May Sightings and News

Total species recorded during the 2011 season is 15

Common Club-tail (Gomphus vulgatissimus)
Hairy Dragonfly (Brachytron pratense)

Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator)
Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata)
Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa)
Downy Emerald (Cordulia aenea)
Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum)

Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens)
Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula)

White-legged Damselfly (Platycnemis pennipes)
Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum)
Red-eyed Damselfly (Erythromma najas)
Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans)
Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella)
Variable Damselfly (Coenagrion pulchellum)


Male Downy Emerald at Gull Pool 31.5.11. Photo © Richard Gabb 2011

25.5.11
Phil Corley called at Rixton Claypits (69V SJ685907) and in high winds he found a couple of Emperor Dragonfly, Four-spotted Chaser and three Black-tailed Skimmer. There were also several Large Red Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, and Azure Damselfly.

24.5.11
A single teneral Black-tailed Skimmer was flying at Neumann's Flash (67S SJ667754) today when Bryan Roberts visited.


Female Common Club-tail at Aldford 22.5.11. Photo © P Corley 2011

22.5.11
Out along the Dee at Aldford (45E SJ415596) Phil Corley recorded a dozen Common Club-tail and plenty of Red-eyed Damselfly. He also located six White-legged Damselfly, the first record of the latter species in 2011.


Teneral female Red-eyed Damselfly at Aldford 22.5.11. Photo © P Corley 2011

21.5.11
Martin Pennell reports that at Marbury Big Mere (54M SJ557457) there were a few Variable Damselfly flying with a couple of Red-eyed Damselfly. Paul Hill saw Red-eyed Damselfly at Budworth Mere (67N SJ650767) and Dairyhouse Meadow (67S SJ663757).

20.5.11
On the River Dane near Holmes Chapel (76T SJ772678) Richard Gabb saw plenty of Banded Demoiselle flying today.


Male Banded Demoiselle at Holmes Chapel 20.5.11. Photo © Richard Gabb 2011

19.5.11
Bill Furse reports several Common Club-tail at Aldford (45E SJ415596) and two Downy Emerald flying at Gull Pool (56Z SJ599689). Meanwhile Bryan Roberts was at Furey Wood and the adjacent River Weaver (67M SJ657744) and located a female Hairy Dragonfly in the wood whilst the river had plenty of Banded Demoiselle. At Thurstaston Common (28M SJ243848) Michael Gardner saw several Four-spotted Chaser and plenty of Large Red Damselfly.


Male Common Club-tail at Aldford 19.5.11. Photo © William Furse 2011

17.5.11
At Newchurch Common (66E SJ602687) Vicky Nall found plenty of Red-eyed Damselfly and abundant Common Blue Damselfly at the fishing lake.

14.5.11
At Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651751) today Mat Bingham found three emerging Four-spotted Chaser and a single Large Red Damselfly.


Male Broad-bodied Chaser at Disley 13.5.11. Photo © Richard Gabb 2011

13.5.11
Richard Gabb called at the Millennium Woodland at Disley (98W SJ981831) and found a male Broad-bodied Chaser.


Female Banded Demoiselle at Aldford 11.5.11. Photo © Paul Brewster 2011

11.5.11
From the Bollin at Hooksbank Wood (88B SJ804833) Barry Shaw reports the first Banded Demoiselle of the year. This was soon followed by further sightings of this species by Paul Brewster and Neil Friswell at Aldford (45E SJ415596). In 1988 it wasn't until 11th May that the first Large Red Damselfly was seen. How things have changed in the past 20+ years, there were 13 species recorded by this date in 2011!

9.5.11
Over at Bar Mere (54I SJ535479) Vicky Nall found very large numbers of Red-eyed Damselfly emerging and a single Hairy Dragonfly flying.


Male Common Club-tail at Chester 8.5.11. Photo © Julia Drage 2011

8.5.11
Mat Bingham found a teneral Emperor Dragonfly today at Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651751). Over at Newchurch Common (66E SJ602687) Paul Brewster saw several Downy Emerald including a pair in cop. In Chester (46C SJ4065) a teneral male Common Club-tail was seen by Julia Drage in a garden some way from the river. This is easily the furthest downstream that this species has been seen.

 
Male Azure Damselfly at Jackson's Brickworks 7.5.11. Photo © Richard Gabb 2011   Male Variable Damselfly at Hatchmere 3.5.11. Photo © Vicky Nall 2011

4.5.11
On the Dee at Aldford (45E SJ415596) Neil Friswell found the first Common Club-tail of the season. At Bar Mere (54I SJ535479) he found Hairy Dragonfly and Red-eyed Damselfly. Barry Shaw was at Saltersley Moss (88B SJ822805) and saw Four-spotted Chaser and Large Red Damselfly flying.

3.5.11
Rob McHale called at Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651751) today and found Hairy Dragonfly and Four-spotted Chaser flying. Broad-bodied Chaser is reported from a garden in Helsby (47X SJ4975) by David George, and Vicky Nall saw Four-spotted Chaser and Variable Damselfly at Hatchmere (57L SJ553722) along with three other damselfly species.


Male Four-spotted Chaser at Jackson's Brickworks 2.5.11. Photo © Richard Gabb 2011

2.5.11
At Burwardsley (55D SJ5156), Mike Whiteside spotted emerging Four-spotted Chaser at a garden pond. The same species was seen at Jackson's Brickworks in Poynton (98M SJ947845) by Richard Gabb.


Male Broad-bodied Chaser at Weaver Parkway 1.5.11. Photo © Alan Redley 2011

1.5.11
Alan Redley spotted several Broad-bodied Chaser on the Weaver Parkway (66N SJ656670) today, whilst at Risley Moss (69Q SJ666918) Dave Green recorded Large Red Damselfly, Azure Damselfly and Four-spotted Chaser.


Female Broad-bodied Chaser at Weaver Parkway 1.5.11. Photo © Alan Redley 2011

 

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.

April 2011 Sightings and News Received
May 2011 Sightings and News Received
June 2011 Sightings and News Received
July 2011 Sightings and News Received
August 2011 Sightings and News Received
September 2011 Sightings and News Received
October/November 2011 Sightings and News Received

Back to Cheshire Dragonflies


© David Kitching 2011

Last updated 2.6.2011