First Otmoor Damsels - 27th April

Large Red Damselfly are now flying in Saunders Field

Newly emerged Large Red

Otmoor

Muntjac 

Grimsbury Reservoir: 26th April

Esperia sulpharella

Upper Cherwell Valley: 26th April

Two Roe Deer bucks (immature?) foraging on Hawthorn

Aston Downs - 23rd April

Grizzled Skipper

Pasque Flowers

Otmoor.22nd April.

Water Violet..

Cuckoo Flower.

Aston Rowant NNR (N) - 16th April

While Ring Ouzel have been taking centre stage at Linkey Down, the little jewels that are Green Hairstreak have emerged across the M40 motorway. See my 2015 butterfly year here.

Otmoor.

Amphibian on the move.

Common Lizard with 'dropped' tail.

Cowslips.

Marsh Marigold or Kingcup

Said to ward off Witches and to work as a protection against lightning if hung in your doorway.

Otmoor. 8th April.

Grass Snakes.

Young Muntjac.



Otmoor 8th April.

Field  Forgetmenot.

Farmoor 7th April

Three spined stickleback

Otters in Banbury 6th April

Gareth Blockley had a rare and magical encounter with one of our most 

elusive mammals on the outskirts Banbury near Grimsbury Reservoir. 

All photos courtesy of Gareth Blockely.

Grimsbury Birds

1st April Cassington GP's

Sweet Violet

Common Toads

Cuddesdon, Oxfordshire. More here. 

Dragonflies in Oxfordshire in 2015

The new dragonfly season should be starting in the next few weeks! The first species to appear is generally Large Red Damselfly – in 2014 the first record was on 17 April.

Large Red Damselfly - taken in 2014!

As in the last few years, I am planning to collate records for dragonflies and damselflies in Oxfordshire. These will be again posted on the ‘current news’ page on my website, and also submitted to the British Dragonfly Society at the end of the season. The "current news" section will again aim to give the latest information on what is happening on the dragonfly and damselfly front in the County. To work well, this needs as many as possible to contribute their sightings so these can be shared with others. Photographs can also be added to break up the text.

If you do see any dragonflies or damselflies in Oxfordshire this season, why not let me know, and I will post your records and photos at http://www.stephenburch.com/dragonflies/oxondnews2015.htm

If you are new to dragonflies, you might find the section of my website devoted to dragonflies in the County of interest - at http://www.stephenburch.com/dragonflies/OxonDragons.htm This has a number of separate pages including:

• Where to find dragonflies in Oxfordshire – an updated site guide
• An illustrated list of the dragonflies and damselflies in the County

Stephen Burch

BDS Dragonfly Recorder for Oxfordshire (VC23)

http://www.stephenburch.com

4th April 2015 Pit 60

Perch 

Wild(?) Reeves's Pheasant