June Sightings and News

Total species recorded during the 2009 season is 19

30.6.09
From Lindow Common (88F SJ833811) Trisha Thompson reports Southern Hawker and Broad-bodied Chaser. At Ravensmoor (64A SJ610505) Martin Pennell saw a couple of Banded Demoiselle along the canal and a Brown Hawker passing by.

28.6.09
The Odonata day on the RSPB reserve at Burton Mere (37B SJ310733) was a great success with eight species seen, including Black-tailed Skimmer, Emperor Dragonfly, Four-spotted Chaser, and Red-eyed Damselfly. Paul Hill found ten species at Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651752). These included Emperor Dragonfly, Brown Hawker, Black-tailed Skimmer, Four-spotted Chaser, Broad-bodied Chaser and Common Darter.At Batherton (67Q SJ678500) Martin Pennell saw Black-tailed Skimmer and Broad-bodied Chaser.

Male Black-tailed Skimmer at Burton Mere 28.6.09. Photo © Neil Friswell 2009

27.6.09
Rosey Moore spotted a single Blue-tailed Damselfly at Paddington Meadows (68J SJ632886) in Warrington.

26.6.09
Upstream of Farndon (45B SJ413530) there were no damselflies apart from Banded Demoiselle when Neil Friswell was there. Dragonflies seen were two male Common Club-tail with Emperor Dragonfly, Brown Hawker, and Four-spotted Chaser. Elsewhere, Pete Leicester spotted a Black-tailed Skimmer at Neumann's Flash (67S SJ664753).

25.6.09
Martin Pennell was at Aston (64D SJ615462) today and the pond yielded Black-tailed Skimmer, and Azure Damselfly.

24.6.09
On Lindow Common (88F SJ833811) Trisha Thompson found a few Black-tailed Skimmer. At Baddiley (65A SJ610505) Martin Pennell saw Emperor Dragonfly, Four-spotted Chaser, and Azure Damselfly.

A somewhat battered male Emperor Dragonfly at Wilkins Lane, Styal 24.6.09. Photo © Trisha Thompson 2009

22.6.09
The first Southern Hawker of the season was spotted today at Hooksbank Wood (88B SJ812827) by Barry Shaw.

21.6.09
On a visit to the River Weaver at Vale Royal Locks (66P SJ643698) Mat Bingham found plenty of Blue-tailed Damselfly with several Azure Damselfly and Banded Demoiselle

16.6.09
On a visit to the dragonfly pond at Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651752) Pete Leicester found a couple of teneral Common Darter and a few Red-eyed Damselfly with plenty of other comon damselflies. Nearby was a single Emperor Dragonfly.

Male Four-spotted Chaser at Henbury 15.6.09. Photo © David Kitching 2009

15.6.09
Permission was granted to visit the private waters at Henbury Hall (87R SJ872729) and the lakes soon yielded ovipositing Broad-bodied Chaser along with several Four-spotted Chaser and Red-eyed Damselfly with plenty of Common Blue Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly. Down at Burland (65C SJ613542) Martin Pennell saw a single Common Darter.

14.6.09
From a pond at Henbury (87S SJ871742) Simon Browne reports ovipositing Emperor Dragonfly and Four-spotted Chaser with plenty of Common Blue Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, and Blue-tailed Damselfly. Bob Bradshaw was at Stapeley Water Gardens (65Q SJ666513) and spotted a Four-spotted Chaser on the pools along with plenty of Azure Damselfly. Up in the hills near Oakenclough (96P SJ958696) Rob McHale reports Four-spotted Chaser, Common Blue Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly, and Blue-tailed Damselfly.

Female Emperor Dragonfly ovipositing at Wilkins Lane, Styal 13.6.09. Photo © Trisha Thompson 2009

13.6.09
There were several Emperor Dragonfly on ponds at Wilkins Lane (88H SJ831843) when Trisha Thompson visited. Meanwhile, Barry Shaw was at Rossmere (88F SJ822811) where he saw eight species including Emperor Dragonfly, Four-spotted Chaser, Broad-bodied Chaser, Black-tailed Skimmer and plenty of Red-eyed Damselfly. Martin Pennell had a trip out around south Cheshire and found ten species at Marbury Big Mere (54M SJ557457) including Emperor Dragonfly, Four-spotted Chaser, Broad-bodied Chaser, Variable Damselfly, and Red-eyed Damselfly. A pond at Burland (65C SJ613542) also yielded Emperor Dragonfly, Four-spotted Chaser, and Broad-bodied Chaser.

12.6.09
A new tetrad record for Banded Demoiselle when Rosey Moore saw a female at Paddington Meadows (68J SJ632886) Warrington.

Female Broad-bodied Chaser at Woodend Lane 8.6.09. Photo © David Kitching 2009

8.6.09
A look at the ponds around Woodend Farm (88B SJ807823) yielded plenty of damselflies, several Four-spotted Chaser, ovipositing Broad-bodied Chaser and an Emperor Dragonfly exuvia. On the nearby River Bollin (88B SJ809827) there were plenty of Banded Demoiselle.

7.6.09
At Stapeley Water Gardens (65Q SJ666513) this weekend saw several emergences of Blue-tailed Damselfly reports Bob Bradshaw.

Blue-tailed Damselfly emergence sequence from Stapeley 7.6.09. Photo © Bob Bradshaw 2009

Male Hairy Dragonfly at Farndon 4.6.09. Photo © Neil Friswell 2009

5.6.09
Whilst walking up in the hills close to the River Dane at Holt (06E SK007689) I spotted a male Large Red Damselfly busily working a territory along a small stream.

Male Common Blue Damselfly at Macclesfield 4.6.09. Photo © David Kitching 2009

4.6.09
Several Common Blue Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly were flying at the Higherfence Reservoirs (97G SJ931737) in Macclesfield this afternoon. On the Eaton estate at Aldford (46A SJ415603) Neil Friswell saw huge numbers of Red-eyed Damselfly with a few Four-spotted Chaser and Hairy Dragonfly. There were also single Common Club-tail and Emperor Dragonfly.

6.24am and this freshly emerged female Emperor Dragonfly was captured at Wilkins Lane, Styal 2.6.09. Photo © Trisha Thompson 2009

2.6.09
Further sightings of a probable Red-veined Darter at Hilbre Island today. It is certainly worth checking carefully for this species on suitable waters at the western side of Cheshire.

Female Four-spotted Chaser at Anderton 2.6.09. Photo © Pete Leicester 2009

A stroll in Macclesfield Riverside Park yielded a female Broad-bodied Chaser by the river (97C SJ908750) and several Azure Damselfly at one of the ponds (97C SJ904758). Back in our new garden pond (87W SJ8973) Shirley Kitching spotted the first visitor, which was a male Large Red Damselfly.

Bryan Roberts headed for the Dee at Farndon (45G SJ412534) and was surprised by the general lack of Odonata apart from abundant Banded Demoiselle. He did find a couple of teneral White-legged Damselfly and single Common Club-tail and Emperor Dragonfly. Over at Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651752) Pete Leicester recorded nine species whilst fishing. These included Hairy Dragonfly, Emperor Dragonfly and Four-spotted Chaser. There were also abundant Red-eyed Damselfly. At Woolston Eyes (68N SJ651879) Trisha Thompson found eight species, including Emperor Dragonfly, Four-spotted Chaser, Broad-bodied Chaser and Banded Demoiselle.

Male Broad-bodied Chaser at Minshull Vernon 1.6.09. Photo © David Kitching 2009

1.6.09
Peter Shaw reports lots of Hairy Dragonfly and several Four-spotted Chaser at Vale Royal (66P SJ643698). There were also three Hairy Dragonfly at Newbridge (66P SJ653686) when I called there at lunchtime. Also seen there were lots of Red-eyed Damselfly. Trisha Thompson was out very early at Wilkins Lane (88H SJ831843) and counted 35 fresh Emperor Dragonfly exuviae.

This afternoon at Paradise Farm, Minshull Vernon (66K SJ645615) there were two separate marlpits each with a male Hairy Dragonfly on territory. Also seen were Four-spotted Chaser, Broad-bodied Chaser, Banded Demoiselle, Large Red Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Red-eyed Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, and Azure Damselfly. This is a new area for Hairy Dragonfly and it is likely that other marlpits in the area will also hold adults.

Red-eyed Damselflies at Newbridge Pool 1.6.09. Photo © Bryan Roberts 2009

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.

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