June Sightings and News

Total species recorded during the 2008 season is 19

Male Emperor Dragonfly at Lindow Common 25.6.08. Photo © Trish Thompson 2008

27.6.08
Today at Lindow Common (88F SJ833811) Trish Thompson found an emerging Southern Hawker. In the previous week here she also saw Emperor Dragonfly, Four-spotted Chaser, Black-tailed Skimmer, Large Red Damselfly, Azure Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly.

Male White-legged Damselfly at Crewe-by-Farndon 23.6.08. Photo © Matt Thomas 2008

23.6.08
Last year's sighting of Golden-ringed Dragonfly at Holt raised hopes of finding this species in Cheshire for the first time. Today Matt and Ron Thomas walked the bank of the Dee at Crewe-by-Farndon (45B SJ418529) and saw a single Common Club-tail and a few White-legged Damselfly but were then lucky enough to record a female Golden-ringed Dragonfly patrolling the river and then landing on the Cheshire side. A male has since been seen on the Welsh side and it is likely that the species is breeding on suitable water somewhere nearby.

Female Golden-ringed Dragonfly at Crewe-by-Farndon 23.6.08. Photo © Ron Thomas 2008

20.6.08
On the brook near to Neumann's Flash (67S SJ666755) Malcolm Curtin reports 3 male and 1 female Banded Demoiselle.

19.6.08
At Stanney Woods (37W SJ397738) Terry Sanders found a single female Emperor Dragonfly and plenty of Azure Damselfly. Down at Plumley Reserve (77C SJ708750) Bryan Roberts found a few male Black-tailed Skimmer and a tandem pair with plenty of Blue-tailed Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly and Large Red Damselfly.

Male Black-tailed Skimmer at Plumley 19.6.08. Photo © Bryan Roberts 2008

17.6.08
On a dull and cool day there were a few Variable Damselfly to be found at Hatchmere (57L SJ552721).

Male Variable Damselfly at Hatchmere 17.6.08. Photo © David Kitching 2008

16.6.08
Terry Sanders reports that the pond at Stanney Woods (37W SJ397738) had plenty of Azure Damselfly and a few Large Red Damselfly present. At Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ649754) Pete Leicester saw a male Emperor Dragonfly hawking over the fishing ponds, whilst on Marbury Lane (67S 663749) there was a male Southern Hawker.

11.6.08
On the Dee above Aldford (45E SJ418599) Neil Friswell found a couple of female Common Club-tail, a few Banded Demoiselle and a pair of White-legged Damselfly. Moving on to Burton Mere (37B SJ313736) he saw at least 20 Red-eyed Damselfly.

9.6.08
At Appleton Reservoir (68C SJ601843) today Tony Parker recorded the first three male Emperor Dragonfly of the season with a single Black-tailed Skimmer. Pete Leicester found a single Hairy Dragonfly at Higher Whitley (68A SJ612804).

Tandem Red-eyed Damselfly aon the Shropshire Union Canal 8.6.08. Photo © Mel Bellingham 2008

8.6.08
Mat Bingham visited Black Lake (57F SJ537709) and saw lots of Common Blue Damselfly and Four-spotted Chaser with a few Large Red Damselfly and several Broad-bodied Chaser. Meanwhile along the Shropshire Union Canal near Caughall (47A SJ413711) Mel Bellingham saw several Red-eyed Damselfly including several tandem pairs. Dave Walters headed for Plumley Reserve (77C SJ708750) and found a couple of Black-tailed Skimmer and a single Common Darter with abundant Blue-tailed Damselfly.

6.6.08
On the Wirral at Thurstaston Common (28M SJ243848) Mike Gardner found several Four-spotted Chaser with a single male Broad-bodied Chaser and a few Large Red Damselfly.

Female Beautiful Demoiselle at Pettypool Brook 5.6.08. Photo © Mel Bellingham 2008

5.6.08
On a walk around Whitegate and Marton, Mel Bellingham spotted a female Beautiful Demoiselle on the Pettypool Brook (66J SJ623696) and at nearby New Pool (66J SJ626696) there were a few Red-eyed Damselfly. Gull Pool (66E SJ602688) yielded a couple of Downy Emerald with plenty of the usual damselflies there and at Newchurch Common (66E SJ603687).

Female Common Club-tail dismantling a fly at Crewe-by-Farndon 4.6.08. Photo © David Kitching 2008

Male White-legged Damselfly at Crewe-by-Farndon 4.6.08. Photo © David Kitching 2008

4.6.08
A warm sunny day at last, and I headed across Cheshire in search of Odonata action. Starting at a private pond at Delamere (65Q) where I found plenty of Common Blue Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Azure Damselfly and Four-spotted Chaser with a single Red-eyed Damselfly. Moving on to Churton Marl Pits (45I SJ430565) there were plenty of Variable Damselfly and Four-spotted Chaser with a few Hairy Dragonfly which were very active around the margins of the ponds. Next was the Dee at Crewe-by-Farndon (45B SJ419525) and lots of Banded Demoiselle and several White-legged Damselfly. Also seen were a couple of Common Club-tail and a female Broad-bodied Chaser. Finally to Tiverton (56F SJ537617) for more Variable Damselfly and plenty of Azure Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly and Four-spotted Chaser. Twelve species in all, not a bad day out!

Jackie Harmer reports Large Red Damselfly attempting to breed at a garden pond in Wilmslow (88F SJ8380).

Male Hairy Dragonfly at Churton 4.6.08. Photo © David Kitching 2008

2.6.08
Mel Bellingham visited Farndon (45B SJ413539) with a friend and found a single female White-legged Damselfly, which is good news as it shows that the species appears to be established here on the Dee. Later at Pettypool Brook, Whitegate (66J SJ625695) they saw a male Beautiful Demoiselle.

Female White-legged Damselfly at Farndon 2.6.08. Photo © Mel Bellingham 2008

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.

Back to Cheshire Dragonflies