat Bingham found two Emperor Dragonfly emerging in the rain at Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651751). A single Club-tailed Dragonfly was seen by Paul Hillyer at Aldford (45E SJ415596).

Emerging female Downy Emerald at Gull Pool 6.5.07. Photos © Trisha Thompson 2007

6.5.07
Although the bright sunshine has been replaced with cloudier and cooler conditions it is well worth looking out for emerging insects. Trisha Thompson was out on the Whitegate Way adjacent to Gull Pool (66E SJ600687) and was able to watch a female Downy Emerald emerging right by the path.

Blue-tailed Damselfly emerging on a water lily label tag at Stapeley Water Gardens. Photo © Bob Bradshaw 2007

5.5.07
Mat Bingham recorded the first Emperor Dragonfly of the year at Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651751) and also found 18 Four-spotted Chaser exuviae .

Male Blue-tailed Damselfly at Moore 4.5.07. Photo © Richard Buxton 2007

4.5.07
From Moore Reserve (58S SJ578858) Richard Buxton reports seeing Blue-tailed Damselfly flying today. Dave Walters saw two Hairy Dragonfly at Vale Royal (67F SJ639703).

3.5.07
Down at Vale Royal (67F SJ639703) Peter Shaw reports a male Banded Demoiselle and a male Hairy Dragonfly flying on the old river. On the Dee at Aldford (45E SJ415596) a male Common Blue Damselfly and three teneral Club-tailed Dragonfly were seen and a single exuvia found. This is a new breeding record for this tetrad. During the afternoon Bryan Roberts recorded eleven Club-tailed Dragonfly over 2km along the Dee south of Aldford blue bridge. He also saw a teneral male Broad-bodied Chaser near Maiden Castle (55B SJ500528).

Female Club-tailed Dragonfly at Aldford 3.5.07. Photo © David Kitching 2007

2.5.07
Another beautiful sunny day and at Delamere Forest (55L SJ550720) there were lots of Large Red Damselfly including a tandem pair. At nearby Hatchmere (55L SJ550720) a couple of teneral Variable Damselfly were seen. Later at Vale Royal Locks (67F SJ639703) a single Hairy Dragonfly was spotted. Meanwhile Neil Friswell was on the Dee at Holt opposite Farndon (45C SJ409545) where he saw lots of teneral Club-tailed Dragonfly and a single male Banded Demoiselle. Bryan Roberts also saw a Banded Demoiselle on the canal at Whatcroft (66Z SJ681694).

Male Large Red Damselfly at Delamere Forest 2.5.07. Photo © David Kitching 2007

Teneral male Variable Damselfly at Hatchmere 2.5.07. Photo © David Kitching 2007

1.5.07
I went over to Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690) again and found lots of teneral Downy Emerald and abundant Common Blue Damselfly and Large Red Damselfly. Mike Gough recorded the first Broad-bodied Chaser of the year at a garden pond in Great Sutton (37T SJ378761) where Blue-tailed Damselfly were also seen.

Teneral male Downy Emerald at Newchurch Common 1.5.07. Photo © David Kitching 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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