Latest Sightings

Sound Heath, Nantwich, Cheshire. Three male and one female Migrant Hawkers sighted at this SSSI site on our first visit. Also large numbers of Common Darters. Photograph records taken.

New Forest – Dockens water. Watched over a period of an hour, single male patrolling its territory. Quite a few times hovered about a foot from my head but every time I took a picture it darted off – absolutely fascinating. It was on the wing for a long time without catching anything. Wings made a helicopter rotor noise on tight maneuvers.

Male Emperor hunting across a road between beechwood verge and shoreside rough vegetation.

At least 500 Migrant Hawkers at Ham Wall RSPB reserve in late afternoon sunshine.
Also still a few Brown Hawkers.

2 SHs, laying eggs on reed stems in garden pond. Isle of Wight

Female Southern Hawker dragonfly seen in suburban garden in London.

Emperor dragonfly inspecting our newly created wildlife pond has been around for three or four days

I had just got the mower out of the shed, I looked down and saw a large golden ringed dragonfly on the grass. It was alive and trying to fly but had sustained severe damage to it’s abdomen. I was not sure whether it had been in the mower and was damaged when I pulled the mower out or whether damage had been caused elsewhere. I put the dragonfly in a quiet place but it was obviously mortally injured. I was still alive several hours later.

My ‘Friend’ and I had a hour-long tryst at the head of Loch Hope in lovely hot, bright, sunshine. He was a White-faced Darter. First of all he sat on my bare leg, then arm, finally on the back of my hand, where he stayed for about 30 minutes, apart from quick excursions to catch a small fly. He seemed quite content eating there, and didn’t budge when pages were turned (I was sat reading in the sunshine) nor when I sipped tea. We had a wonderful face-to-face encounter. At the site were Blue Darters too, but this little fellow was quite something else. Memorable!

Several along footpath by canal

Common Hawker male Duddon Mosses resting on boardwalk

Black Darter male, Duddon Mosses

Female Black Darter, Duddon Mosses

A red veined darter perched on the pink plastic flower shaped cane topper. He was there for nearly 30 minutes, with occasional circuits of the garden. Not bothered by close up camera. Bright sunshine, breezy.

Spotted on wire fence bordering heathland in Surrey. Keen to know if this is Common Darter (seems likely) or other. I think this is female. Pale wing spots confusing. No obvious yellow or red veins in wings, so Common seems likely based on the brilliant (and recently acquired) “Britain’s Dragonflies” field guide. My picture is not 100% focus as taken using 300mm telephoto at max zoom (see Instagram link below). Would appreciate an expert view. Lots of dragonflies on the wing – many mating.

Willow Emerald Damselfly at Barnwell Country Park, Oundle

We have a large garden pond and the insect spent several minutes flying around it’s banks, giving me a splendid show.

At least 3 male Black Darter on boardwalk of white trail at Uath Lochans this afternoon.

At least a dozen Black Darter on the access boards / handrails to the RSPB Loch Insh lookout this afternoon / early evening. About even male vs female. NN775998. Good close views but irritatingly, lousy, un-natural background (board walk / handrails) for photography! Can’t have everything! Did see a peregrine.

Very Large Southern Hawker, ( I think). Comes into house , has a good look round sitting room and leaves.

At Holt Country Park (Holt Lowes SSSI), a single male keeled skimmer still on the wing – a sighting late in the year. There were also about five (one female, four males) a week ago (10 Sept), same place.

I also photographed a dead keeled skimmer caught by a four-spot orb web spider.

Saw at least three individuals at our local site next to Sainsburys supermarket in Leek. This is the first time we have recorded this species at this site. Photo record added to irecord.

Seen by new wildlife pond at Walworth Garden.

Several Male and Female Southern Hawkers in flight and at rest perched on long grasses and high in the tree canopy

Onr flew in to the veranda and hovered by the glass window for a short time before flying out

Southern Hawker in rear garden on 2 consecutive days

Female Southern Hawker was clearly laying eggs in the new plants we had just put in the rocks around our garden pond.

The wife and I took a walk along the Chesterfield Canal at Gringley and were surprised to see 2 Willow Emeralds on bank-side Figwort. Our first Notts records for this Damselfly.

This dragonfly visits us every day. She flies in and out of out conservatory – and around the fountain.

Southern Hawker flying around in my conservatory