May Sightings and News

Total species recorded during the 2006 season is 14

27.5.06
Mat Bingham found six very early Common Darter at Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651751) along with a couple of teneral Four-spotted Chaser and plenty of Common Blue Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly.

Male Hairy Dragonfly at Churton 25.5.06. Photo © David Kitching 2006

25.5.06
Today there were a number of sightings of Banded Demoiselle from across Cheshire. Barry Shaw saw a male at Hooksbank Wood (88B SJ805830) on the Bollin, Peter Shaw found one at Marshall's Arm (67L SJ650720) on the Weaver, and at Aldford (45E SJ418599) there were lots to be seen along the Dee. At the latter location there were also Large Red Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly and 20 Club-tailed Dragonfly.

Teneral male Banded Demoiselle at Aldford 25.5.06. Photo © David Kitching 2006

Meanwhile at Churton (45I SJ430565) the marlpits yielded Azure Damselfly, Variable Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, eight male Hairy Dragonfly and a couple of Four-spotted Chaser.

Male Variable Damselfly at Churton 25.5.06. Photo © David Kitching 2006

Allan Brandon and Dave Walters were at Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690) and report the first Downy Emerald of the season. A teneral female was sighted along with a Four-spotted Chaser and a few Azure Damselfly.

Teneral female Downy Emerald at Newchurch Common 25.5.06. Photo © Allan Brandon 2006

24.5.06
Amidst the wind and a bit more sun than recently I ventured onto Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690) where I saw a single female Azure Damselfly (my first of the year for this species), plenty of teneral Common Blue Damselfly and Red-eyed Damselfly and a single teneral male Broad-bodied Chaser.

Teneral male Broad-bodied Chaser at Newchurch Common 24.5.06. Photo © David Kitching 2006

21.5.06
On the annual Club-tailed Dragonfly hunt on the Dee I was joined by Hilary Lawton whilst everyone else cried off due to the pouring rain. At Aldford (45E SJ418599) we we rewarded by finding two male and one female insects sheltering from the weather.

Teneral male Club-tailed Dragonfly at Aldford 21.5.06. Photo © David Kitching 2006

18.5.06
There were further Four-spotted Chaser emerging at Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651751) reports Alan Redley.

Teneral male Four-spotted Chaser at Anderton Nature Park 18-5-06. Photo © Alan Redley 2006

Teneral female Four-spotted Chaser at Anderton Nature Park 18-5-06. Photo © Alan Redley 2006

17.5.06
Today at Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690) it was the turn of the Red-eyed Damselfly to be the commonest species on view. There were plenty of teneral insects sheltering amidst the nettles a short distance from the water.

Andy Harmer was one of six hardy naturalists turned up for a Club-tailed Dragonfly survey of the River Dee today. A half kilometre stretch immediately south of Farndon (SJ412533) was covered on the west bank and an incredible 97 exuviae were collected, and around thirty five adults were seen, all teneral or in the process of emergence.

Teneral female Red-eyed Damselfly at Newchurch Common 17.5.06. Photo © David Kitching 2006

16.5.06
Neil Friswell was back on the Welsh side of the Dee at Holt (45B SJ413530) where he saw at least 75 Club-tailed Dragonfly! This is a remarkable number of insects and demonstrates the large numbers that must be emerging.

12.5.06
In the west of the county at Aldford (46A SJ417602) on the River Dee Neil Friswell sighted three Club-tailed Dragonfly and a teneral male Hairy Dragonfly. An ovipositing female of the latter species was also seen in a ditch on the Eaton Estate (45E SJ407587)

11.5.06
From Hillcrest Quarry at Moore (58S SJ576858) Tony Parker reports a single Blue-tailed Damselfly and several Azure Damselfly. Meanwhile at Saltersley Moss (88F SJ822809) Barry Shaw saw single Four-spotted Chaser and Broad-bodied Chaser. Red-eyed Damselfly was seen today at Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651751) by Pete Leicester. Meanwhile from Risley Moss (69Q SJ666918) Rob McHale reports seeing Emperor Dragonfly, Four-spotted Chaser and Large Red Damselfly.

10.5.06
In the west of Cheshire on the Aldford Brook (45P SJ448580) today, Neil Friswell found lots of Large Red Damselfly and a single Club-tailed Dragonfly.

9.5.06
Rob McHale called at Billinge Green Flash (67V SJ682714) where he recorded 8 teneral Blue-tailed Damselfly and a couple of Large Red Damselfly including a mature male by the canal. Back at Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651751) Mat Bingham found no less than 23 Four-spotted Chaser and another freshly emerged Emperor Dragonfly.

6.5.06
Mat Bingham was at Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651751) and saw four Four-spotted Chaser and a single newly emerged Emperor Dragonfly. This is the earliest Cheshire record for this species by seven days.

Male Common Blue Damselfly at Anderton 5.5.06. Photo © David Kitching 2006

5.5.06
Today at Little Budworth Common (56Y SJ584661) there were plenty of Large Red Damselfly emerging. At the dipping pond at Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651751) there were the same species recorded on 3rd May plus several Blue-tailed Damselfly. Both Large Red Damselfly and Common Blue Damselfly were seen ovipositing.

Teneral male Blue-tailed Damselfly at Anderton 5.5.06. Photo © David Kitching 2006

4.5.06
Rob McHale was at Rixton Clay Pits (69V SJ685902) and found several Large Red Damselfly in sheltered spots. The story was the same at Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690) where the insects were flying in warm weather but keeping out of the strong wind. A single insect of teh same species was seen by Neil Friswell at Inner Marsh Farm (37B SJ306737).

Teneral female Large Red Damselfly at Newchurch Common 4.5.06. Photo © David Kitching 2006

3.5.06
Lots of action today as the weather warmed up and the sun came out. Large Red Damselfly was reported from Lindow Common (88F SJ834813) and Saltersley Moss (88F SJ823805) by Barry Shaw; from Danes Moss (97A SJ908705), and at Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651751) by Bryan Roberts. At Anderton Bryan also recorded several Common Blue Damselfly with two tandem pairs, and a single freshly emerged Four-spotted Chaser.

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.

Back to Cheshire Dragonflies