Oxfordshire Dragonfly Site Guide - Part 1
Introduction
This is Part 1 of a guide to the best places for dragonflies and damselflies in Oxfordshire. At present, it is based mainly on personal knowledge of the sites mentioned.
I hope this page will help to increase interest in dragonflies in the county. I freely admit my local knowledge of dragonfly sites is limited, and I would welcome contributions from others with additional information.
So please get in touch if you would like information on your favourite site or sites added. Any information provided by others will naturally be agreed with the contributor and acknowledged.
Dragonflies and Damselflies in Oxfordshire
In general terms, Oxfordshire is not a particularly exceptional county for dragonflies and damselflies, mainly due to the almost total absence of acidic heath, bogs or marshy habitats. Nevertheless, there are plenty of the commoner species to be expected in southern England.
In terms of the largest and most obvious species, many of the hawkers (Emperor, Migrant, Brown and Southern) are well represented. Darters and chasers and the commoner damselflies also occur in good numbers in the right habitats.
In terms of localised or nationally rare species, Oxfordshire is notable for small numbers of ever elusive Club-tailed Dragonfly along the river Thames. Southern Damselfly, Small-red Damselfly and Keeled Skimmer can also be found, although at only one or two sites. The nationally threatened Variable Damselfly also has a toe-hold in the county in the Radley Lakes area.
In the last couple of decades, the county has also been well placed to receive some of the hitherto unknown species of southerly origin, such as Small Red-eyed Damselfly, Willow Emerald Damselfly, Southern Migrant Hawker and Lesser Emperor.
In 2020, small numbers of immature Southern Migrant Hawker were discovered on Otmoor, probably having bred un-noticed the previous year. By 2024, a reasonable population had built up, with sighting from all over the reserve. The Pill area had the highest concentration of records.
Until 2024, Lesser Emperor had remained a very rare visitor to the county, but there was then an unprecedented influx with sightings from many suitable sites widely distributed across the county. The reason for this influx is unknown but it is possible that a population had built-up undetected in the complex of flooded gravel pits in the Lower Windrush Valley, most of which have no access.
Small red-eyed Damselflies have now expanded their range dramatically in the county and can be found in suitable habitat anywhere. Since 2020, Willow Emerald Damselflies have arrived and are now being found at sites all over the county.
In 2024, another much anticipated species was added to the county list - Norfolk Hawker, albeit on the basis of single isolated record.
Species List
For the list of dragonflies and damselflies in Oxfordshire, click here.
Sites
See below for more information on these sites:
Otmoor RSPB reserve
Location
North of Oxford, near Beckley SP570126
Access:
To reach the RSPB car park, in the village of Beckley, go past the Abingdon Arms pub, bear left, and then sharp left down Otmoor lane. Continue to the end. Access to Otmoor is also possible from other villages, including Noke and Oddington.
Links:
Habitat:
Extensive reed beds, pools and ditches. Grassy fields, mature hedgerows.
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| Otmoor – view from the bridleway over the ditch out onto Greenaways |
Description:
In terms of abundance, species variety and number of records, Otmoor is probably Oxfordshire's premier dragonfly site, despite the limited public access to the wet areas. Early in the season, Otmoor is notable for Hairy Dragonfly and good numbers of Four-spotted Chasers. Azure Damselflies are often abundant along the sheltered Roman Road, which can also be good for Hairy Dragonfly.
Later in the season, large numbers of Black-tailed Skimmers appear, along with good numbers of Southern and Brown Hawkers. Towards the end of the season, Common and Ruddy Darters, as well as Migrant Hawkers are likely to be seen. Less common species include Downy Emerald, Beautiful Demoiselle and (recently) Small Red-eyed Damselfly.
In June 2020, immature Southern Migrant Hawkers were found on the western side of Otmoor – a county first. There were subsequent sightings of adults later in the season, with further records in 2021 but only two in 2022. By 2024, the population appeared to be widely established with regular sightings, especially from the Pill area. Also since 2020, small numbers of Willow Emerald Damselfly, another new species for the County, have been found, mainly along the Roman Road behind the car park.
In 2024, there was a single report of another new addition to the county list - a Norfolk Hawker. This was probably a wandering individual but it may herald a more sustained arrival with breeding in the coming years.
Species
- Hairy Dragonfly
- Downy Emerald
- Four spotted Chaser
- Broad-bodied Chaser
- Southern, Brown and Migrant Hawkers
- Southern Migrant Hawker (now not rare)
- Norfolk Hawker (One 2024 record)
- Large numbers of Common and Ruddy Darter
- Red-eyed, Common Blue, Azure Damselflies
- Banded Demoiselle
- Beautiful Demoiselle
- Small Red-eyed Damselfly
- Emerald Damselfly
- Willow Emerald Damselfly
Radley Lakes
Location
Immediately east of Abingdon SU520977
Access
From the Audlett Road/Twelve Acre Drive roundabout, take the Radley Road for about 500m. At the road junction, turn right onto Thrupp Road, then follow a number of sharp right-angled turns. There is now a car park on the left when you get to the reserve. Walk down the lane, and view the flooded gravel pits mainly to the right.
Access to the area is also possible along the cycleway from the end of Barton Road in Abingdon (past the industrial estate). Park at about SU513972
Links:
Habitat:
Flooded gravel pits, fly ash filled lagoons, woodland, river Thames.
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| Orchard Lake |
Description:
Going back several years, this was a delightful area with a variety of flooded gravel pits. Good for birds and no doubt dragonflies. Then the Didcot Power Station owners arrived and filled two of the pits with waste fly ash. This work ceased some years ago, but both these areas are surrounded by tall steel fences. The Earth Trust is now managing the area for the benefit of the wildlife.
The remaining lakes on this site are some of the best in the county for dragonflies, and unlike at Otmoor, access is often possible to the water's edge.
The second and smaller lake (Bullfield Lake) to the right of the main access track (just before it comes to a disused railway) can be good for dragonflies, but Orchard Lake is now the better bet. Probably the best spot here is at SU520969 although this can be damp underfoot and difficult to find, as it is hidden behind bushes.
The list of dragonflies for this site is an impressive one, including Club-tailed Dragonfly. Also early in the season, Downy Emerald and Hairy Dragonfly are regularly recorded. The boardwalk overlooking the NW corner of Thrupp Lake can be good for the former.
A Lesser Emperor was seen in August 2007, and then a very times since until 2024, when an unprecedented surge in records. At least three were then found at Thrupp Lake, with a more elusive single at Orchard Lake.
In mid season this site hosts impressive numbers of hawkers - especially Emperor, Southern Hawker and Brown Hawker.
In 2010, Wayne Bull added Small red-eyed Damselfly to this site's list and in September 2012, he again struck gold - with an immature Red veined Darter (confirmed by his photo). In 2018, Small red-eyed Damselfly was re-found on Orchard Lake as well as Emerald Damselfly.
In 2020, there was a single record, late in the season, from Orchard Lake of Willow Emerald Damselfly and their have been occasional reports since then. Also in 2020, Wayne Bull found another Red-veined Darter at almost the same location as the one in 2012.
In recent years there has been the odd record of Variable Damselfly, which may have wandered from the nearby small population at Barton Field (see below).
Notable species
- Hairy Dragonfly
- Southern Hawker
- Brown Hawker
- Lesser Emperor (rare until 2024 when 3+ present)
- Downy Emerald (NW corner of Thrupp Lake, Bullfield Lake and Orchard Lake)
- Red veined Darter (twice!)
- Small red-eyed Damselfly
- Emerald Damselfly
- Willow Emerald Damselfly (occasional recent reports since 2020)
Barton Fields near Abingdon
Location:
Between Abingdon and the River Thames. There is a secluded fishing pool at around SU512970, which is becoming increasingly overgrown and inaccessible.
Access:
The easiest place to park is on Barton Lane at about SU511972 and then walk a short distance west on the track that runs parallel with the road. Then almost immediately turn left along the footpath that heads towards the river. On reaching the Thames path, turn left, go over a small bridge and then take a small track on the right which leads very shortly to a pond with "private fishing" signs. There are several cutouts that allow access to the water's edge, presumably intended for fishers.
Habitat:
Small pools and much emergent vegetation adjacent to the River Thames.
Description:
This surprising site came to prominence in 2015 when Martin Wackenier discovered a colony of Variable Damselflies - at the time, the only known locality for them in the county. He reported they were most easily found early in the season, before the other blue damselflies emerged and make finding the Variables more difficult. Nevertheless various observers were able to quite easily locate a few Variables even in mid June. The highest count reported was about nine.
The fishing pond also has Hairy Dragonflies and Downy Emeralds (but not seen in 2022 or 2021), which are best observed from the southern shore, which is reached by following the Thames path further upstream, around the end of the pond, and then taking a narrow overgrown path on the right.
With the influx of observers, it was clear that other notable species can be found in the same general area by walking further along the River Thames path towards Radley. These include the occasional Club-tailed Dragonfly, White-legged Damselfly and Hairy Dragonfly. The area with the Variable Damselflies also held good numbers of several other common damselflies.
Barton Fields also contains a series of small pools to which access appears to be heavily discouraged (by blocking the paths to them) which hold a few of the commoner species.
This site is very close to Radley Lakes, described above, and are connected by the Thames path, which allows both sites to be covered in one visit, if required.
This whole area is probably the most productive in terms of variety and numbers of rare species of dragonflies in the county.
Notable species
- Variable Damselfly
- White-legged Damselfly
- Club-tailed Dragonfly
- Hairy Dragonfly
- Downy Emerald
- Many other common damselflies
- Four spotted & Broad-bodied Chaser
River Thames at Goring
Location:
River Thames south of Goring at about SU605795
Access:
Park in the (signed) public car park in Goring (with toilets) and then walk south along the river to where the bridge railway crosses the river. This is a pleasant walk with some chance of finding Clubtails and/or exuviae along the way.
Habitat:
River Thames with well vegetated banks in places.
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| The famous railway bridge from an upstream viewpoint |
Description:
This is the only dragonfly site in Oxfordshire that has a full entry in the book "Watching British Dragonflies" by Steve Dudley et al, on the strength of its speciality - Club-tailed Dragonfly. However, the location described in this book differs somewhat from the one I give above - which is where I have seen this species.
This is an early flying insect (mid May/early June) and is not easy to find. I have found adults in only about one in three visits, or less.
This species can be found resting on the riverside bushes but stationary dragonflies are very difficult to find it my experience. On my first successful visit, in early June, it was easier to spot flying low over the river. However even then it was quite difficult to pick out.
The wall below the bridge itself is probably the best spot in the county for emergents (if you are lucky) and exuviae (more usually). The best time for exuviae and emergents is typically mid to late May. On 23 May 2015, I was fortunate to locate an emergent and was able to secure a memorable sequence of photos. More recently, I have been more successful at finding emergents here, most notably in the amazing lockdown spring of 2020 when there were 2-3 emerging almost at the same time on a couple of occasions!
Careful inspection of any man-made posts or other structures along the river's edge between the village and the railway bridge in mid to late May should produce at least one exuvia.
Also at this site, and along the Thames from Goring, from about early June onwards are White-legged Damselfly - these should be easier to locate in the riverside vegetation than Clubtails. The vegetation to the east of the path through Little Meadow (just upstream from the bridge) is a good place to look for White-legs.
If nothing else, you are almost certain to come across good numbers of Banded Demoiselles.
Species
- Club-tailed Dragonfly
- White-legged Damselfly
- Banded Demoiselle
Dry Sandford Pit, BBOWT Reserve
Location:
Near Cothill, to the north west of Abingdon SU467997
Access:
On the minor road just to the east of Cothill there is a small car park obscured by bushes, just off the south side of road (difficult to spot). There is an information board, and a path leads out of the car park and circles the pond/marshy area. The best area is on the left side.
Important note: As of spring 2023 (if not earlier), there is now no public access to the pond/marshy area due to excessive disturbance. Hence visits to this reserve will no longer be productive for Odonata.
Links:
Habitat:
Pool with some open water and a marshy area.
Description:
This compact BBOWT reserve contains a fragment of the nationally rare alkaline fen. It is notable for Southern Damselfly and also Keeled Skimmer (since 2006 at least). There are also good numbers of Large-red Damselfly. Other species include Broad-bodied Chaser, Ruddy Darter and Southern Hawker.
The marshy area is fragile and easily damaged. This site can be combined with the adjacent Cothill Fen/Parsonage Moor area (see below).
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| View of the marshy area at Dry Sandford Pit |
Notable species
- Southern Damselfly
- Keeled Skimmer
- Large-red Damselfly
Cothill Fen NNR & Parsonage Moor BBOWT reserve
Location:
Near Cothill, to the north west of Abingdon SU459996
Access:
On the minor road in Cothill there is a car park on the north-west side of the road, opposite the Merry Miller pub. This used to have public access but it is now less clearly that. Hence it may be better to park at nearby Dry Sandford Pit.
From the Merry Miller take the public footpath that runs north and then west out of the village (String Lane). The two reserves are adjacent to one another, with Parsonage Moor being reached first. This is a BBOWT reserve which is being actively managed to improve the site for dragonflies. It has a sign at the entrance and a boardwalk.
Cothill Fen NNR (green area on map) is less obvious, and is tucked away on the western edge of Parsonage Moor. It can be accessed either from further along String Lane or by an indistinct track through Parsonage Moor.
Habitat:
Like Dry Sandford Pit, these reserves contain a rare example of lowland calcareous fen which attracts some species normally found in acidic areas (which are absent in Oxon). Parsonage Moor has reeds, a narrow runnel, one or two shallow pools and some wet areas, although is prone to drying out in drier years. Cothill Fen has a tiny, deeper pool surrounded by hazardous (deep) boggy areas (extreme care needed), and seems to be less prone to desiccation.
Description:
These two sites have some small pools and boggy areas - unique in Oxfordshire. Parsonage Moor is notable for Southern Damselfly and both sites are between them the only known location in Oxon to have Small-red Damselfly. Keeled Skimmer are also regularly seen. There have also been intermittent records of Variable Damselfly records from here, with the most recent being in 2017, after a gap of several years.
In the past I found Cothill Fen to be the better site but it is quite hazardous under foot due to the boggy conditions and I have not visited recently for this reason.
Parsonage Moor can be quite dry although the boardwalk provides easier access. At the end of the boardwalk there is a stream which can be productive in drier years. The stream/runnel can also be reached off to the left from further back along the boardwalk.
In 2022, there was an extraordinary one day transect count of 425 Southern Damselflies at Parsonage Moor, compared with a previous maximum of 164 (2021), with high numbers of Keeled Skimmer also logged. The BBOWT site management is clearly paying dividends now.
Both sites are very fragile and easily damaged. Stick to the Parsonage Moor boardwalk if possible.
Notable species
- Southern Damselfly
- Small red Damselfly
- Keeled Skimmer
- Variable Damselfly (occasional)
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