July Sightings and News

Total species recorded during the 2012 season is 24

30.7.12
This morning at Weaver Dairy House near Winsford (66S SJ663649) Andy Harmer found five Migrant Hawker exuviae.

29.7.12
Chris Jones saw a single male Southern Hawker at Upton (46E SJ407686).

Male Black Darter at Danes Moss 27.7.2012. Photo © R Gabb

27.7.12
At Danes Moss (97A SJ905704) today Richard Gabb found lots of Black Darter and several Azure Damselfly with a couple of Four-spotted Chaser.

26.7.12
Chris Storey visited Tatton Park (78L SJ754820) where there were Emperor Dragonfly, Black-tailed Skimmer, and Banded Demoiselle. Moving on to Alderley Edge (87N SJ853774) he saw a couple of Brown Hawker.

Male Black Darter at Risley Moss 24.7.2012. Photo © S Seal

24.7.12
A walk on the Macclesfield Canal at Bosley Locks (96D SJ903665) yielded a single male Banded Demoiselle heading towards Congleton. At Risley Moss (69Q SJ666918) Steve Seal found plenty of Black Darter and a few Common Darter.

23.7.12
Steve Seal recorded a male Emerald Damselfly today at Gorse Covert (69R SJ669929). Meanwhile a male Banded Demoiselle was seen on the Bollin at Macclesfield Riverside Park (67C SJ905753).

Male Emerald Damselfly at Gorse Covert 23.7.2012. Photo © S Seal

Along the Shropshire Union Canal, Vicky Nall saw Banded Demoiselle at Nantwich (65F SJ638508) and Brown Hawker at Nantwich (65L SJ641524) and Bunbury (55Z SJ580589) where there was also Southern Hawker. A further Southern Hawker was also at Bunbury (55U SJ576592)

Teneral female Southern Hawker at Warrington 22.7.2012. Photo © P Sutton-King

22.7.12
At Astbury Mere (86L SJ847627) Vicky Nall found Brown Hawker with good numbers of Common Blue Damselfly, and Azure Damselfly. At Sankey (59V SJ587901) Paul Sutton-King found a teneral Southern Hawker in a garden.

21.7.12
Ernie Cowlishaw spotted emerging Common Darter at Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651753).

20.7.12
A good day at Danes Moss (97A SJ905704) where Vicky Nall found Southern Hawker, Black Darter, Large Red Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, and Azure Damselfly.

Male Azure Damselfly at Danes Moss 20.7.2012. Photo © V Nall

19.7.12
Several Brown Hawker were flying along the hedgerows of Crime Lane, near Beeston Castle (55J SJ521597) reports Vicky Nall.

15.7.12
Andy Harmer was working high up on Black Hill (SE079044) and found a Large Red Damselfly at a height of 575 metres, which is probably the highest Cheshire record for this year. Ian Brodie reports three Brown Hawker flying at Alderley Edge (87N SJ853774).

Teneral male Broad-bodied Chaser at Mickle Trafford 12.7.2012. Photo © V Nall

12.7.12
When a bit of sun showed there was at last something to report. Vicky Nall saw a teneral male Broad-bodied Chaser at Mickle Trafford (47K SJ454703) , and Brown Hawker, Large Red Damselfly, and Banded Demoiselle at Gowy Meadows (47G SJ423738). Back at Bar Mere (54I SJ534478) there were six Brown Hawker and good numbers of Common Blue Damselfly, Red-eyed Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, and Azure Damselfly.

Teneral male Black Darter at Gorse Covert 12.7.2012. Photo © S Seal

Steve Seal found the first Black Darter of the season at Gorse Covert (69R SJ669929).

At Tatton Mere (78K SJ753809) Chris Storey recorded Banded Demoiselle, Common Blue Damselfly, Red-eyed Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, and Emerald Damselfly. Nearby was a male Broad-bodied Chaser. Meanwhile Ian Brodie called at Danes Moss (97A SJ907706) and found seven species including Emperor Dragonfly, Four-spotted Chaser, Common Darter, Ruddy Darter, Black Darter, and Emerald Damselfly.

5.7.12
Steve and Gill Barber were at Lapwing Hall Pool (87G SJ824726) today, and found Emperor Dragonfly, Four-spotted Chaser, Broad-bodied Chaser, Blue-tailed Damselfly and Azure Damselfly. Meanwhile, along the Shropshire Union Canal at Edleston (65K SJ640514) Vicky Nall saw a male Southern Hawker patrolling and a couple of Blue-tailed Damselfly in the margins.

Paul M Hill reports a male Lesser Emperor on territory at a farm in South Cheshire (SJ64) this afternoon. This is only the third ever record for this species in Cheshire.

4.7.12
The first Brown Hawker of the season was found roosting by the Weaver at Vale Royal (66P SJ643698) tonight by Mat Bingham.

1.7.12
At Hatchmere (57L SJ552721) Andy Harmer found abundant Variable Damselfly with a few Large Red Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly.

Male Variable Damselfly at Hatchmere. Photo © D Kitching

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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