July Sightings and News

Total species recorded during the 2013 season is 21

26.7.13
At Billinge Green Flash (67V SJ682713) Alan Redley found plenty of Brown Hawker and Black-tailed Skimmer, whilst at Shemmy Moss (56Z SJ594688) he saw just a single Black Darter

19.7.13
As temperatures soar a Brown Hawker arrives at my garden pond in Macclesfield (87W SJ8973). An early morning walk at Danes Moss (97A SJ905704) was very hot and revealed water levels dropping fast. The insect action was plentiful with several Brown Hawker out over the bog and dozens of teneral Black Darter rising from the vegetation. Damselflies seen were Large Red Damselfly, Emerald Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, and Azure Damselfly.

18.7.13
Southern Hawker was seen today at Bottoms Lane, Chester (46C SJ414657) by Andrew Wingham, and several emerging near Bosley (96D SJ9167), reported by Steve Seal.

Male Black-tailed Skimmer at Anderton 15.7.13. Photo © P Leicester

16.7.13
Walking down Bosley Locks (96D SJ904666) this morning there were a couple of Brown Hawker over the canal and several Blue-tailed Damselfly on the side ponds.

Female Banded Demoiselle at Forge Brook 13.7.13. Photo © A Redley

Male Banded Demoiselle at Dunham Massey 14.7.13. Photo © A Davies

15.7.13
Good numbers of many species were flying at Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651751) when Pete Leicester visited today. Highlights included Black-tailed Skimmer, Brown Hawker, and Emperor Dragonfly, with plenty of Emerald Damselfly now present too.

Freshly emerged male Southern Hawker near Bosley 14.7.13. Photo © S Seal

13.7.13
Along the Bollin at Macclesfield Riverside Park (97C SJ903759) were a couple of male Banded Demoiselle, and single male Brown Hawker and female Emperor Dragonfly.

Brown Hawker at Marbury Park 12.7.13. Photo © A Redley

11.7.13
The fairly new scrape at Marbury Park (67Y SJ695761) has proved very attractive to Odonata this year reports Alan Redley. Today t here were large numbers of Four-spotted Chaser, Black-tailed Skimmer, and Common Darter, along with a pair of Emperor Dragonfly. Over at Danes Moss (97A SJ905704) Vicky Nall found Common Hawker, Brown Hawker, Four-spotted Chaser, Broad-bodied Chaser, Black Darter, Emerald Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly , and Blue-tailed Damselfly.

Male Emperor Dragonfly at Marbury Park 11.7.13. Photo © A Redley

10.7.13
At the Millennium Pond on Mudhurst Lane, Disley (98W SJ981831), Brian Ainscough found plenty of Azure Damselfly and Large Red Damselfly with a solitary teneral Emerald Damselfly an an exuvia from a Brown Hawker.

Teneral female Emerald Damselfly at Mudhurst Lane10.7.13. Photo © B Ainscough

9.7.13
From along the Shropshire Union Canal in and around Stoak (47G SJ425730) Vicky Nall reports plenty of Brown Hawker and the odd Four-spotted Chaser.

8.7.13
Richard Spence reports teneral Emerald Damselfly and Black Darter at Danes Moss (97A SJ905704).

Freshly emerged Black Darter at Danes Moss 8.7.13. Photo © R Spence

6.7.13
At Tatton Mere (78K SJ753809) there were plenty of Azure Damselfly when Chris Storey visited. He also saw Blue-tailed Damselfly, Red-eyed Damselfly, and Black-tailed Skimmer. On the nearby stream there were Banded Demoiselle and Common Blue Damselfly.

Male Emperor Dragonfly at Anderton 5.7.13. Photo © P Leicester

5.7.13
Barry Shaw found a male White-legged Damselfly alongside the Llangollen Canal at Baddiley (65A SJ610508) today. This is confirmation of a long held theory that this species might be migrating into Cheshire along this waterway. The sunny weather also brought out plenty of insects at Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651751) where Pete Leicester recorded eight species including Brown Hawker and ovipositing Emperor Dragonfly.

1.7.13
At Norbury (57M SJ558473) Barbara Kettleborough found a teneral Brown Hawker resting in the garden.

Teneral male Brown Hawker at Norbury 1.7.13. Photo © B Kettleborough

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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