September Sightings and News

Total species recorded during the 2006 season is 24

30.9.06
Andy Weir reports eight Common Darter at Woolston Eyes (68P SJ652883) today.

28.9.06
Just one Brown Hawker today at Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690).

24.9.06
Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690) yielded two Brown Hawker today along with plenty of Migrant Hawker and Common Darter.

23.9.06
From Woolston Eyes (68P SJ652883) Andy Weir reports a single Brown Hawker and five Common Darter.

21.9.06
With temperatures well over 80F the odonata activity was plentiful at Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690) today. A single female Southern Hawker was seen along with abundant Migrant Hawker and Common Darter and a few Brown Hawker. Most insects were feeding rather than on territory by the water. At nearby Gull Pool (56Z SJ599689) a single Emerald Damselfly was seen.

Male Common Darter devours a small fly at Newchurch Common 21.9.06. Photo © David Kitching 2006

19.9.06
A rather blustery walk around Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690) yielded a male Southern Hawker along with Migrant Hawker and Common Darter.

Male Southern Hawker at Newchurch Common 19.9.06. Photo © David Kitching 2006

18.9.06
Just a single female Brown Hawker today at Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690) with plenty of Migrant Hawker and Common Darter.

17.9.06
Andy Weir saw a male Migrant Hawker at Woolston Eyes (68P SJ652883), whilst at Saltersley Moss (88A SJ819806) Barry Shaw found several Black Darter and abundant Common Darter and at nearby Ross Mere (88F SJ822811) there was a single Blue-tailed Damselfly and more Common Darter.

14.9.06
At the end of a day of incessant rain a male Southern Hawker was flyig outside Willington Hall (56H SJ532659).

12.9.06
On a balmy day at Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690) the hawkers were flying fairly sluggishly with plenty of rests on the gorse. There were several Brown Hawker and lots of Migrant Hawker and Common Darter with a few Common Blue Damselfly.

Male Brown Hawker at Newchurch Common 11.9.06. Photo © David Kitching 2006

11.9.06
A single male Ruddy Darter was flying at Risley Moss (69Q SJ666918) with lots of Black Darter and a single male Migrant Hawker reports Alan Hill. From Inner Marsh Farm Reserve (37B SJ308734) Neil Friswell reports a single Black Darter with plenty of Migrant Hawker and Common Darter along with Southern Hawker and a single Brown Hawker. In Winsford on the Weaver Parkway (66N SJ657679) a single Migrant Hawker was seen with several Common Darter.

Male Ruddy Darter at Risley Moss 11.9.06. Photo © R A Hill ARPS 2006

10.9.06
From Irby (28M SJ2584) Ken Rose reports a few Common Darter in his garden. Meanwhile at Danes Moss (97A SJ908705) there were abundant Black Darter and a single Common Darter this afternoon.

Male Black Darter at Oakenclough 8.9.06. Photo © David Kitching 2006

8.9.06
Stu Burnet visited the Handforth Ponds (88R SJ870875) in fine sunny weather and found eleven species flying. These were Common Hawker, Southern Hawker, Brown Hawker, Migrant Hawker, Common Darter, Ruddy Darter, Black Darter, Emerald Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly and Azure Damselfly. A really good variety for so late in the year. A short distance away around Manchester Airport Bryan Roberts found Migrant Hawker, Southern Hawker and Common Darter at Woodend Lane (88B SJ802821). Meanwhile at Oakenclough ponds (96P SJ958696) there were still plenty of Common Hawker and lots of Emerald Damselfly and Black Darter.

Male Common Darter 8.9.06. Photo © Bryan Roberts 2006

Female Common Darter at Newchurch Common 7.9.06. Photo © David Kitching 2006

7.9.06
I took a stroll down to Gull Pool (56Z SJ599689) where there were lots of Common Blue Damselfly and Emerald Damselfly to be seen. There were also several Migrant Hawker and large numbers of Common Darter. I don't think I have ever seen so many of this latter species at this location before. Nearby there were several Brown Hawker flying in a rather languid manner.

Male Emerald Damselfly at Gull Pool 7.9.06. Photo © David Kitching 2006

4.9.06
Still plenty of Migrant Hawker flying at Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690) with Brown Hawker and Common Darter.

3.9.06
Back at Woolston Eyes (68P SJ652883) Andy Weir found Southern Hawker, Common Darter and a single female Emerald Damselfly.

2.9.06
Andy Weir reports a couple of Southern Hawker and a couple of Black Darter flying at Rixton (69V SJ684901).

Male Migrant Hawker at Newchurch Common 1.9.06. Photo © David Kitching 2006

1.9.06
Peter Shaw reports abundant Migrant Hawker flying in strong sunshine by the River Weaver at Vale Royal (67K SJ645709) at lunchtime. A few Common Darter were also seen. At Newchurch Common (66E SJ607690) there were also plenty of Migrant Hawker and Brown Hawker with abundant Common Darter and Common Blue Damselfly. For the first time this year I also recorded Common Hawker here when two females were seen feeding.

In the evening a single Southern Hawker was flying at Woolston Weir (68P SJ 653885) on the Mersey reports Andy Weir.

A pair of Brown Hawker at Vale Royal 27.8.06. Photo © Peter Shaw 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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