Sightings and News for June 2004

female Blue-tailed Damselfly (f.violacea) at Newchurch Common 1-6-04. Photo © David Kitching 2004

teneral male Common Darter at Newchurch Common 30-6-04. Photo © David Kitching 2004

28.6.04
There were plenty of teneral Common Darter to be seen at Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651751) and Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690). Also seen at the latter site were a single male Emperor Dragonfly and a few Brown Hawker.

a Blue-tailed Damselfly eating the remains of another caught in a spider web at Newchurch Common 30-6-04.
Photo © David Kitching 2004

27.6.04
A male Black-tailed Skimmer was seen flying over the pond at Oxmoor LNR (58M SJ559841) in Runcorn this morning, reports Tony Parker.

25.6.04
Dave Walters visited Newchurch Common today and photographed a male Downy Emerald and a single Common Darter.

male Downy Emerald at Newchurch Common 25-6-04. Photo © Dave Walters 2004

22.6.04
At Plumley Reserve (77C SJ708750) there were five Common Darter and a single Brown Hawker when Dave Walters visited.

21.6.04
Six male and a female Broad-bodied Chaser seen at Little Budworth Common (56Y SJ584661) today reports Dave Walters. Also present were two Emperor Dragonfly but very few Four-spotted Chaser.

Andy Harmer's daughter Alice found Southern Hawker exuviae in Frodsham (57J SJ520781).

male Broad-bodied Chaser at Little Budworth Common 21-6-04. Photo © Dave Walters 2004

Meanwhile, a walk around Lily Pool (56Z SJ595692) Gull Pool (56Z SJ599689) and Newchurch Common in cool and changeable conditions yielded a good range of species. These were: two Brown Hawker, male and female Emperor Dragonfly, Four-spotted Chaser, Large Red Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Azure Damselfly and Emerald Damselfly.

16-6-04
Dave Walters visited Gull Pool 56Z SJ599689 where he found Emperor Dragonfly and Downy Emerald flying along with the usual damselflies and lots of Four-spotted Chaser. Meanwhile at nearby Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690) I saw two teneral Brown Hawker flying along with ovipositing Downy Emerald.

15-6-04
A visit to Shropshire today yielded some fine views of species very scarce in Cheshire or even unrepresented in the County. I have put a few photos from this trip on a separate page.

14.6.04
At Vale Royal (66E SJ607690) today Peter Shaw saw further Emperor Dragonfly with a female ovipositing and three males on territory. Also seen were four Hairy Dragonfly.

11.6.04
At Little Budworth Common today Dave Walters saw a single Broad-bodied Chaser and Emperor Dragonfly along with at least 40 Four-spotted Chaser.

10.6.04
Whilst at Rocksavage (58A SJ519802) Andy Harmer recorded eleven Brown Hawker exuviae today. Meanwhile at Anderton Nature Park, Peter Shaw saw Emperor Dragonfly and Four-spotted Chaser flying.

8.6.04
On the large pond at Vale Royal Peter Shaw reports 3 male and an ovipositing female Emperor Dragonfly, the first sightings of this species at this location this year. There was also a single male at Newchurch Common. Hairy Dragonfly was flying at the former location and also at Delamere (57L SJ550721), with lots of Four-spotted Chaser and Hatchmere (57L SJ553722) along with a single Downy Emerald and lots of Variable Damselfly at the latter site.

Female Four-spotted Chaser at Newchurch Common 7-6-04. Photo © David Kitching 2004

7.6.04
First Common Darter of 2004 is reported from Gowy Meadows (47G SJ439732) by Andy Harmer.

4-6-04
The first Emerald Damselfly of the year was recorded today at Newchurch Common.

2-6-04
At Newchurch Common there was plenty to be seen. Broad-bodied Chaser and Four-spotted Chaser were flying, along with a single male Downy Emerald over the lake. Damselflies seen were Red-eyed Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Azure Damselfly and Large Red Damselfly.

Male Red-eyed Damselfly at Newchurch Common 2-6-04. Photo © David Kitching 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
July 2004 Sightings and News Received
August 2004 Sightings and News Received
September 2004 Sightings and News Received
October/November 2004 Sightings and News Received