Sightings and News for July 2004

28-7-04
When the sun finally appeared there was plenty to see at Newchurch Common at lunchtime today. Southern Hawker, Brown Hawker and Emperor Dragonfly were all present. Also seen was a single male Banded Demoiselle which was busily flying up and down the lakeside vegetation.

23-7-04
There was plenty flying today at Newchurch Common, including a rather old and battered looking female Emperor Dragonfly which I finally managed to photograph by fighting my way into a gorse bush and holding the camera as far forward and as high as I could reach.

female Emperor Dragonfly at Newchurch Common 23-7-04. Photo © David Kitching 2004

21.7.04
Plenty of teneral Black Darter flying at Newchurch Common today.

20.7.04
Emperor Dragonfly and Southern Hawker with lots of Brown Hawker at Newchurch Common whilst Rob McHale saw a female Southern Hawker at Fearnhead (69F SJ643910). Richard Hargreaves reports female Emperor Dragonfly and several Brown Hawker at Spud Wood near Lymm (78D SJ700873).

19.7.04
Sunshine at last, and at Newchurch Common I found plenty of activity with a few Four-spotted Chaser still flying along with a single Southern Hawker, several Brown Hawker and lots of teneral Common Darter. Also seen were a couple of Emerald Damselfly.

Male Ruddy Darter at Vale Royal 2.7.04. Photo © Peter Shaw 2004

Peter Shaw reports plenty of activity at Vale Royal with Brown Hawker, Southern Hawker, Common Darter and Ruddy Darter flying.

teneral female Emerald Damselfly at Newchurch Common 19-7-04. Photo © David Kitching 2004

18.7.04
Bernard Rose spotted a female Southern Hawker in a garden in Neston (27Y SJ294778).

female Southern Hawker at Neston 18-7-04. Photo © Bernard Rose Photography 2004. Ref BRP-D394-2

15-7-04
The recent poor weather has reduced the sightings of late and Rob McHale was disappointed only to find Blue-tailed Damselfly at a pond close to Sandbach Flashes (76B SJ716636). Later at Billinge Green Flash (67V SJ682713) he found the same species in the company of Azure Damselfly and a single Ruddy Darter.

male Brown Hawker at Newchurch Common 14-7-04. Photo © David Kitching 2004.

13.7.04
Dave Walters reports 3 Emperor Dragonfly, 10 Four-spotted Chaser and 2 Brown Hawker at Little Budworth Common (56Y SJ584661) today. He also saw Emperor Dragonfly and Brown Hawker at Nunsmere (56Z SJ591690), and this latter species at Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690) along with Common Darter. Meanwhile I saw a few ageing Four-spotted Chaser at the same place earlier in the day. Rob McHale also saw a male of the same species at Fearnhead (69F 643910).

male Four-spotted Chaser at Fearnhead 13-7-04. Photo © Rob McHale 2004.

12.7.04
At Fearnhead Rob McHale made the first record of Common Blue Damselfly for this site.

teneral female Southern Hawker at Fearnhead 12-7-04. Photo © Rob McHale 2004.
I turned this image through 90 degrees as it was making me dizzy as taken

6.7.04
Richard Hargreaves was at Spud Wood (78D SJ700873) near Lymm, where he saw a male Broad-bodied Chaser and three Brown Hawker. Meanwhile at Fearnhead, Rob McHale reports seeing emerging Southern Hawker and also Common Darter, Blue-tailed Damselfly and Azure Damselfly.

2.7.04
First sighting of Ruddy Darter in 2004 comes from Vale Royal (66E SJ607690) today, where Peter Shaw photographed a teneral male.

teneral male Ruddy Darter at Vale Royal 2.7.04. Photo © Peter Shaw 2004

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.

April 2004 Sightings and News Received
May 2004 Sightings and News Received
June 2004 Sightings and News Received
August 2004 Sightings and News Received
September 2004 Sightings and News Received
October/November 2004 Sightings and News Received