DRAGON & DAMSELFLY DIARY 2021
This year's sightings from S. Gloucestershire
APRIL 2021
Monday 19th
The first emergence of the year was a Large Red Damselfly noted in a private garden at Yate on the 19th.
Large Red Damselfly | Mark Coller
MAY 2021
Wednesday 12th
A male Beautiful Demoiselle, the first of the year, was seen on the wing alongside the R. Avon between Willsbridge and Hanham.
Beautiful Demoiselle | Donna Harvey
Friday 14th
The first dragonfly of the year with a Broad-bodied Chaser seen on Yate Common, Yate and this years first Banded Demoiselle alongside the R. Avon between Bitton and Willsbridge.
Tuesday 18th
The first Azure Damselfly of the year was seen on Yate Common, Yate today.
Tuesday 25th
A female Beautiful Demoiselle was seen on the wing in the Shire Valley, Marshfield this morning.
Thursday 27th
At least ten Azure and two Large Red Damselflies on Yate Common today.
Azure and Large Red Damselfly | Mark Coller
Saturday 29th
A female Scarce Chaser, the first of the year, was seen alongside the R. Avon in the Holm Mead area opposite Avon Valley CP. (Chris Mott) Also today, at least 15 Beautiful Demoiselle and eight Large Red Damselfly along the R. Frome at Yate. (Mark Coller)
Sunday 30th
At Oldbury Power Station; Large Red, Common Blue and Azure Damselfly (Rob Emery); Beautiful Demoiselle (Heather England); Hairy Dragonfly at Western Distribution, Severn Beach (Vic Savery); Yate Common; Six Broad-bodied Chasers, Common Blue, Blue-tailed, at least 40 Azure and at least six Large Red Damselflies. (Mark Coller)
Common Blue Damselfly | Rob Emery
Broad-bodied Chaser | Mark Coller and Hairy Dragonfly | Vic Savery
JUNE 2021
Wednesday 2nd
Broad Bodied and Four-spotted Chasers were seen on the small pond at Oldbury Power Station today.
Four-spotted Chaser | Heather England
Saturday 5th
The first Emperor Dragonfly of the year was seen on Chipping Sodbury Common on the 5th.
Emperor Dragonfly | Vic Savery
Wednesday 9th
The first Black-tailed Skimmers of the year were noted at Cribbs Causeway and Western Distribution.
Scarce Chaser | Donna Harvey
Also today a walk along the R. Avon between Keynsham and the cycle path at Bitton produced at least seven Scarce Chasers (all female types) and lots of blue damselflies whizzing around. Hard to ID but a few White-legged, Azure/ Common plus one Large Red Damselfly and a large hawker type on the wing probably Common Hawker?
Thursday 10th
Female Blue-tailed Damselfly of the form 'infuscans/ obseleta' at Western Distribution, Severn Beach. Apparently there are at least five different colour forms for these females!
Blue-tailed Damselfly | Vic Savery
Contributors
Mark Coller, Rob Emery, Heather England, Donna Harvey, Chris Mott, Vic Savery, TBOSG.