Sightings and News for September 2001

Total species recorded during the 2001 season is 24

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)

28.9.01
A really fine early autumn day after rather mixed weather led me to take a stroll around the old sand quarries at Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690). The air was thick with dragonflies which were flying languidly and seemingly without hurry and I also saw two very late Common Blue Damselfly on territory. The Common Darter was everywhere interspersed with a few Ruddy Darter. Large hawkers comprised a single Southern Hawker, lots of Migrant Hawker and two Brown Hawker which were flying so slowly that they appeared to only beat their wings enough to keep them in the air between long glides. It was marvellous to watch and I expect that with storms forecast for the next few days there will be little to see in October.

25.9.01
Whilst at Farndon (45C SJ412543) in the afternoon I was able to watch two Southern Hawker flying by the cliffs along the new boardwalk which runs away from the river.

16.9.01
At Saltersley Moss (88F SJ822808) there were plenty of Black Darter to be seen in sheltered areas along with Common Darter and Southern Hawker.

11.9.01
Whilst visiting the Wirral Way at Parkgate (27U SJ279879) I saw both a male Southern Hawker and a male Common Darter on the wing.

4.9.01
At Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690) there was plenty of action this lunchtime. Lots of Common Blue Damselfly were over the water whilst Common Darter and Ruddy Darter were ovipositing close to the edge. Migrant Hawker were very common with a number of females hawking around the trees and several ovipositing as were a few Brown Hawker.

1.9.01
Paul Hill called at Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651751) where Migrant Hawker were ovipositing along with Brown Hawker. A few Common Darter and Ruddy Darter were ovipositing at the pond whilst many more were to be seen along the paths.

 



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.

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© David Kitching 2001

Last updated 13.10.2001