Common Darter at Newchurch Common 1.11.01
Club-tailed Dragonfly (Gomphus vulgatissimus)
Hairy Dragonfly (Brachytron pratense)
Common Hawker (Aeshna juncea)
Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta)
Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea)
Brown Hawker (Aeshna grandis)
Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator)
Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata)
Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa)
Downy Emerald (Cordulia aenea)
White-faced Darter (Leucorrhinia dubia)
Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum)
Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum)
Ruddy Darter Sympetrum sanguineum
Black Darter (Sympetrum danae)
Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo)
Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens)
Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula)
Emerald Damselfly (Lestes sponsa)
Red-eyed Damselfly (Erythromma najas)
Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum)
Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans)
Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella)
Variable Damselfly (Coenagrion pulchellum)
18.11.01
Records continue to be broken. Andy Harmer has emailed details of seeing a
Southern Hawker flying on the Whitegate Way (66E SJ617693)
today. Easily the latest record ever for Cheshire.
13.11.01
I broke my own record today at Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690). After
a brisk walk in sunny but windy and very cold conditions I had concluded
that there were to be no more sightings this year. On returning to the car I
was about to get in when I looked over at the nearby stile and there was a
male Common Darter using the rails as a perch from which to feed on
the midges. On close inspection this proved to be in really good condition
with little wing damage. It had certainly done well to survive the frosts
and rain over the past few days.
9.11.01
It was a lovely sunny day today although bitterly cold. I decided to have a
look around Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690) for any dragonflies that
had survived the hard frost of last night. There was still a lot of ice on
the track where it was shaded and I had almost given up when I spotted a
single female Common Darter flying in a sheltered spot by the trees.
This is the latest that I have seen a dragonfly in Cheshire but is still
four days short of the latest ever record which was made on November 13th at
Rivacre in Ellesmere Port a few years ago.
6.11.01
A walk around Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690) yielded up to 10
Common Darter flying whenever the sun shone.
4.11.01
Chris Hynes saw a Common Darter at Blakemere Moss (57K SJ555710) today.
1.11.01
The continuing warm weather has meant that over the past week good numbers
of Common Darter have continued to fly at Newchurch Common
(66E SJ607690). Today there were still several around and I was lucky enough
to have a male land on my hand, thus allowing a good close look.
Common Darter at Newchurch Common 1.11.01
24.10.01
At Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690) there was plenty of action from
the Common Darters including several tandem pairs laying in the
margins of the big lake. A male Southern Hawker also made a brief
appearance.
22.10.01
Peter Shaw reports that there are still Migrant Hawker and Common
Darter on the wing at Vale Royal (67K SJ641704). A single female
Migrant Hawker was observed ovipositing at Newchurch Common
(66E SJ607690) at lunchtime.
18.10.01
There are still lots of Common Darter at Newchurch Common (66E
SJ607690) today. A number of pairs and ovipositing were recorded.
17.10.01
At Barton (45M SJ456542) Allan Brandon recorded some 20+ Common
Darter with several ovipositing. Also present was a mature male
Migrant Hawker hawking over the pond.
16.10.01
A lunchtime visit to Newbridge Pool (66P SJ653686) and the adjacent
River Weaver was rewarded with sightings of several Common
Darter including a pair in cop.
Newbridge Pool
River Weaver at Newbridge
12.10.01
One of those wonderful warm autumn days where winter seems a long way off. At
Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690) I was able to see plenty of Common
Darter along with a single Migrant Hawker. Also present was a Common
Blue Damselfly which is the latest ever recorded for Cheshire.
Common Darter at Newchurch Common 12.10.01
Brown Hawker were still flying at Vale Royal (67K SJ641704) today.
6.10.01
Paul Hill reports Common Darter flying at Risley Moss (69Q SJ6661918)
today.
5.10.01
From the Weaver at Vale Royal (67K SJ641704) Peter Shaw reports a single
Brown Hawker along with plenty of Common Darter and Ruddy Darter.
On 3.10.01 he also saw a female Southern Hawker.
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.
© David Kitching 2002
Last updated 3.3.2002