August Sightings and News

Total species recorded during the 2014 season is 24

31.8.14
On the Weaver at Vale Royal (66P SJ640705) Ray Collins found a few Common Darter and Migrant Hawker, with a single Brown Hawker. At Higher Poynton (98L SJ944838) a Southern Hawker was feeding amongst the apple trees.

Male Migrant Hawker at Vale Royal 31.8.14. Photo © Ray Collins

29.8.14
A female Southern Hawker was feeding amongst the trees at Middlewood (98M SJ946846) this afternoon.

27.8.14
Along the Bollin at Macclesfield Riverside Park (97C SJ904756) there were Brown Hawker and Migrant Hawker flying this morning.

23.8.14
Andy Ingham found Southern Hawker ovipositing in a ditch at Chester Meadows (46D SJ416660) with a couple of Common Darter nearby.

9.8.14
Pete Leicester spent the day fishing at Cicely Mill Pool (78G SJ737831) and reports plenty of Red-eyed Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, and Blue-tailed Damselfly, with a single Ruddy Darter and a couple of Brown Hawker. At Astbury Limeworks (85P SJ853596) a single female Common Darter was flying in the afternoon. Meanwhile at Macclesfield (87X SJ895743) Ian Brodie saw a Southern Hawker in a town garden.

Female Banded Demoiselle at Dairyhouse Meadow 7.8.14. Photo © Ray Collins

7.8.14
Over at Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651751) and Dairyhouse Meadow (67S SJ663757) Ray Collins found a few Brown Hawker and plenty of Common Darter. At the latter site there were also a few Banded Demoiselle.

Very mature female Broad-bodied Chaser at Abney Park 4.8.14. Photo © Derek Hatton

4.8.14
This morning's walk yielded a male Southern Hawker at Middlewood (98M SJ946846) and on the Macclesfield Canal (98L SJ948839) were Brown Hawker and Banded Demoiselle. Michael and Jenny Whiteside spotted both Ruddy Darter and Migrant Hawker in their garden at Burwardsley 55D SJ518567).

Male Common Darter at Abney Park 5.8.14. Photo © Chris Storey

Derek Hatton was again at Abney Park (88U SJ860890) and this time found found eleven species flying. These were Southern Hawker, Brown Hawker, Emperor Dragonfly, Broad-bodied Chaser, Common Darter, Ruddy Darter, Black Darter, Emerald Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, and Azure Damselfly. The Broad-bodied Chasers are right at the end of their flight period and the female was beginning to develop male colouration.

A very aged and battered male Four-spotted Chaser at Tatton Park 4.8.14. Photo © Chris Storey

Chris Storey was at Tatton Park (78L SJ754820) today where he found 10 species. These were Southern Hawker, Brown Hawker, Emperor Dragonfly, some very aged Four-spotted Chaser, Common Darter, Ruddy Darter, Banded Demoiselle, Emerald Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, and Blue-tailed Damselfly.

Teneral female White-legged Damselfly. Photo © David Kitching

3.8.14
Martin Pennell reports several tandem pairs of White-legged Damselfly along with Banded Demoiselle and Blue-tailed Damselfly along the canal at Swanley (65B SJ618525). This is really good news as it follows Barry Shaw's find of White-legged Damselfly further up the canal in 2013 and indicates that the species may well be established there.

A single Migrant Hawker was flying along the river at Macclesfield Riverside Park (97C SJ905753).

Male Migrant Hawker. Photo © David Kitching

2.8.14
On a walk at Middlewood (98M SJ950847) a female Southern Hawker was seen flying amongst the trees.

Female Southern Hawker. Photo © David Kitching

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