June Sightings and News

25.6.03
From ponds just across the border in Greater Manchester at Bruntwood Park (88N SJ855872) Peter Greenall found several Emperor Dragonfly along with Four-spotted Chaser, Broad-bodied Chaser and Common Darter. Damselflies present were Large Red Damselfly, Emerald Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly and Azure Damselfly.

24.6.03
A guided walk around Newchurch Common (66E SJ607688) this afternoon saw two male Black-tailed Skimmer on territory at the sandy area on the corner of the old sand quarry. A single Emerald Damselfly was a first for this location this year and there were also large numbers of Red-eyed Damselfly on the lilypads. Brown Hawker and Four-spotted Chaser were flying whilst a single female Emperor Dragonfly was ovipositing.

22.6.03
Andy and Ali Dutton were at Moore Reserve (58S SJ578858) with Mike Mulholland where they found several Black-tailed Skimmer flying along with Emperor Dragonfly, Four-spotted Chaser, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly and Azure Damselfly. At Danes Moss Reserve near Macclesfield (97A SJ908705) a single Southern Hawker was flying and several Large Red Damselfly were seen.

21.6.03
Rob McHale was at Whittle Hall (58U SJ564894) today where a single Four-spotted Chaser and a few Blue-tailed Damselfly and Azure Damselfly were seen. Meanwhile Stu Burnet was counting insects on the field ponds at Handforth (88R SJ870875). His totals were 737 Azure Damselfly, 161 Blue-tailed Damselfly, 12 Emperor Dragonfly and 28 Four-spotted Chaser.

In central Cheshire Dave Walters was again at Little Budworth Common (56Y SJ584661) where ovipositing Emperor Dragonfly were seen and also a single Brown Hawker amidst clouds of Azure Damselfly. On the large pond by the Weaver above Vale Royal (66N SJ655668) Peter Shaw recorded nine species at lunchtime. These were Hairy Dragonfly, Brown Hawker, Emperor Dragonfly, Four-spotted Chaser, Large Red Damselfly, Red-eyed Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly and Azure Damselfly.

20.6.03
Plenty of Azure Damselfly on ponds at Gorse Covert (69R SJ669929) when Rob McHale visited. He searched for Common Blue Damselfly but found none at all. Also present were three Four-spotted Chaser and a few Blue-tailed Damselfly.

17.6.03
Peter Shaw reports that there are still 2 male Broad-bodied Chasers on territory on the new ponds at the Weaver Parkway in Winsford (66N SJ655668

16.6.03
Dave Walters was at Little Budworth Common (56Y SJ584661) today where he found four teneral Emerald Damselfly and up to four male Emperor Dragonfly and at least one female. Meanwhile on the big pond above Vale Royal (66P SJ647693) Peter Shaw recorded two male Emperor Dragonfly.

15.6.03
A male Broad-bodied Chaser was sighted in a garden adjacent to the Middlewood Way at Higher Poynton (98L SJ944831) at 1900 today by Tony and Sheila Molyneaux.

13.6.03
A hot sunny afternoon gave Dave Walters a chance to view the pond at Little Budworth Common (56Y SJ584661). There were 40+ Four-spotted Chaser battling across the water with a couple of Emperor Dragonfly occasionally joining in. Meanwhile Peter Shaw photographed a Four-spotted Chaser on the old river at Vale Royal (66P SJ642698). Also present were abundant Red-eyed Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly and Azure Damselfly along with a few Hairy Dragonfly.

12.6.03
The first Southern Hawker of the year was a teneral female spotted by Peter Shaw at Vale Royal (66P SJ642698).

9.6.03
Richard Hargreaves saw a Brown Hawker whilst driving at Agden Brow (78D SJ712861). At Cicely Mill (78G SJ642698) he recorded Red-eyed Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly, whilst on the Bollin at Little Bollington (78I SJ732869) he found Banded Demoiselle and Red-eyed Damselfly. The latter was on one of the oxbows.

6.6.03
At Hatchmere (57L SJ553722) the Variable Damselfly were flying in large numbers, accompanied by a few Azure Damselfly and Red-eyed Damselfly with plenty of Blue-tailed Damselfly.

5.6.03
At Gull Pool (66E SJ602687) today Alan Brandon saw a male Hairy Dragonfly on patrol along with a couple of Downy Emerald and a few Four-spotted Chaser. Moving on to Carden (45M SJ456541) he found an exuvia of Black-tailed Skimmer but regrettably no further Variable Damselfly. Also present here were a couple of female Banded Demoiselle.

4.6.03
Whilst preparing for a guided walk a visit to a private lake at Whirley (87H SJ882747) yielded just a few damselflies, comprising a single male Large Red Damselfly and a few Common Blue Damselfly, Azure Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly.

3.6.03
At Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690) today there were abundant Common Blue Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly with several Red-eyed Damselfly. Rob McHale was at Fearnhead (69F SJ643910) and was delighted to find a male Broad-bodied Chaser along with Blue-tailed Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly and Azure Damselfly.

2.6.03
A lunchtime visit to Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651752) yielded masses of emerging Common Darter and a pair of Emperor Dragonfly with plenty of Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly and Large Red Damselfly with a few Red-eyed Damselfly.

1.6.03
Stephanie Hefferan and Dave James report plenty of action at Dairy House Meadow (67S SJ664757) where they saw Emperor Dragonfly ovipositing and also three Four-spotted Chaser and a couple of male Broad-bodied Chaser. Damselflies seen were Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly and Red-eyed Damselfly. At Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651752) they saw several Banded Demoiselle. Dot Jones called at the same pond where she recorded Four-spotted Chaser and Broad-bodied Chaser with Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly and Red-eyed Damselfly.

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.

Sightings and News for June 2003