I'm planning to record my Dragonfly and Damselfly sightings here, in an attempt to improve my identification and understanding capabilities , so any comments or corrections will be gratefully received.
Most of the sightings will be from the North East of England but I hope to add others as we travel further afield
Blue-tailed Damselfly - Ischnura elegans
Male, first sighting at Woolsington Ponds on the 03/05/11
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| Blue-tailed Damselfly |
Common Blue Damselfly - Enallagma cyathigerum
These first sightings were at Big Waters 26-28/04/11
Female drab form Male immature
Azure Damselfly - Coenagrion puella
Immature male at Big Waters 28/04/11 Male at Big Waters 28/04/11
Large Red Damselfly - Pyrrhosoma nymphula
Large Red Damselfly female - earliest sighting at Havannah LNR, 21/04/11
Large Red Damselfly male - earliest sighting 26/04/11 Big Waters NR outlet stream
Large Red Damselfly male - earliest sighting 26/04/11 Big Waters NR outlet stream
Common darter - Sympetrum striolatum
Male - 2010
Female - 2010
As the name suggests I have found these to be the most prolific of Dragonfly, first seen locally early June 2010, and specifically at -
Druridge Ponds on the approach pathway to the Budge Hide and the main hide.
Kibblesworth Brick ponds.
Big Waters around the outlet stream and the raised boardwalk.
Banks Pond.
Cragside lakes.
Shibdon Pond raised boardwalk.
Woolsington Ponds.
Four-spotted Chaser - Libellula quadrimaculata
Female
The first Four-spotted Chaser I saw was 16 June 2010 at Banks Pond although there were earlier sightings by others. I subsequently also saw them at -
Kibbleworth Brick ponds.
Woolsington Ponds.
Big Waters around the outlet stream.
First 2011 sighting 2/06/11 at Kibblesworth although they were reported there 2 weeks earlier
First 2011 sighting 2/06/11 at Kibblesworth although they were reported there 2 weeks earlier
Southern Hawker - Aeshna cyanea
Male
Male
Female, this one appears to be half way between immature and mature colouring
Both were seen at Big Waters between the lake and the outlet stream in mid July10
Black Darter - Sympetrum danae
My sightings of these were restricted to Cragside on 02/09/10 and Fen Bog, North Yorks on the 22/09/10.
Although they can be see at lower elevations, the largest density of these dragonfly can be seen on higher ground
Male
Female
Brown Hawker -Aeshna grandis
We saw lots of these stunning dragonfly whilst on a visit to Leeds and inparticular around the Leeds - Liverpool Canal and Rodley NR on the 07/08/10. It would appear that this area is considered nearing the most northerly for this species.
Male
Common Hawker - Aeshna juncea
Male
Only had one sighting in 2010 and this was whilst visiting Vindolanda site 01/09/10
Black-tailed Skimmer - Orthetrum cancellatum
Saw a number of these at Weetslade Country Park from 29/06/10 around the perimeter of both ponds
Male
Banded Demoiselle- Calopteryx splendens
Only one sighting location at Bellasis Bridge Northumberland on 16/06/10.
First 2011 sighting 3/06/11 at Bellasis Bridge of both male and female. Later 2011 sightings at Big Waters.
Male
We saw lots of these stunning dragonfly whilst on a visit to Leeds and inparticular around the Leeds - Liverpool Canal and Rodley NR on the 07/08/10. It would appear that this area is considered nearing the most northerly for this species.
Male
Female
Common Hawker - Aeshna juncea
Male
Black-tailed Skimmer - Orthetrum cancellatum
Saw a number of these at Weetslade Country Park from 29/06/10 around the perimeter of both ponds
Male
Emperor Dragonfly - Anax imperator
These seem to be quite widespread with confirmed sightings at Banks Pond , Kibbleworth Brick Ponds on the 27/07/10
These seem to be quite widespread with confirmed sightings at Banks Pond , Kibbleworth Brick Ponds on the 27/07/10
Male
Banded Demoiselle- Calopteryx splendens
Only one sighting location at Bellasis Bridge Northumberland on 16/06/10.
First 2011 sighting 3/06/11 at Bellasis Bridge of both male and female. Later 2011 sightings at Big Waters.
Male
