UK Dragonflies and Damselflies 2023 (2 Viewers)

[pdwinter]

Managed to see a female Broad-bodied Chaser and three Beautiful Demoiselles today (05.05.23) at Testwood Lakes (Hants)

 

[Swindon Addick]

Lots of teneral Red-eyed Damsels at Lower Moor Farm this afternoon (the bit of the Cotswold Water Park that's technically in Wiltshire not Gloucestershire).

 

[WalterRayle]

I had a Large Red Damselfy in Dorset on 04/05/23 and a BeautifuDemoiselle in Hampshire yesterday 07/05/23.

 

[earthdragon64]

Saw my first Large Red Damselfly of the the year yesterday, just south of Aviemore.

 

[Larry Sweetland]

Late start to dragon season at my local pond in Bristol, but a lunchtime visit today produced four damsel spp: 1 White-legged, 3 Azure, 4 Large Red, and several Blue-tailed.

 

[Owene]

Didn’t realise white legged was around that close to home. I’ve only seen it further north.

 

[Larry Sweetland]

Didn’t realise white legged was around that close to home. I’ve only seen it further north.

We get them in decent numbers in my local pond, and some stretches of the river Avon between Bristol and Bath have lots of them.

 

[Larry Sweetland]

Didn’t realise white legged was around that close to home. I’ve only seen it further north.

Where's your local area Owene, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Owene]

Penarth/Cardiff.

 

[Larry Sweetland]

8 Odes noted on the wing on patch (Bristol) as of today:-

Beautiful Demoiselle, White-legged, Red-eyed, Large Red, Common Blue, Azure, Blue-tailed Damselflies, Broad-bodied Chaser

 

[aeshna5]

A very pleasant surprise for my first proper dragonfly of the year. We were having a plant group meeting in Richmond Park & couldn't believe it when a mature bright male Red-veined Darter was flying over one of the smaller ponds & briefly settled on some dead bracken on the path. A certain migrant.

 

[Larry Sweetland]

Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly found on patch in Bristol today (same site as we had them in 2021). 11 spp of Odonata identified on patch today, plus a frustrating flyby of an emperor sp, possibly Vagrant Emperor.

 

[Scozmos]

Good evening all, out for a wander this afternoon and chanced on a Large Red Damselfly, I think. Not seen any damselflies up here, not really looked but, I will from now on.
East Perthshire near a mill pond and stream.

 

[Owene]

3 club tailed dragonflies seen at Monmouth. Every bush was totally dripping with banded demoiselles. Must have easily seen over 200

 

[Swindon Addick]

The White-faced Darters are out at Whixall Moss.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1662457916312502273

 

[wolfbirder]

Had a great day ( no good photos) yesterday at Windmill Farm NR, Lizard, Cornwall seeing 3 Red-veined Darters, a pair of Broad-Bodied Chasers, a few Four-spotted Chasers, about 50 Black-tailed Skimmers, a few Variable Damselflies and lots of Common Blue Damselflies.

Moved on to the large barren pool by the windmill tower and managed to see another 7 Red-Veined Darters, and best of all a Vagrant Emperor then a pair of Vagrant Emperors ovipositing.

A long drive but well worth it. Both species photographed a day or two before - see link............

https://twitter.com/x/status/1661427934517755920

 

[wolfbirder]

Downy Emerald today at Mousecroft pool, Shrewsbury..................

Metallic colours everywhere! – Shropshire Dragonflies

 

[Swindon Addick]

I've been hearing that Clubtail numbers at Goring rail bridge have been picking up recently after a population crash a few years ago. I can report that numbers have recovered to the point where even I can find one.

 

[Swindon Addick]

News from Scotland from Monday 29th: Northern Emeralds are about, and Golden-ringed have now emerged that far north too.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1663252079207383042

https://twitter.com/x/status/1663224482570354690

 

[Owene]

I’ve had multiple golden ringed this week. Definitely the most common dragon on Skye and had one at glasdrum on Sunday, and one northern emerald on Monday at glenfinnan.