The new dragonfly season should be starting in the next few weeks.
The first to appear are usually damselflies, either the Large Red or Azure. Last year, the first record was of four Large Red Damselflies at Stratfield Brake Lakes, Kidlington on 22 April. Shortly thereafter, the larger Hairy Dragonflies, that are a county speciality, should start to appear at favoured sites such as Otmoor.
Early season is probably the most exciting time for dragonfly watchers in Oxon, with other notable species to search for including the scarce Downy Emerald (try Otmoor again), Variable Damselfly and one of the most challenging – the Clubtail (best searched for along the Thames south of Goring to the famous railway bridge). You may even been lucky enough to spot one emerging from the river on the concrete wall beneath the bridge, or failing that spent exuviae can be seen here between about mid to late May.
Early season is probably the most exciting time for dragonfly watchers in Oxon, with other notable species to search for including the scarce Downy Emerald (try Otmoor again), Variable Damselfly and one of the most challenging – the Clubtail (best searched for along the Thames south of Goring to the famous railway bridge). You may even been lucky enough to spot one emerging from the river on the concrete wall beneath the bridge, or failing that spent exuviae can be seen here between about mid to late May.
I am again intending to collate records for dragonflies and damselflies in Oxfordshire and to regularly update a page on my website which aims 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 will also be added to break up the text.
So if you see or photograph any dragonflies or damselflies in Oxfordshire this season, please let me know, and I will post your records and photos at http://www.stephenburch.com/dragonflies/oxondnews2019.htm .
This page also contains information on how to submit records both for that page and to the BDS, via their preferred iRecord system.
Migrant Hawker - Buckthorn Meadow September 2018 (c) Stephen Burch
BDS Clubtail Count 2019
The BDS has recently announced it is further extending its Clubtail count into 2019, so if you are interested in taking part and searching for this elusive species please visit their webpage for further information. There is an interactive map which you can use to select your own monad(s) for the survey - which involves at least three visits between May and July.
On the BDS webpage, there is also a report on the results of their 2017 and 2018 counts. As far as the River Thames goes, this shows a fair number of records along the stretch of river downstream from Goring/Streatley, but a more patchy distribution upstream, with only two records from the upper Thames, one in each year.
Clubtail near Goring Railway Bridge, June 2019 (c) Stephen Burch
Information on Dragonflies and Damselflies in the County
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 County Dragonfly Recorder (Oxfordshire, VC23)
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