Broad-bodied Chaser 1
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| Immature male Beautiful Demoiselle © David Hastings |
©
A blog for sightings of Dragonflies and Damselflies in Oxfordshire. To submit records and photos for posting, just email stephen_burchemail at yahoo.co.uk. Photos with resolutions up to 1600 pixels horizontally may be provided. These will be displayed at a resolution of 640 pixels but viewers can then click to see them at full resolution
Sunday, 31 May 2020
Waterperry Wood, 31st May
Beautiful Demoiselle 3
Broad-bodied Chaser 1
Broad-bodied Chaser 1
Saturday, 30 May 2020
Culham Lock - 30 May
Thames path west of lock (SU505948)
5+ White-legged Damselfly
1 Emperor
1m mature Black-tailed Skimmer
Common Blue Damselfly
Red-eyed Damselfly
Blue-tailed Damselfly
5+ White-legged Damselfly
1 Emperor
1m mature Black-tailed Skimmer
Common Blue Damselfly
Red-eyed Damselfly
Blue-tailed Damselfly
White-legged Damselfly (c) Stephen Burch
Earth Trust, Little Wittenham - 30 May
Banded Demoiselle (plentiful)
Common Blue Damselfly (plentiful)
Azure Damselfly (plentiful)
Blue-tailed Damselfly (8)
White-legged Damselfly (9 individuals plus two pairs in cop - first sightings of the year for me)
Large Red Damselfly (4)
Hairy Dragonfly (3)
Emperor (5)
Four-spotted Chaser (plentiful)
Broad-bodied Chaser (4)
Black-tailed Skimmer (7, all tenerals)
Ruddy Darter (11, all tenerals)
John Bloomfield
Common Blue Damselfly (plentiful)
Azure Damselfly (plentiful)
Blue-tailed Damselfly (8)
White-legged Damselfly (9 individuals plus two pairs in cop - first sightings of the year for me)
Large Red Damselfly (4)
Hairy Dragonfly (3)
Emperor (5)
Four-spotted Chaser (plentiful)
Broad-bodied Chaser (4)
Black-tailed Skimmer (7, all tenerals)
Ruddy Darter (11, all tenerals)
John Bloomfield
White-legged Damselfly (c) John Bloomfield
Clifton Meadows - 30 May
Survey starting at SU553956
Common Blue Damselfly 251
Large Red Damselfly 1
Blue tailed damselfly 16
Red eyed damselfly 127
Banded Demoiselle 70
Beautiful Demoiselle 1
Southern Hawker 7
Emperor 8
Common Club-tail 1 SU554957
Broad-bodied Chaser 1
Four spotted Chaser 4
Mark Bradfield
Common Clubtail (c) Mark Bradfield
Common Blue Damselfly 251
Large Red Damselfly 1
Blue tailed damselfly 16
Red eyed damselfly 127
Banded Demoiselle 70
Beautiful Demoiselle 1
Southern Hawker 7
Emperor 8
Common Club-tail 1 SU554957
Broad-bodied Chaser 1
Four spotted Chaser 4
Mark Bradfield
Common Clubtail (c) Mark Bradfield
Four-spotted Chaser (c) Mark Bradfield
Otmoor - 30 May
Red Eyed Damselfly - pond by the Lower Farm track by the Noke Bridleway
1 Beautiful Demoiselle - by the pumping station
2 Downy Emerald - one on the Lower Farm pond again and the other in the dyke nearby
1 Hairy Dragonfly
John Edwards
1 Beautiful Demoiselle - by the pumping station
2 Downy Emerald - one on the Lower Farm pond again and the other in the dyke nearby
1 Hairy Dragonfly
John Edwards
Sparsey Bridge at Water Eaton - 30 May
Beautiful Demoiselles
1 Hairy Dragonfly
Jeremy Dexter
1 Hairy Dragonfly
Jeremy Dexter
Beautiful Demoiselles (c) Jeremy Dexter
Hairy Dragonfly (c) Jeremy Dexter
River Thames at Goring, 30th May
Banded Demoiselle 28
Red-eyed Damselfly 34
Common Blue Damselfly
Common Clubtail 3 (2 mature males in bankside vegetation north of the railway bridge, and 1 flying around one of the bridge buttresses)
Red-eyed Damselfly 34
Common Blue Damselfly
Common Clubtail 3 (2 mature males in bankside vegetation north of the railway bridge, and 1 flying around one of the bridge buttresses)
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| Common Clubtail ♂© David Hastings |
Parsonage Moor, 29th May
Southern Damselfly 20+
Broad-bodied Chaser 6
Four-spotted Chaser 1
Black-tailed Skimmer 2
Keeled Skimmer 2
Broad-bodied Chaser 6
Four-spotted Chaser 1
Black-tailed Skimmer 2
Keeled Skimmer 2
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| Keeled Skimmer ♂© David Hastings |
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| Southern Damselfly ♂© David Hastings |
Abingdon, 29th May
A teneral Black-tailed Skimmer paid a brief visit to my garden at around midday today.
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| Black-tailed Skimmer © David Hastings |
Barton Fields, 29th May
At the fishing pond (SU512970) 10-11am
Banded Demoiselle 2
Red-eyed Damselfly 40+
Common Blue Damselfly
Variable Damselfly
Blue-tailed Damselfly 1
Hairy Hawker 1
Downy Emerald 2
Banded Demoiselle 2
Red-eyed Damselfly 40+
Common Blue Damselfly
Variable Damselfly
Blue-tailed Damselfly 1
Hairy Hawker 1
Downy Emerald 2
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| Downy Emerald ♂© David Hastings |
Goring (Gatehampton) Railway Bridge - 17 May
Belated news of yet another emerging Clubtail!
Anthony Flemming
Anthony Flemming
Emerging Clubtail (c) Anthony Flemming
Trap Grounds, Oxford - 29 May
2 Hairy Dragonflies
1m Beautiful Damselfly
1f Banded Damselfly
Nicola Devine
1m Beautiful Damselfly
1f Banded Damselfly
Nicola Devine
Beautiful Damselfly (c) Nicola Devine
Wantage - 29 May
Just downstream of Mill Street at about 1.30 today. SU 39697 88068.
1m & 1f Beautiful Demoiselle
Mark Bradfield
1m & 1f Beautiful Demoiselle
Mark Bradfield
Female Beautiful Demoiselle (c) Mark Bradfield
Friday, 29 May 2020
Trap Grounds, Oxford - 28 May
2 Ruddy Darter (first of season)
1 Hairy Dragonfly
1f Banded Demoiselle
Plentiful Azures, Blue-tailed and Large Red Damsels
Nicola Devine
1 Hairy Dragonfly
1f Banded Demoiselle
Plentiful Azures, Blue-tailed and Large Red Damsels
Nicola Devine
Hairy Dragonfly (c) Nicola Devine
Ruddy Darter (c) Nicola Devine
Thursday, 28 May 2020
Otmoor - 28 May
2 Downy Emerald: One was in the dyke by the bridleway and the other on the pond at the Lower Farm track junction by the pumping station.
1 Hairy Dragonfly
Numerous Four-spotted Chaser
John Edwards
1 Hairy Dragonfly
Numerous Four-spotted Chaser
John Edwards
Hairy Dragonfly (c) John Edwards
Four-spotted Chaser (c) John Edwards
Goring Railway Bridge - 28 May
1 emerging Clubtail
11 exuviae including the above
1 Emperor - Little Meadow
5+ Red-eyed Damselflies - Little Meadow
Banded Demoiselles
11 exuviae including the above
1 Emperor - Little Meadow
5+ Red-eyed Damselflies - Little Meadow
Banded Demoiselles
For a larger image, click here
Clubtail with exuvia [focus stacked] (c) Stephen Burch
Otmoor, 27th May
Hairy Hawker 10+
Four-spotted Chaser 2
Broad-bodied Chaser 1
Azure, Common Blue & Large Red Damselflies
Four-spotted Chaser 2
Broad-bodied Chaser 1
Azure, Common Blue & Large Red Damselflies
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| Hairy Hawker ♀ © David Hastings |
River Thames between Sandford Lock and Radley Boathouse - 27 May
3 Hairy Dragonflies (2m, 1f)
Numerous Banded Demoiselles and Red-eyed Damselfies
2 Blue-tailed Damselflies
1 Black-tailed Skimmer
Daniel Moden
Numerous Banded Demoiselles and Red-eyed Damselfies
2 Blue-tailed Damselflies
1 Black-tailed Skimmer
Daniel Moden
Immature Black-tailed Skimmer (c) Daniel Moden
Hairy Dragonfly (c) Daniel Moden
Tuesday, 26 May 2020
Dry Sandford Pit, 26th May
Broad-bodied Chaser 1
Keeled Skimmer 1
Black-tailed Skimmer 1 (first one I'd ever seen at the pit)
Keeled Skimmer 1
Black-tailed Skimmer 1 (first one I'd ever seen at the pit)
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| Keeled Skimmer © David Hastings |
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| Black-tailed Skimmer © David Hastings |
Trap Grounds, Oxford 26 May
3m Hairy Dragonfly
1f Broad-bodied Chaser
1 Four-spotted Chaser
Plentiful Azure, Blue-tailed and Large Red Damselflies
Nicola Devine
1f Broad-bodied Chaser
1 Four-spotted Chaser
Plentiful Azure, Blue-tailed and Large Red Damselflies
Nicola Devine
Four-spotted Chaser (c) Nicola Devine
Monday, 25 May 2020
Barton Fields, 25th May
At the fishing pond (SU512970) 11 - 11:45am:
Banded Demoiselle 1
Red-eyed Damselfly 10+ (1 pair in tandem)
Large Red Damselfly 2
Common Blue Damselfly 20+
Banded Demoiselle 1
Red-eyed Damselfly 10+ (1 pair in tandem)
Large Red Damselfly 2
Common Blue Damselfly 20+
Azure Damselfly 20+
Variable Damselfly 5m, 2f (two pairs in cop)
Hairy Hawker 1
Downy Emerald 2
Downy Emerald 2
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| Red-eyed Damselflies © David Hastings |
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| Variable Damselflies © David Hastings |
Trap Grounds, Oxford - 25 May
1 Broad bodied Chaser
2m Hairy Dragonflies
1f Common Blue Damsel (blue phase)
20+ Large Red Damsels
2f & 1m Banded Demoiselle
Many Azure and Blue-tailed Damsels
2m Hairy Dragonflies
1f Common Blue Damsel (blue phase)
20+ Large Red Damsels
2f & 1m Banded Demoiselle
Many Azure and Blue-tailed Damsels
Nicola Devine
Blue-tailed Damselfly [form rufescens] (c) Nicola Devine
Broad-bodied Chaser (c) Nicola Devine
Hairy Dragonfly (c) Nicola Devine
Lower Heyford - 24 May
1f Beautiful Demoiselle in garden (OX25)
Norman Smith
Norman Smith
Beautiful Demoiselle (c) Norman Smith
Rives Thames: Shifford Lock to Tenfoot Bridge (VC23 side)
2+ Hairy Dragonfly
2+ Emperor
Numerous Banded Demoiselle
1 Blue-tailed Damsel
3+ Red-eyed Damsel - near Duxford Ford (VC22)
Stephen Burch
2+ Emperor
Numerous Banded Demoiselle
1 Blue-tailed Damsel
3+ Red-eyed Damsel - near Duxford Ford (VC22)
Stephen Burch
Click here for a larger image
Banded Demoiselle (c) Stephen Burch
Sunday, 24 May 2020
Broadleaze Farm, Sparsholt - 24 May
1 Beautiful Demoiselle
1 Large Red Damselfly
10+ Azure Damselfly
4 (inc 1 mature male) Broad-bodied Chaser
Along drainage ditch/tiny stream SU340891
Stephen Burch
1 Large Red Damselfly
10+ Azure Damselfly
4 (inc 1 mature male) Broad-bodied Chaser
Along drainage ditch/tiny stream SU340891
Stephen Burch
Cholsey - 22 May
1m & 1f Beautiful Demoiselle
Along ‘The Drift’ between the Bunk line and the Wallingford Road. Also known as Green Lane.
Alan Dawson
Jeremy Dexter comments as follows on the above photo:
"On initial view this looks good for Beautiful as the wings appear brownish and the white spot is well placed. However the wings do have a green tint and the antenodal cross veins don’t look right to me so I have my doubts on the ID - maybe sometimes it isn’t possible to be 100% sure. Immature males (e.g. the one on the Cholsey blog) are much easier to ID so at least confirms Beautiful on site".
Along ‘The Drift’ between the Bunk line and the Wallingford Road. Also known as Green Lane.
Alan Dawson
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| Probable Beautiful Demoiselle (c) Alan Dawson |
"On initial view this looks good for Beautiful as the wings appear brownish and the white spot is well placed. However the wings do have a green tint and the antenodal cross veins don’t look right to me so I have my doubts on the ID - maybe sometimes it isn’t possible to be 100% sure. Immature males (e.g. the one on the Cholsey blog) are much easier to ID so at least confirms Beautiful on site".
Saturday, 23 May 2020
Trap Grounds - 23 May
1 Downy Emerald. Probably first site record.
Well done Nicola Devine!
Well done Nicola Devine!
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| Downy Emerald (c) Nicola Devine |
Wednesday, 20 May 2020
Radley Lakes and Barton Fields - 20 May
Orchard Lake:
5+ Hairy Dragonfly
1 Downy Emerald
5+ Four-spotted Chaser
Azure and Large Red Damselflies
Barton Fields
Fishing pond
1-2 Downy Emeralds
2+ Hairy Dragonflies
Red-eyed Damselflies
Azure and Large Red Damselflies
Banded Demoiselles
Fourth pool
1m Broad-bodied Chaser
Azure, Large Red, Blue-tailed Damselflies
Banded Demoiselles
5+ Hairy Dragonfly
1 Downy Emerald
5+ Four-spotted Chaser
Azure and Large Red Damselflies
Barton Fields
Fishing pond
1-2 Downy Emeralds
2+ Hairy Dragonflies
Red-eyed Damselflies
Azure and Large Red Damselflies
Banded Demoiselles
Fourth pool
1m Broad-bodied Chaser
Azure, Large Red, Blue-tailed Damselflies
Banded Demoiselles
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| Downy Emerald (c) Stephen Burch |
Sparsey Bridge at Water Eaton - 20 May
Beautiful Demoiselle: Good numbers now much more concentrated in only a couple of locations - seem to prefer sunlit bankside vegetation including areas of nettles with nearby trees/bushes.
2 Hairy Dragonflies
1 Large Red Damselfly
Jeremy Dexter
2 Hairy Dragonflies
1 Large Red Damselfly
Jeremy Dexter
Female immature Beautiful and Banded Demoiselles (c) Jeremy Dexter
Note that in the immature phase of both male and female Beautiful Demoiselles, their wings are effectively light orange, which makes ID very simple, compared to the adult phase.
Female immature Beautiful Demoiselle in flight (c) Jeremy Dexter
Tuesday, 19 May 2020
Otmoor, 19th May
Azure Damselfly 100+
Common Blue Damselfly 2 (probably more)
Large Red Damselfly 3
Hairy Hawker 6
Broad-bodied Chaser 1
Four-spotted Chaser 5
Common Blue Damselfly 2 (probably more)
Large Red Damselfly 3
Hairy Hawker 6
Broad-bodied Chaser 1
Four-spotted Chaser 5
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| Broad-bodied Chaser © David Hastings |
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| Azure Damselflies © David Hastings |
Radley Boathouse 19 May
1 adult Clubtail on Thames path nearby
3 new Clubtail exuviae on the Boathouse wall
1 Hairy Dragonfly on river
Numerous Banded Demoiselle on path to Sandford Lock
Daniel Moden
3 new Clubtail exuviae on the Boathouse wall
1 Hairy Dragonfly on river
Numerous Banded Demoiselle on path to Sandford Lock
Daniel Moden
Monday, 18 May 2020
Trap Grounds - 17/18 May
17 May
1 Blue tailed Damselfly
1f Azure Damselfly (rarer blue form)
18 May
1f Banded Demoiselle
Nicola Devine
1 Blue tailed Damselfly
1f Azure Damselfly (rarer blue form)
18 May
1f Banded Demoiselle
Nicola Devine
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| Azure Damselfly (blue form) (c) Nicola Devine |
Sunday, 17 May 2020
Sparsey Bridge at Water Eaton - 17 May
25 - 30 immature males and females Beautiful Demoiselles on the River Cherwell on either side of Sparsey Bridge at Water Eaton. SP518119
Jeremy Dexter
Jeremy Dexter
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| Beautiful Demoiselle (c) Jeremy Dexter |
Saturday, 16 May 2020
Trap Grounds 15 May
Azure Damselflies: at the Dragonfly Pond, singly & in tandem and ovipositing. Also in the grasses around the site and at Swan and Tims Ponds.
Large Red Damselflies: several around the Dragonfly Pond, one pair ovipositing.
1m Broad bodied Chaser.
Nicola Devine
Large Red Damselflies: several around the Dragonfly Pond, one pair ovipositing.
1m Broad bodied Chaser.
Nicola Devine
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| Broad bodied Chaser (c) Nicola Devine |
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| Large-red Damselflies (c) Nicola Devine |
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