July Sightings and News

Total species recorded during the 2008 season is 25

29.7.08
Paul Hill spotted a male Migrant Hawker in a garden at Allostock (77K SJ7471) today. Meanwhile Alan Wraithmell recorded nine species at Black Lake (57F SJ537709): Southern Hawker, Common Hawker, Four-spotted Chaser, Common Darter, Black Darter, Large Red Damselfly, Emerald Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly and Azure Damselfly.

Ovipositing Emperor Dragonfly at Crowton 27.7.08. Photo © Andy Harmer 2008

27.7.08
Andy Harmer visited Crowton (57X SJ583755) and found ten species flying, including Southern Hawker, Brown Hawker, Emperor Dragonfly, Black-tailed Skimmer, Four-spotted Chaser, Common Darter and Red-eyed Damselfly. Meanwhile at Stapeley Water Gardens (65Q SJ666513) Bob Bradshaw found a single Emerald Damselfly and Banded Demoiselle along with Azure Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Common Darter and Brown Hawker.

That shouldn't happen! Blue-tailed Damselfly confusion at Stapeley 27.7.08. Photo © Bob Bradshaw 2008

Teneral female Black Darter at Oakenclough 26.7.08. Photo © David Kitching 2008

26.7.08
A warm and sunny day for a trip onto the moors at Oakenclough (96P SJ958696) where the ponds yielded nine species flying. There were still several pairs Large Red Damselfly and a few Four-spotted Chaser and Azure Damselfly. Lots of Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly and Emerald Damselfly. Also seen were a pair of Emperor Dragonfly and a single male Common Hawker and single teneral female Black Darter.

Male Large Red Damselfly at Oakenclough 26.7.08. Photo © David Kitching 2008

Teneral male Ruddy Darter at Tiverton 24.7.08. Photo © David Kitching 2008

24.7.08
A sunny day and a chance to get out into Cheshire surveying ponds for Odonata. At Tiverton (56F SJ537616) the were plenty of Azure Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Emerald Damselfly and Ruddy Darter with Four-spotted Chaser, Emperor Dragonfly and Brown Hawker. Meanwhile at a private pond at Delamere (65Q) I found plenty of Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Azure Damselfly and a couple of Red-eyed Damselfly. There were also Common Darter, Brown Hawker and Emperor Dragonfly.

Male Emerald Damselfly at Tiverton 24.7.08. Photo © David Kitching 2008

Bernard Rose also recorded a female Southern Hawker in a garden at Neston (27Y).

Female Southern Hawker at Neston 24-7-08. Photo © Bernard Rose Photography 2008

22.7.08
Paul Sutton King reports a teneral male Southern Hawker from near the old canal in Great Sankey (59V SJ586902).

20.7.08
Bryan Roberts reports a recently emerged Southern Hawker from a garden pond in Knutsford (77P SJ747791).

Teneral male Southern Hawker at Knutsford 20.7.08. Photo © Bryan Roberts 2008

13.7.08
At Lindow Common (88F SJ833811) Trish Thompson saw a male Southern Hawker flying around the heathland.

12.7.08
Mat Bingham visited Neumann's Flash (67S SJ666755) and found plenty of Common Darter and a few Blue-tailed Damselfly

Female Black-tailed Skimmer at Lindow Common 4.7.08. Photo © Trish Thompson 2008

9.7.08
Rather later than usual, this year's first sighting of Brown Hawker comes from Moore Nature Reserve (58S SJ578858) where Brian Webber saw a single insect flying.

4.7.08
A few Black-tailed Skimmer were seen at Black Lake, Lindow Common (88F SJ834811) when Trish Thompson visited today.

Male Broad-bodied Chaser at Styal 1.7.08. Photo © Trish Thompson 2008

1.7.08
Trish Thompson took a stroll down Wilkins Lane in Styal (88H SJ831843) and found Broad-bodied Chaser and a pair of Emperor Dragonfly in cop.

A pair of Emperor Dragonfly at Styal 1.7.08. Photo © Trish Thompson 2008

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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