Sightings and News for June 2002

A request for help - Hobby survey
The Cheshire and Wirral Ornithological Society (CAWOS) Raptor Study Group is initiating a survey of Hobbies in the county as they are now a Cheshire breeding species. With one of their main food sources at certain sites being dragonflies the Study Group has asked for any observations of such behaviour in the County. Basic information. such as site name, grid ref if pos, nos. of birds involved, time of day, weather, etc. would be most useful. If you can help please email details to Richard Gabb. Many Thanks.

24.6.02
Plenty of Four-spotted Chaser flying at Saltersley Moss (88F SJ820805) along with Large Red Damselfly and Azure Damselfly.

23.6.02

Although the day was cool and windy a single male Hairy Dragonfly was flying over a pond at Vale Royal (66P SJ643698).

Mike Mulholland reports one male and two female Black-tailed Skimmer flying at Moore Nature Reserve (58Y SJ592861).

21.6.02
A male Southern Hawker emerged today from a garden pond at Frodsham (57J SJ520781) reports Andy Harmer.

20.6.02
Shemmy Moss (56Z SJ595687) is looking much better since the water levels rose and there is now plenty of open water and lots of active sphagnum and masses of cottongrass.. There was also plenty of activity to be seen across the moss with large numbers of Four-spotted Chaser flying along with Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly and Large Red Damselfly. A female Emperor Dragonfly passed through ovipositing in a number of places across the site.

A field pond near Hoofield Covert (56G SJ518622) was host to two male Emperor Dragonfly and single male Four-spotted Chaser and female Broad-bodied Chaser.

19.6.02
Rob McHale reports a female Ruddy Darter from Fearnhead (69F SJ643910).

18.6.02
A single female Emperor Dragonfly was ovipositing at Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651752) with many exuviae seen. Common Darter were emerging in large numbers. The rushes were being combed by a male Reed Bunting which departed with a huge number of damselflies in its beak. Meanwhile at Dairy House Meadow (67S SJ664757) the ponds had plenty of Common Darter emerging and several Four-spotted Chaser flying. There were also good numbers of Red-eyed Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly and Azure Damselfly. Where the Marbury Brook meets the Witton Brook (67M SJ657751) several Banded Demoiselle were seen.

17.6.02
At Hatchmere (57L SJ553722) today I was surprised to find a male Downy Emerald flying along with several Variable Damselfly. This insect was most cooperative and allowed several photographs to be taken after it alighted on the marsh cinquefoil.

Downy Emerald Photo © David Kitching 2002

Barry Poole found a male Red-eyed Damselfly at Crewe Business Park (75C SJ717548). This is the first time that this species has been recorded here.

16.6.02
Andy Harmer reports a single teneral White-faced Darter from Gull Pool (66E SJ602687). Brown Hawker was also seen here along with a pair of Emperor Dragonfly. Common Hawker was flying at Blakemere Moss (57K SJ541713).

13.6.02

A quick trip to Hatchmere (57L SJ553722) in dull and damp conditions yielded a few Variable Damselfly and also emerging Four-spotted Chaser. Also present were single Blue-tailed Damselfly and Large Red Damselfly.

12.6.02

At Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690) there were plenty of Red-eyed Damselfly over the water whilst the grassland adjacent had lots of Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Azure Damselfly and Large Red Damselfly sheltering from the wind.

Andy Harmer was out in Mobberley near the new runway (78V SJ792813) and found the first Common Darter of the year at a field pond. At the same location were Broad-bodied Chaser, Blue-tailed Damselfly and Azure Damselfly and he also found exuviae of Emperor Dragonfly at the same spot a few days earlier.

11.6.02
Today at Crewe Business Park one of the ponds yielded a count of 142 Emperor Dragonfly exuviae! Thanks to Barry Poole for this gem.

4.6.02
Down on the River Weaver above Nantwich (64P SJ658497) Stu Burnet made the first record of Beautiful Demoiselle for the year. This species was flying with Banded Demoiselle which meant that great care had to be taken in identification although the complete colouring of the wings of the former species is easy enough to spot once you have got your eye in.

3.6.02

Dave Walters was out again today, this time at Hatchmere (57L SJ553722). He was quickly able to locate a number of Variable Damselfly and also Blue-tailed Damselfly and a single Four-spotted Chaser.

Female Coenagrion pulchellum
Photo ©Dave Walters 2002

1.6.02
The beautiful sunshine today tempted me down to the old sand quarry at Whirley (87H SJ882747). The pool was filled with activity and I recorded Four-spotted Chaser, Large Red Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly and Azure Damselfly.

At Vale Royal (67K SJ640701) Mike Robinson saw Hairy Dragonfly flying on the old river. Also present were Banded Demoiselle, Large Red Damselfly, Red-eyed Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly. Meanwhile Dave Walters visited Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651752) where the dipping pond was, as usual, alive with odonata. Notable species were Four-spotted Chaser and Broad-bodied Chaser.

Four-spotted Chaser at Whirley
Photo © David Kitching 2002

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.