The BDS has accumulated over two million verified records, some dating back to the 19th century, which have been collected by volunteers across Britain.
This data allows us to identify rare and threatened species that need conservation action by tracking changes in distribution and abundance.
Getting Started
Where and when to record
Adult dragonflies can turn up anywhere, but you are most likely to encounter them near wetlands between May-September. Dragonflies are also more active when the weather in warm, sunny and calm.
Equipment
The adults of most dragonfly species can be identified by eye; however, close-focusing binoculars (8×21) can be useful. You will also need a pen and paper or your phone to take records.
What to record
To take a basic record, you will need to record the. . .
- Species you saw
- Date you saw it
- Location (site name and grid reference; you can download a grid reference app to your phone or work it out later using a website like gridreference.com)
Identification Tips
Dragonflies are daunting to identify at first, but working through these questions can be a good place to start.
Is it a Dragonfly or Damselfly?
| Damselflies – have a weak, fluttering flight -rest with wings held together -have small eyes separate on the head -are small, delicate and thin bodies |
Dragonflies -have a strong, direct flight -usually rest with wings held open -have large eyes that usually touch -are larger and more robust |
What time of year is it?
Different species are in flight at different times of year. For example, adult Norfolk Hawker (Anaciaeschna isoceles) are usually seen from May to July while the Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) is usually in flight from July to October.
Where are you?
Some species are widespread across the UK, while others are more localised. For example, Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum) can easily be found across Britain, but the Northern Damselfly (Coenagrion hastulatum) is restricted to a few areas of Scotland. Britain also experiences influxes of migratory species as well as rarer vagrants, such as the Vagrant Emperor (Anax ephippiger), which has been recorded at scattered locations across Britain.
What habitat is it in?
Some species, such as the Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum), breed in a variety of freshwater habitats, while others are more specialised, such as the White-faced Darter (Leucorrhinia dubia), which only breeds in bog pools with floating bog moss.
Resources
Information on Dragonflies and Damselflies, as well as an online identification tool, can be found under the Dragonflies menu tab.
You can also find identification training resources in the Resources section of the website, under the Get Involved menu tab.
If you would like to buy an identification guide, there are plenty to choose from available on the BDS shop and from other online retailers.
We recommend ‘Britain’s Dragonflies: A Field Guide to the Damselflies and Dragonflies of Great Britain and Ireland’ by Dave Smallshire Andy Swash.
Complete List Recording
Adopt a Site
We are looking for enthusiastic dragonfly recorders to carry out Complete List surveys at sites of their choice at least three times a year during the dragonfly flight season (May to September).
The records from these surveys help us keep track of the distribution of dragonflies across the country and go towards important assessments like the British Odonata Red List.
If you need help selecting a site, contact your County Dragonfly Recorder for help.
Please note important information about your site, such as access and route information. This will help ensure you survey the site in a similar manner during each subsequent visit. If you give up your adopted site in the future, this information will also be of great use to whoever adopts it next.
Register Your Site Here
This map is run by the British Trust for Ornithology as part of their support of the BDS Recording Scheme
If you choose to adopt a site to survey regularly, please register it on our map.
This will help us identify under-recorded areas and communicate with our recorders.
The registration map is made up of 1km OS grid squares. Choose the square(s) that best cover the site you wish to survey. Try to survey all wetland areas within the square(s) you have selected.
You will need to register/ log in.
Deregister: If you wish to give up a site you have registered to, please contact our Conservation Officer.
Site with Rare/Threatened Species and High Species Diversity
Sites supporting locally or nationally important species, or a high diversity of species, are known as Priority Sites.
If you think one of your adopted sites could qualify as a Priority Site, please carry out a Priority Site Assessment.
The evidence collected assists the BDS in identifying Priority Sites for conservation action and protection.
Specimen Collection and Data Policies
All BDS policies can be viewed by following the link below. The BDS and its Dragonfly Recording Scheme operate within these guidelines, which are based upon recommendations from the National Biodiversity Network.
Image credits, down and left to right. Title image: Southern Hawker by Paul Ritchie; Norfolk Hawker by Ouwesok; Red-eyed Damselfly by Hennie Cuper; River Wye by Mike Finn; Southern Hawker larva by Christophe Brochard.