Buckland Warren 13th November

I found a female Common Darter in Buckland Warren this morning.

David Hastings

Common Darter ♀ © David Hastings

Lockinge Brook, 8 November

By "mini-weir" where footpath crosses brook SU426877

1-2 Common Darter

Stephen Burch

Common Darter close-up [focus-stacked] © Stephen Burch

Steeple Aston - Southern Hawker emergences 2020-2025

Showing continued remarkable dedication, Deborah Dunn has now completed six years of daily monitoring of Southern Hawker emergences and exuviae at her small garden pond. 

The plot below shows weekly exuviae counts for the six years 2020-2025. Feedback from Deborah suggests that the lower totals in 2020 and 2021 can probably be attributed to shorter monitoring periods. 

For the years with full monitoring periods (2022-2025), the overall annual totals showed remarkable consistency, year on year, from 2022-2024. 

However this year only 20 exuviae were recorded, which was only 34% of the average for 2022-2024 (58) . 

This large drop is in line with comments from several other observers that 2025 has been a poor year for dragonfly numbers at many Oxfordshire sites. This poor showing is even more surprising given the seemingly ideal weather for prolonged periods - seemingly almost too good for dragonflies!

It will be interesting to learn if this reduction in numbers is reflected on a national scale and what explanations are proposed for it. 

Let us hope that activity picks up next year and returns to more normal levels. 

Any comments from others on numbers of dragonflies seen this year, compared with recent previous years would be very welcome. 

Stephen Burch

Weekly exuviae counts from a small garden pond in Steeple Aston for 2020 - 2025

Standlake Common 2nd November

At the gate to Langley Lane hide.

A male Common Darter was sunning itself on the new railings.

David Hastings

Common Darter ♂ © David Hastings

Standlake Common, 24 October

At the gate to the Langley Lane hide:

1 Common Darter - sunning itself on the new wooden fencing

Stephen Burch

Common Darter close-up © Stephen Burch

Standlake Common 5th October

All near the gate leading to Langley Lane hide.

Western Willow Spreadwing 1♀ (first site record?)
Migrant Hawker 1
Common Darter 2

David Hastings

Western Willow Spreadwing ♀ © David Hastings

Lockinge Brook. 4 October

1 Common Darter - sunning itself on the tarmac track near the weir. SU426877

Stephen Burch

Faringdon Folly Park Pond, 30 September

Blue-tailed Damselfly 1m
Migrant Hawker 2+
Southern Hawker 1
Common Darter 10+ including several tandem pairs ovipositing

Stephen Burch

Migrant Hawker © Stephen Burch

Lockinge Brook, 28 September

At weir by footpath SU426878

Below weir:

Common Darter 3 (1m, 1 tandem pair)
Willow Emerald Damselfly 1 (in buddleia bush)

Above weir:

Common Darter 2+ 

Stephen Burch

Letcombe Bassett Cress Beds, 25 September

1 Willow Emerald Damselfly (first site record)

Geoff Dymott

Willow Emerald Damselfly (c) Geoff Dymott

The Trap Grounds, Oxford 25th September

4 Willow Emeralds on the main pond early afternoon including two in tandem.

Adam Hartley 

Langford Fields, Bicester. 24 September

1m Willow Emerald Damselfly

Patricia Clissold

Willow Emerald Damselfly  (c) Patricia Clissold

Willow Emerald Damselfly  (c) Patricia Clissold

Farmoor, 19th September

Little Egret catching large numbers of Common Darters ( Pinkhill Hide )
Common Darters 10s but decreasing - see above
Migrant Hawkers 5

James Wainscoat

Little Egret catching a Common Darter (c) James Wainscoat 

Migrant Hawker (c) James Wainscoat 

Whitecross Green Wood, 19th September

Most activity at main pond.

Willow Emerald damselflies 2 pairs in tandem
Common and Ruddy Darter dragonflies 12+, many ovipositing
Southern Hawker dragonfly 1 or 2
Migrant Hawker dragonflies 3m, 1 f ovipositing

Phil Cruse

Willow Emerald Damselfly (c) Phil Cruse 

 

Migrant Hawker ovipositing (c) Phil Cruse 

Radley Lakes, 19th September

2 Willow Emeralds (males)
2 Migrant Hawker
1 Common Darter

Wayne Bull

Willow Emerald Damselfly (c) Wayne Bull 

Willow Emerald Damselfly (c) Wayne Bull 

Clattercote Reservoir, 19th September

Willow Emerald Damselfly - 2 m - new to site
Southern Hawker - 2
Migrant Hawker - 7+
Common & Ruddy Darter - 10+

Gareth Blockley 

Radley Lakes 19th September

Mainly at Orchard Lake, 14:30 to 15:30.

Common Blue Damselfly 2♂
Western Willow Spreadwing 3♂
Migrant Hawker 5
Common Darter 5

David Hastings

Western Willow Spreadwing ♂ © David Hastings

Oxford University Parks 13th September

 5 Common Darters

James Wainscott

Common Darter (c) James Wainscott 

Common Darters (c) James Wainscott 

Otmoor, 12 September

5 Migrant Hawkers ( mostly between 1st and 2nd screens )
6 Common Darters
1 Willow Emerald Damselfly (near the hide)

James Wainscoat

Willow Emerald Damselfly © James Wainscoat 

Common Darter © James Wainscoat

Migrant Hawker © James Wainscoat

University Parks, Oxford , 8 September

Pond

Willow Emerald Damselfly 1-2 , and oviposition scars
Migrant Hawker 2-5 
Ruddy Darter 2

River Cherwell

Willow Emerald Damselfly 

Jake Dudderidge

Willow Emerald Damselfly oviposition scars © Jake Dudderidge

Willow Emerald Damselfly  © Jake Dudderidge

Ruddy Darter © Jake Dudderidge

Otmoor 9th September

Western Willow Spreadwing 1♂ 1♀
Migrant Hawker 5
Common Darter 26

David Hastings

Western Willow Spreadwing ♀ © David Hastings

Letcombe Valley BBOWT, 9 September

On dried-up pond at northern end of reserve:

1-2 Common Darter

Perhaps there is some dampness back after the rains?

Stephen Burch

Peep-O-Day Lane, Abingdon, 5th September

Blue-tailed Damselfly 1
Willow Emerald Damselfly 2 tandem pair
Migrant Hawker 2 tandem pair
Common Darter 2 tandem pair
Ruddy Darter 2 tandem pair

Tim & Ali Baker

Otmoor, 5 September

3 Migrant Hawker

James Wainscoat

Migrant Hawker close up © James Wainscoat

Migrant Hawker © James Wainscoat

Grove Meadows Stormwater Pond, 6 September

2 Common Blue Damselfly 
2+ Small Red-eyed Damselfly
1 Blue-tailed Damselfly
10-20 Willow Emerald Damselfly
2 Migrant Hawker
1 Southern Hawker
2-3 Common Darter

Stephen Burch

Willow Emerald Damselfly © Stephen Burch

Farmoor 5th September

Western Willow Spreadwing 1♂ 2♀
Migrant Hawker 11♂
Common Darter 50+ (at least 10 females ovipositing, and 6 pairs in cop)

David Hastings

Migrant Hawker ♂ © David Hastings

Common Darters © David Hastings

Western Willow Spreadwings © David Hastings

Faringdon Folly Park Pond 5 September AM

Blue-tailed Damselfly 3+
Willow Emerald Damselfly 2 in cop (first site record?)
Small Red-eyed Damselfly 5+ (presumed way out on the floating vegetation)
Southern Hawker 1m
Migrant Hawker 3+
Common Darter 30+ mostly in tandem

Stephen Burch

Common Darters in cop. © Stephen Burch

Common Darter © Stephen Burch

Migrant Hawker in flight © Stephen Burch

Migrant Hawker [focus stacked] © Stephen Burch

Christ Church Meadow 31 August 2025

Willow Emerald Damselfly 6+
Common Darter 3+ and a tandem pair ovipositing
Migrant Hawker (very likely) 1

Jake Dudderidge

Willow Emerald Damselfly © Jake Dudderidge

Common Darter ©  Jake Dudderidge

Otmoor, 31 August

Willow Emerald Damselfly 4 ( Roman Road ) 
Southern Migrant Hawker 1 probable ( between 1st and 2nd screen )
Migrant Hawker 5
Ruddy Darters 10

James Wainscoat

Willow Emerald Damselfly © James Wainscoat

Ruddy Darters in cop.© James Wainscoat

Farmoor 26th August

Hardly anything about along the river at Farmoor this afternoon. All I could find were a Migrant Hawker, a Southern Hawker and a female Western Willow Spreadwing.

David Hastings

Western Willow Spreadwing ♀ © David Hastings

Otmoor, 25 August

A very warm and very dry Otmoor today. Many ditches and the small pond on the Seasonal Trail just mud now, which possibly explains the complete lack of damselflies.

All the hawkers were in flight high up and not perching.

Southern Migrant Hawker, 1 - junction of bridleway/track to first screen
Migrant Hawker, c17
Brown Hawker, 1
Common & Ruddy Darter, 40+

Phil Cruse

Ruddy Darter obelisking in the heat  © Phil Cruse

Tar Lakes, 25 August PM

Most activity and species in the conservation area, C (SP385070 ), where viewing conditions are difficult due to the sun direction.

Common Blue Damselflies C
Red-eyed Damselfly C
Small Red-eyed Damselfly C
1m Emperor C 
1m Lesser Emperor C
5+ Migrant Hawker first and second lakes
10+ Common Darter - all lakes, especially second.

Stephen Burch

John Allen Pit, Dorchester, 22nd August.

Lesser Emperor, 3

A female ovipositing whist clasped by a male, a second male came in and tussled with them briefly. They seem to be ranging over the whole lake and are difficult to track down.

Geoff Wyatt

Grove Meadows Stormwater Pond, 22 August

1 Common Blue Damselfly
10-20 Small Red-eyed Damselfly
10+ Willow Emerald Damselfly
1 Emperor
1 Migrant Hawker
3+ Common Darter - where are they all? Normally many more at this site at this time of year

Stephen Burch

Common Darter [focus stacked] © Stephen Burch

Willow Emerald Damselfly [focus stacked] © Stephen Burch

Willow Emerald Damselfly in flight © Stephen Burch

Otmoor, 17 August

On track to first screen:

1m Southern Migrant Hawker

Christopher Bill per iRecord

Whitecross Green Wood, 17 August

Common and Ruddy Darter Dragonfly, 20+, several ovipositing
Migrant Hawker Dragonfly, c.20 - over the rides and car park
Common Blue Damselfly, several
Willow Emerald Damselfly, 1

Phil Cruse

Common Darters in tandem © Phil Cruse

Wroxton College Lakes, 11 August

 Belated report:

11 August 2025 1320 – 1500 sunny intervals

Willow Emerald 4 (pair in tandem plus male, Lady lake and 1 by Main Lake)
Common Blue Damselfly 20+ including several pairs in tandem, females ovipositing
Blue Damselfly sp 200+ over Main Lake
Blue-tailed Damselfly 1m (Lady Lake)
Red-eyed Damselfly 3 m (2 Lady Lake 1 Main Lake)
Small Red-eyed Damselfly 2m on algal mats, Main Lake.
Migrant Hawker 3m lady lake, 2m Main Lake, 2m Overspill channel
Brown Hawker 1 Lady Lake.
Ruddy Darter 10 (3m pair it tandem, fem ovipositing Lady Lake, 4m Main Lake)
Common Darter 1 Lady Lake.

Steve Holliday

Radley Lakes 15th August

Common Blue Damselfly 20+
Blue-tailed Damselfly 1
Red-eyed Damselfly 4
Brown Hawker 1
Southern Hawker 2
Migrant Hawker 3
Ruddy Darter 11

David Hastings

Farmoor 15th August

Blue-tailed Damselfly 1
Brown Hawker 1
Migrant Hawker 11
Common Darter 12 

David Hastings

Migrant Hawker ♂ © David Hastings

Otmoor, 9th August

Belated report via iRecord:

Southern Migrant Hawker 2-5. Grid ref given as SP561132 (along path to first screen)

Jackie Newcombe

Faringdon Folly Park Pond, 13 August AM

A large number of anglers were present, substantially limiting access to the water's edge. Cooler and less sunny than yesterday!

Banded Demoiselle 1f
Blue-tailed Damselfly  5+ 
Small Red-eyed Damselfly 5+
Emperor 2m
Migrant Hawker 2+
Common Darter 5+

Stephen Burch

Common Darter © Stephen Burch

Blue-tailed Damselfly [focus stacked] © Stephen Burch