July Sightings and News

Total species recorded during the 2009 season is 24

30.7.09
Whilst walking in the woods at Alderley Edge (87N SJ857777), I saw two male Southern Hawker busy feeding whilst flying low down amongst the vegetation on a cool and damp day.

25.7.09
This evening just before 8.00pm I was looking out of my kitchen window when I saw a hawker dragonfly in my garden (87W SJ895735). It flew for a while before landing in my neighbour's tree. My initial thoughts were that it was a female Southern Hawker but when I viewed it through binoculars it was clearly a female Common Hawker. Sadly, by the time I had gained access to my neighbour's garden it had flown on. This is a new species for my garden, and brings the total number recorded to nine.

At Marbury Big Mere (54M SJ557457) Martin Pennell recorded Brown Hawker with a single Four-spotted Chaser and several Emerald Damselfly along with Common Blue Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, and Blue-tailed Damselfly.

22.7.09
Whilst out boating on the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal I spotted a female Southern Hawker at Stanthorne (66X SJ698657) and a male Brown Hawker at Prescott's Bridge (65U SJ668592).

Male Black-tailed Skimmer at Lindow Common 20.7.09. Photo © Trisha Thompson 2009

20.7.09
Whilst exploring on Lindow Moss (88F SJ822804), Trisha Thompson found lots of Black Darter and there were still a few Large Red Damselfly about. There were also Southern Hawker, Brown Hawker, Four-spotted Chaser, Common Darter, and Emerald Damselfly.

Male Black Darter at Lindow Moss 20.7.09. Photo © Trisha Thompson 2009

19.7.09
At Sound Common (64E SJ619480) Martin Pennell saw Emperor Dragonfly, Four-spotted Chaser, Common Darter, Azure Damselfly, and Blue-tailed Damselfly. Moving to Lindow Common (88F SJ833811) there was Emperor Dragonfly, Black-tailed Skimmer, and Common Darter. Trisha comments that so far this season she has seen plenty of female examples of the latter species but very few males.

Male Ruddy Darter 16.7.09. Photo © David Kitching 2009

15.7.09
A single female Banded Demoiselle was flying along the Bollin at Macclesfield Riverside Park (97C SJ904758) today.

Male Emerald Damselfly 16.7.09. Photo © David Kitching 2009

13.7.09
Phil Corley visited Risley Moss (69Q SJ666918) and saw plenty of Black Darter and six Southern Hawker along with Four-spotted Chaser, Common Darter, Emerald Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly. Moving on to Rixton Claypits (69V SJ685907) there were nine Broad-bodied Chaser, three Emperor Dragonfly, and a single Four-spotted Chaser.

Female Southern Hawker at Midgleygate 11.7.09. Photo © David Kitching 2009

11.7.09
Whilst out by the Dane near Midgleygate (96Y SJ996663) this afternoon, I was surprised to see a teneral female Southern Hawker feeding around the trees by the river.

Male Golden-ringed Dragonfly at Crewe-by Farndon 5.7.09. Photo © Paul Brewster 2009

6.7.09
Bob Bradshaw has been busy with observations at Stapeley Water Gardens (65Q SJ666513) and has recorded Emperor Dragonfly, Broad-bodied Chaser, Four-spotted Chaser, and Common Darter alongside the usual numbers of Blue-tailed Damselfly.

Blue-tailed Damselfly cleaning its eyes at Stapeley 6.7.09. Photo © Bob Bradshaw 2009

5.7.09
The second confirmed sighting for Golden-ringed Dragonfly in Cheshire was made today at Crewe-by-Farndon on the Dee (45G SJ414534) by Paul and Carys Brewster. In the vicinity they also saw Broad-bodied Chaser, a single White-legged Damselfly and lots of Banded Demoiselle. Meanwhile in the Northwich Community Woodlands at Dairyhouse Meadow (67S SJ663757) Trisha Thompson found the first Ruddy Darter of the season along with Black-tailed Skimmer, Emperor Dragonfly, and Brown Hawker. On nearby Marbury Lane there was a Southern Hawker flying. At Frodsham (57J SJ526783) Arthur Batty spotted a female Hairy Dragonfly in a garden, and at Gayton (28V SJ283809) Ian Brodie found a pond with Emperor Dragonfly, Broad-bodied Chaser, Four-spotted Chaser, and a couple of damselfly species.

Male Ruddy Darter at Dairyhouse Meadow 5.7.09. Photo © Trisha Thompson 2009

2.7.09
I took a stroll onto the moors near to Oakenclough (96P SJ958696) where it was very breezy, but the ponds still yielded plenty of Four-spotted Chaser along with Emperor Dragonfly, Large Red Damselfly, and lots of Common Blue Damselfly. Trisha Thompson found a single Southern Hawker exuvia at Lindow Common (88F SJ833811).

Male Four-spotted Chaser. Photo © David Kitching 2009

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. Good quality photographs of Cheshire Odonata for use on the news pages are also very welcome.

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