Latest Sightings

Two lovely sightings of a golden ringed dragonfly on the footpath from Harlech to Coed Llechwedd. It was very active and flew round us for several minutes as we went up to the wood. It was in the same area as we returned. It was so close that it we could hear the wing beats.

male ruddy darter, garden

Southern hawker dragonflies my garden flying around pond

Midday in Wells at the end of the High Street is a large church (Bishop’s Palace and moat at other end) and when visiting the church graveyard we noticed at least a dozen dragonflies enjoying the sun swooping and diving above our heads. Something I have never seen before. There seem to be a mixture of small and larger dragonflies all interacting and quite beautiful. Impossible to photograph – we just enjoyed the moment.

A walk down London Drove on the Westhay Reserve in Somerset yielded a nice selection of species good numbers of migrant hawkers and common darters, a brown hawker, a banded demoiselle and a common blue damselfly

Photographed a female Southern Hawker in my garden. Confirmed by ‘Questions at British dragonfly’ web site.

Walking at Rutland Water round Hambleton Peninsula Sunday 8th September , afternoon , warm , part sun part cloud , little wind , two distinct areas in particular where at any one time 10-20 large ( 1.5 inches +) dragonflies within 20 metres could be seen . Magnificent sight . Too high and fast ( for this amateur) to identify .

A first for me …..3 banded demoiselles all males, seen along a slow moving river along the back of the Back of Beyond campsite located near St Leonard’s in Ringwood, Hampshire.

Spotted in riverside nature reserve Dundee Scotland think it’s a brown hawker will send photos it’s by a small pond at the esutary view point

We had a great trip out to Crowdy Marsh near Camelford in Cornwall today and 13 eager volunteer surveyors spotted at least three Black Darters. Thank you to South West Lakes Trust for giving us the opportunity.

A single male southern damselfly at Itchen Valley Country Park.

Up to four male Southern Emerald Damselflies at their now completely dry breeding scrapes at Yarmouth,Isle of Wight.Numbers seem to be very low this season with just one mating pair seen to date.Now recorded in their 5th month of 2019.

A pair of Golden Ringed dragonflies seen mating whilst flying around my garden today. I am near a river and neighbours have a pond. Lovely sunny day with gentle breeze.

2 (m) Southern Hawkers, 6+ (m+f) Migrant Hawkers, 4 Ruddy Darters

The first of these I saw at this site (a pond in a private park) was in mid-August. They have been in residence there at every subsequent visit, including one pair in copula.

A new site for me, a very picturesque location of grazing marshes/ditches, sandwiched between the river Debden and the beautiful 13th Century Ramsholt Church.
Good numbers of Male Migrant Hawkers patrolling the ditches and wider lagoons on marshes plus at least 6 pairs in tandem.
good numbers of Common Darters also and a scattering of Ruddy Darters. When the sun came out hot later in afternoon at least 50 Migrant Hawkers were swarming/feeding on the sunny side of the trees/hedge next to the church. On returning to my car parked in public car park near to the Ramsholt Arms again there were around 30 Migrant Hawkers flying around the warmth and shelter of the car park.

A Southern Hawker came to have a good look at me and a few minutes later three Migrant Hawkers buzzed each other along with another hawker that was too fast for me to identify.

This morning whilst walking along the Bridgewater Canal appx half way between Worsley and Boothstown I was lucky enough to see 2 Common Darters within 6 feet of each other on the footpath and was able to approach them close enough to id them. This is the first time I have seen them in this location.

Spotted on Westleton Heath

Male Southern Migrant Hawker at Goldcliff Wetlands, Gwent.

The gravel pits in Langham, lost of Migrant hawkers and some Ruddy Darters

Around river Great Ouse and droves adjacent to Fen Drayton Lakes, saw more of the same as yesterday and getting a better look, agree they are probably Migrant Hawkers. Also saw some Red Darters. We also saw some brown dragonflies that we think are Norfolk Hawkers – clear rather than golden brown wings, about 60mm, often settling on low vegetation in the sun. Walked about 3 miles and saw 131 dragonflies.

The damselfly is in an area with alder trees and near water. I have seen them in this location last year and now this year. I would like verification and have other photographs showing a different view.

Spotted perched on a small branch sticking out of the mud by the side of a pond. Appeared to be laying eggs into the timber.

Just one male white-legged damselfly on Black Water in Dames Slough Inclosure. Behaving like a miniature golden-ringed dragonfly, patrolling up and down a correspondingly short stretch of the stream.

Believe I saw an Emperor dragonfly this afternoon – this magnificent large creature flew noisily around my little garden and me for around a minute then darted over the fence never to return. It’s the relatively loud noise its wings made that drew my attention to it. I live in a quiet suburban area, and thank you, but I don’t need the dragonfly sighting to be verified.

Many Darters and some Hawkers (I think) one photographed laying eggs in water. Hadleigh river walk – River Brett.

We counted 97 dragonflies this lunchtime when cycling the three miles between Swavesey and St Ives through RSPB Fen Drayton Lakes. They were often in groups of 6-10 flying at about 3m along the hedgerows adjacent to the lakes. Not able to identify, but many had blue eyes and noticed some blue and some brown bodies. Several mating pairs too. Fabulous sight! [These may have been Migrant Hawkers as this form of swarming is common in that species – GHM]

Willow Emerald Damselfly single seen resting low on vegetation over drain in windy conditions then a mating pair in small wooded area on way back to car, bonus!!! plus numerous Migrant Hawker along water channel

Many migrant hawkers and common darters. Dozens of each. Darters were mostly immature, hawkers a mix of mature and immature.
Highlight was a single specimen of the Willow Emerald allowing good views while perching. Photos obtained confirmed the identity from BDS book/website (I am not an expert).