Total species recorded during the 2003 season is 24
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Club-tailed Dragonfly (Gomphus vulgatissimus) |
Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo) |
16.11.03
Today on the dipping pond at Crewe Business Park (75H SJ722550)
Barry Poole saw a single Common Darter. This is the latest ever
sighting for this species in Cheshire, beating the previous latest date
of 15.11.1995 at Vale Royal.
11.11.03
Once again a male Common Darter was also seen at Handforth
(88R SJ870835) by Stu Burnet.
10.11.03
Barry Shaw visited Saltersley Moss (88A SJ819807) today and
saw a single Black Darter flying. A male Common Darter was
also seen at Handforth (88R SJ870835) by Stu Burnet.
7.11.03
In bright sunshine and with the magnificent autumn colours of the
trees as a backdrop I ventured across Newchurch Common (66E SJ607688).
I observed four Common Darter including a tandem pair hat flew
out over the water although I did not see any attempt at ovipositing.
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Common Darter basking on a log 7-11-03 Photo © David Kitching 2003 |
4.11.03
Having seen no November dragonflies last year I made a concerted effort
whilst the sun shone and temperatures reached 60F. A careful search revealed
three male Common Darter at Newchurch Common . They were
all difficult to appproach and flying strongly.
1.11.03
Dave Walters was at Little Budworth Common (56Y SJ584661) today
where he saw a tandem pair of Common Darter flying. Meanwhile at
Handforth (88R SJ870835) Stu Burnet found a single specimen of the
same species.
30.10.03
Just a few Common Darter at Newchurch Common today. Four
more at Common Darter at Handforth (88R SJ870835) when Stu
Burnet visited.
29.10.03
It was quite warm in sheltered places today and I soon saw a tandem pair
of Common Darter and plenty of individuals flying at Newchurch
Common (66E SJ607688) and also a male Migrant Hawker which
was busily feeding.
24.10.03
Lots of Common Darter flying today at Newchurch Common (66E
SJ607688) and even a male Migrant Hawker which was feeding in a
sheltered area but kept returning to roost low down in the grass.
23.10.03
Stu Burnet was at Moore Reserve (58S SJ573583) today where he saw
at least 11 Common Darter. Meanwhile Ian Hesketh reports large
numbers of the same species along the footpath by theh Witton Brook at
Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ657751). A number of tandem pairs were
seen.
Autumn tints as a male Common Darter basks in the weak
sunshine 21-10-03 Photo © David Kitching 2003
20.10.03
The frosty night and cold morning made me wonder whether anything would
be flying today, especially at the air temperature was only 46F at midday.
It was sunny though and when I walked onto Newchurch Common (66E
SJ607688) there were plenty of Common Darter flying in the sheltered
spots although they were keeping close to the ground most of the time.
One pair was ovipositing at the lake. Hanging in the gorse was a male
Migrant Hawker which eventually flew off.
16.10.03
A bright, cold and breezy morning for a walk across Danes Moss
(97A SJ907704) where several Common Darter were warming up at their
roosts low in the grass. Eventually they warmed enough to make short flights
out into the vegetation around the wet areas.
15.10.03
Stu Burnet was again at Handforth (88R SJ870835) where he saw
40 Common Darter including two ovipositing pairs and a single male
Migrant Hawker.
13.10.03
Matt Thomas reports a single Migrant Hawker and a couple of Common
Darter flying at Thurstaston Visitor Centre (28G SJ239832)
today.
11.10.03
From Handforth ponds (88R SJ870835) Stu Burnet reports 10 Common
Darter in dull conditions with one pair ovipositing.
10.10.03
Another cool day but a male Migrant Hawker was busily patrolling
the margins of the lake at Newchurch Common (66E SJ607688). A few
Common Darter were also seen in sheltered spots on the meadow.
7.10.03
There were many branches on the ground and the high winds continued to
blow when I ventured onto Newchurch Common (66E SJ607688) at lunchtime.
Although the temperature hovered around 50F there were several Common
Darter tossed around on the wind and I found a male Migrant Hawker
clinging to the gorse. This individual was remarkable for the dull blue
markings rather than the usual bright blue ones. I wonder whether this
was caused by the low temperatures. One thing for sure is that we shall
soon have seen the last of the dragonflies for this year.
Male Migrant Hawker at Newchurch
Common 7-10-03. Note the dull blue markings. Photo © David Kitching
2003
2-10-03
The fine but coolish weather has continued into October and today at Newchurch
Common (66E SJ607688) it was very pleasant away from the breeze. A
few rather battered Common Darter were spotted and there were plenty
of Migrant Hawker drifting around. I also saw two tandem pairs
at the edge of the large lake. A bit of searching soon yielded a few males
perched in the bushes making a fine subject for photography.
Male Migrant Hawker at Newchurch
Common 2-10-03 Photo © David Kitching 2003
Sightings for April 2003
Sightings for May 2003
Sightings for June 2003
Sightings for July 2003
Sightings for August 2003
Sightings for September 2003
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.
© David Kitching 2003
Last updated 30.12.2003