Sightings and News for October and November 2004

Total species recorded during the 2004 season is 23

Club-tailed Dragonfly (Gomphus vulgatissimus)
Hairy Dragonfly (Brachytron pratense)
Common Hawker (Aeshna juncea)
Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea)
Brown Hawker (Aeshna grandis)
Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta)
Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator)
Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata)
Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa)
Downy Emerald (Cordulia aenea)
Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum)
Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum)
Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum)
Black Darter (Sympetrum danae)

Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo)
Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens)
Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula)
Emerald Damselfly (Lestes sponsa)
Red-eyed Damselfly (Erythromma najas)
Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum)
Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans)
Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella)
Variable Damselfly (Coenagrion pulchellum)

13.11.04
Whilst at Rocksavage (58A SJ519802) Andy Harmer observed a single female Common Darter flying weakly in the sunshine on this cold day after a good frost.

Not far away at the Gowy Meadows (47G SJ438739) Tony Parker also spotted a female Common Darter on the wing.

4.11.04
Amazingly today's sun has brought a November record from Vale Royal (66P SJ643699) where a single male Common Darter was found at lunchtime by Peter Shaw.


male Common Darter at Vale Royal 4-11-04. Photo © Peter Shaw 2004

28.10.04
 Peter Shaw was on the Weaver at Vale Royal and saw a male Migrant Hawker flying at lunchtime today. Not quite the latest record for the species but very close.

18.10.04
Just a single rather cold looking Common Darter to be seen today sitting on a discarded piece of paper in the middle of the path at Newchurch Common (66E SJ607688). After a few minutes it whirred its wings to warm up and then slowly flew off to the nearby trees where I hope it found a safer roost. The way the weather is I fear this might be my last sighting of the year.


frons of male Common Darter at Newchurch Common 18-10-04. Photo © David Kitching 2004

15.10.04
It was cool at lunchtime today at Newchurch Common and the air temperature hovered around 11C. When the sun came out a few Common Darter soon appeared, as did a couple of male Migrant Hawker that were busy feeding on the still abundant flies and midges.


a rather battered male Migrant Hawker at Newchurch Common 15-10-04. Photo © David Kitching 2004

6.10.04
At Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651751) Paul Hill recorded several Migrant Hawker and a few each of Common Darter and Ruddy Darter.

4.10.04
Rob McHale spotted six Migrant Hawker and an old female Common Darter on ditches at Birchwood Boulevard (69K SJ645908).


male Common Darter at Newchurch Common 15-10-04. 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
June 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

Back to Cheshire Dragonflies

© David Kitching 2004

Last updated 27.12.2004