June Sightings and News

Total species recorded during the 2006 season is 20

Teneral female Southern Hawker at Overton 30.6.06. Photo © David Kitching 2006

30.6.06
Whilst working across the western half of Cheshire today I saw a number of insects flying. At Hulgrave Hall (56F SJ537607) a pair of Emperor Dragonfly were ovipositing whilst being harassed by two Four-spotted Chaser. A further male Emperor Dragonfly was feeding over a meadow at Higher Burwardsley (55I SJ526567). A teneral female Southern Hawker was seen on a bridleway at Overton CP (44U SJ467485) and both Beautiful Demoiselle and Banded Demoiselle were on the stream at Lower Wych (44X SJ484443).

Teneral female Emerald Damselfly at Tiverton 29.6.06. Photo © David Kitching 2006

28-6-06
The series of marl pits at Tiverton (56F SJ539615, SJ536616, SJ537616) usually yield good numbers of insects and today was no exception. There were very large numbers of teneral Common Darter and Emerald Damselfly with plenty of Blue-tailed Damselfly and Azure Damselfly. There were also a number of Variable Damselfly and teneral Ruddy Darter with a few Four-spotted Chaser, a pair of Emperor Dragonfly and single male Brown Hawker and Broad-bodied Chaser.

Male Variable Damselfly at Tiverton 29.6.06. Photo © David Kitching 2006

Male Emperor Dragonfly at Mobberley 24.6.06. Photo © David Kitching 2006

24-6-06
Back at Mobberley Sand Quarry (77Z SJ785795) today I found the same species as Bryan with the addition of a single male Banded Demoiselle. There were at least four male Emperor Dragonfly and one female.

Tandem Black-tailed Skimmers at Mobberley 23.6.06. Photo © Bryan Roberts 2006

23.6.06
Peter Shaw reports three Hairy Dragonfly on the angling pond at Vale Royal (67F SJ639705) along with a single ovipositing Emperor Dragonfly and plenty of damselflies. Meanwhile Bryan Roberts was at Mobberley Sand Quarry (77Z SJ785795) where he saw another ovipositing Emperor Dragonfly with Four-spotted Chaser, Broad-bodied Chaser, a single teneral Common Darter and several Black-tailed Skimmer.

20.6.06
A single Hairy Dragonfly and lots of Four-spotted Chaser were apparent at Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690). Red-eyed Damselfly were again very abundant over the water when the sun shone.

Red-eyed Damselflies ovipositing at Newchurch Common 20.6.06. Photo © David Kitching 2006

17.6.06
A male Emperor Dragonfly is reported from a pond at Appleton (68H SJ639843) by Clive Washington.

16.6.06
Hairy Dragonfly appears to be expanding its range again this year and Dave Walters found a male at Holford Moss (77C SJ706746) with many Red-eyed Damselfly. On nearby water (77C SJ713738) were a pair of Emperor Dragonfly and lots of Black-tailed Skimmer including two ovipositing females. Matt Thomas also reports Hairy Dragonfly at West Kirby (28D SJ21386) where a dead male was found in the street.

More reports of new sites for Beautiful Demoiselle from Barry Shaw who recorded this species from the Wych Brook at Lower Wych (44X SJ486443) and Oldcastle Mill (44S SJ471446). At the latter site there were also Four-spotted Chaser, Broad-bodied Chaser and Blue-tailed Damselfly.

Ovipositing female Emperor Dragonfly at Holford Moss 16.6.06. Photo © Dave Walters 2006

15.6.06
Today at Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690) there were abundant Red-eyed Damselfly ovipositing and I also saw the first Brown Hawker and there were two Hairy Dragonfly patrolling the canal section of the large fishing lake.

14.6.06
Bryan Roberts visited one of the Manchester Airport ponds on Woodend Lane (88B SJ802821) where he saw a single female Emperor Dragonfly ovipositing. Also present were a male Broad-bodied Chaser, Four-spotted Chaser, Common Blue Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly.

12.6.06
At Aldford (45I SJ430573) Neil Friswell found a two ponds with a single male Emperor Dragonfly, Black-tailed Skimmer and Southern Hawker, the latter two species being firsts for 2006 in Cheshire. He also saw 6 Four-spotted Chaser and plenty of Red-eyed Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Azure Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly. In a green lane nearby (SJ4358) he saw a further Southern Hawker. Earlier at At Castletown Rough (45F SJ425505) he recorded very large numbers (100s) of Banded Demoiselle. At a couple of nearby ponds were Emperor Dragonfly, Broad-bodied Chaser and Four-spotted Chaser plus Large Red Damselfly, Azure Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly.

Meanwhile Dave Walters was at Little Budworth Common (56Y SJ584661) and found a male Emperor Dragonfly, 20 Four-spotted Chaser and plenty of Azure Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly and Large Red Damselfly.

Alan Hill sighted several Emperor Dragonfly and at least one pair of Four-spotted chaser at Red Rocks Marsh (28E SJ205882).

At Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690) I saw a male Emperor Dragonfly, several Four-spotted Chaser and a single teneral Common Darter.

11.6.06
On a side channel close to the Dee at Aldford (46F SJ420602) Paul Hillyer found Club-tailed Dragonfly, Hairy Dragonfly, Four-spotted Chaser and Emperor Dragonfly. Damselflies present were Azure Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly and Large Red Damselfly. Meanwhile at Vale Royal (66P SJ642699) Mat Bingham found 20+ Banded Demoiselle.

10.6.06
At Crewe-by-Farndon (45G SJ4252) Nick French saw lots of Azure Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly, several Broad-bodied Chaser and one Four-spotted Chaser.

Female Broad-bodied Chaser at Newchurch Common 8.6.06. Photo © Ron Thomas 2006

8.6.06
Today saw a chance meeting with Matthew and Ron Thomas at Gull Pool (56Z SJ599689). We soon saw three Downy Emerald and a single Emperor Dragonfly along with several Four-spotted Chaser. Nearby they later saw a female Broad-bodied Chaser.

7.6.06
A walk amongst the nettles beside Coddington Brook (45M SJ456546) soon revealed that Beautiful Demoiselle was present with two males and a female seen. Also present were plenty of Banded Demoiselle, Red-eyed Damselfly, Azure Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly. Moving on to a field pond in Coddington (45M SJ41553) where there were Hairy Dragonfly and Four-spotted Chaser with a single male Emperor Dragonfly patrolling. Damselflies seen included a few Variable Damselfly.

Male Beautiful Demoiselle at Coddington Brook 7.6.06. Photo © David Kitching 2006

6.6.06
At Anderton Nature Park (67M SJ651751) Albert Conroy saw several Four-spotted Chaser and a single male Emperor Dragonfly.

Male Emperor Dragonfly at Anderton Nature Park 7.6.06. Photo © Albert Conroy 2006

5.6.06
Called briefly at a small pond in Byley (76J SJ723687) but only saw a single Azure Damselfly. Neil Friswell found two male and a female Beautiful Demoiselle at Grafton Hall, Tilston (45K SJ451505).

4.6.06
Neil French went to Farndon (45C SJ41254) today and found a couple of late Club-tailed Dragonfly along with lots of Banded Demoiselle.

3.6.06
This morning at Vale Royal (67K SJ640705 and 66P SJ642699) Peter Shaw reports further sightings of male Hairy Dragonfly. At Kings Marsh (45H SJ53-55-) Neil French saw at least twenty Broad-bodied Chaser. The same species was also present at Little Budworth Common (56Y SJ584661) when Mike Robinson and Ray Scally visited. They also visited Aldford (45E SJ418599) and Churton (45I SJ430565) seeing Hairy Dragonfly at both locations and Variable Damselfly at the latter. Further Beautiful Demoiselle were found near Overton (44P SJ468483) by Neil Friswell.

Male Broad-bodied Chaser at Little Budworth Common 3.6.06. Photo © Ray Scally 2006

2.6.06
Bryan Roberts visited Vale Royal (66P SJ642699) and saw Banded Demoiselle, Large Red Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Azure Damselfly and Red-eyed Damselfly. He also found a single female Hairy Dragonfly. Meanwhile at Overton (44U SJ474481) Neil Friswell found a new colony of Beautiful Demoiselle on a small stream in the Dee catchment. This is a really exciting discovery which may mean further finds in the area.

Female Hairy Dragonfly at Vale Royal 2.6.06. Photo © Bryan Roberts 2006

1.6.06
Peter Shaw reports the first sightings of the year from the River Weaver at Vale Royal (66P SJ642699) where he saw a single Hairy Dragonfly along with several Banded Demoiselle, Large Red Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly and Azure Damselfly.

Teneral male Downy Emerald at Newchurch Common 1.6.06. Photo © David Kitching 2006

Female Azure Damselfly at Newchurch Common 1.6.06. Photo © David Kitching 2006

At lunchtime at Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690) there were lots of teneral Four-spotted Chaser and Downy Emerald in sheltered spots. The damselflies were very abundant and I don't think I have ever seen so many Azure Damselfly in one place before. There were also Red-eyed Damselfly and large numbers of Large Red Damselfly,Common Blue Damselflyand Blue-tailed Damselfly.

Male Four-spotted Chaser at Newchurch Common 1.6.06. Photo © David Kitching 2006

		In Knutsford Bryan Roberts had three Large Red Damselfly flying around his garden pond.
Male Large Red Damselfly 1.6.06. Photo © Bryan Roberts 2006

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.

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