Dragonfly Diaries
- pmh0606617
- May 17
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 8
This year I have decided to set myself the target of trying to photograph all the species of Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies) recorded in Cheshire during 2025. This blog will be updated at periodic intervals with progress.

Downy Emerald
The table below lists the regularly recorded Odonata species in Cheshire; as I see each species they will be coloured red; images will appear with the relevant text below.
UPDATE
21 May - 15 species seen; 14 photographed
28 June - 21 species seen; 21 photographed
British name | Scientific name |
Willow Emerald Damselfly | Chalcolestes viridis |
Emerald Damselfly | Lestes sponsa |
Banded Demoiselle | Calopteryx splendens |
Beautiful Demoiselle | Calopteryx virgo |
White-legged Damselfly | Platycnemis pennipes |
Azure Damselfly | Coenagrion puella |
Variable Damselfly | Coenagrion pulchellum |
Common Blue Damselfly | Enallagma cyathigerum |
Red-eyed Damselfly | Erythromma najas |
Small Red-eyed Damselfly | Erythromma viridulum |
Blue-tailed Damselfly | Ischnura elegans |
Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly | Ischnura pumilio |
Large Red Damselfly | Pyrrhosoma nymphula |
Southern Hawker | Aeshna cyanea |
Brown Hawker | Aeshna grandis |
Common Hawker | Aeshna juncea |
Migrant Hawker | Aeshna mixta |
Emperor Dragonfly | Anax imperator |
Hairy Dragonfly | Brachytron pratense |
Common Clubtail | Gomphus vulgatissimus |
Downy Emerald | Cordulia aenea |
White-faced Darter | Leucorrhinia dubia |
Broad-bodied Chaser | Libellula depressa |
Four-spotted Chaser | Libellula quadrimaculata |
Black-tailed Skimmer | Orthetrum cancellatum |
Black Darter | Sympetrum danae |
Ruddy Darter | Sympetrum sanguineum |
Common Darter | Sympetrum striolatum |
May
My dragonfly year didn't really start until May - most of April was spent overseas, a limiting factor that would keep occurring during the year as I spend time as a Guest Lecturer with Fred Olsen Cruises.
Early spring species have been the target for May with regular visits to the River Dee looking for Common Club-tail; I made four visits in the first half of May without success (on 13; 14; 16 and 18 May), visiting Churton, Stocklach, Farndon and Alford. The visits though did produce Banded Demoiselle and Beautiful Demoiselle, plus my first Emperor of the year. Anderton Nature Park and the Dragonfly Pond, were also regular fixtures during the month and produced many of the commoner species, including Hairy Dragonfly. Visits to Delamere Forest on (on 13 and 16 May) allowed me to photograph White-faced Darter, once extinct in Cheshire, but now the subject of a successful reintroduction scheme. Another species with a restricted range in Cheshire is the Downy Emerald, which occurs in areas around the Whitegate Way and Delamere Forest. A visit to Hogshead Wood on 18 May, produced large numbers of Downy Emerald and also my first Black-tailed Skimmer of the year.
On 21 May I joined Lee Wilkinson at Shocklach church for another attempt at Common Club-tail. At last success with a male and female found hawking and resting up on hedgerows along the footpaths. Several Broad-bodied Chaser were also present and a fleeting Black-tailed Skimmer.
Common Club-tail
Hairy Dragonfly
Four-spotted Chaser
Broad-bodied Chaser

Black-tailed Skimmer
Downy Emerald
White-faced Darter
Blue-tailed Damselfly
Common Blue Damselfly
Azure Damselfly
Large Red Damselfly

Red-eyed Damselfly
Banded Demoiselle
Beautiful Demoiselle
Top Row - The River Dee at Farndon and Aldford
Middle Row - The River Dee at Churton; Delamere Forest; Anderton Nature Park
Bottom Row - Hogshead Wood
June
Due to work commitments in Lincolnshire and cruise travels in June, it looked as though the photo-challenge was almost a non-event. Free weekends coincided with poor weather. However the Odonata gods shined on my on the last weekend in June. A visit to Tatton Park on 27 June for a Lesser Emperor seen in the week was met with failure and although Brown and Southern Hawkers were seen, they refused to settle for the camera. My luck was much better the following day when I made a morning visit to Newchurch Common and Shemmy Moss. The sheltered paths yielded Southern Hawker, Ruddy Darter and Common Darter, whilst Shemmy Moss held Emperor, Black Darter and Emerald Damselfly (amongst others). Three or four Brown Hawkers all refused to land though!
On 29 June I visited Anderton Nature Park in the afternoon. A patrolling Emperor eventually settled and fell to the camera, as did a Brown Hawker along the canal.

Southern Hawker

Brown Hawker
Emperor Dragonfly
Black Darter
Ruddy Darter
Common Darter

Emerald Damselfly
Shemmy Moss
July
With limited time in July, I only had time to visit Anderton Nature Park and Delamere Forest at the start of the month before heading back to Iceland for 10 days. Although no new species were added, plenty of photographs were taken.
Teneral Common Darter
Black Darter
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