Adur Damsels and Dragons         2008 - 2022

2022
 

18 August 2022
A brown large hairy looking butterfly patrolled over the main pond at Woods Mill, which was covered in water lilies.
Two Southern Hawkers (dragonfly) incessantly hawked over Truleigh Hill dewpond. One became waterlogged and struggled on the surface of the pond to find the safety of a reed to climb up. A Darter was spotted.
 
5 August 2022
A brown large hairy looking butterfly patrolled overt Castle Lane Park, Bramber. A blue dragonfly of the same size visited in the afternoon sunshine.

16 June 2022
Azure Damselflies settled briefly by the pond at Castle Lane Park, Bramber. A larger dragonfly was active but not identified. My best guess was a male Broad-bodied Chaser.
 
 

2021
 

29 August 2021
A Ruddy Darter settled briefly by the pond at Castle Lane Park, Bramber.

9 August 2021
After the torrential downpour in the morning, the precipitation stopped under a cloudy sky in the afternoon. Two Southern Hawkers (dragonfly) patrolled the hedges of the Downs Link near the Cement Works.

21 July 2021
I spotted a Southern Hawker and a Common Darter over the towpath to Cuckoo's Corner.

14 July 2021
Positively the largest dragonfly  I have ever seen flew over the top of Chanctonbury Drive, north Shoreham. It was probably an Emperor Dragonfly, Anax imperator . It patrolled to and fro under the shelter of the trees above the lawn/meadow and disturbed a Speckled Wood Butterfly, but would not settle.
 

15 June 2021
A male Beautiful Demoiselle over the Downs Link south of the Cement Works was the only sighting noteworthy on a sunny cycle rode to Bramber Brooks Nature Reserve.
 

11 June 2021

Broad-bodied Chaser

27 May 2021
I spotted my first Large Red Damselfly of the year at the top of Chanctonbury Drive, north Shoreham.
 

2020
 

9 October 2020
A Speckled Wood Butterfly and a Common Darter (dragonfly) were spotted on the sunny Knepp Estate in the afternoon.
 

2019
 
 

8 September 2019

Common Darter

Castle Lane Park pond at Bramber was initially a hive of notable activity, a patrolling bright blue patterned dragonfly which I assumed was a Southern Hawker, and a handful of Common Darters.

1 September 2019
A Southern Hawker (dragonfly) flying five metres above the Downs Link Cyclepath north of Erringham Gap looked like it was a predator on the hunt.

25 August 2019

Ruddy Darter

At Bramber, the sandy coloured water of Castle Lane Park pond rippled at the surface with shoal of over a hundred Rudd could be seen in the bright sunshine. A pair of Emperor Dragonflies, Anax imperator, patrolled without stopping, but two pairs of Ruddy Darters were more engaged in copulation in flight.
Red-veined vs Common vs Ruddy

14 July 2019
A stunning male Banded Demoiselle (a damselfly), Calopteryx splendens, fluttered (like a butterfly) over the Chicory road verge at Erringham Gap. It stopped five times amongst the long grass and tall vegetation for less than a second each time and then disappeared.

5 June 2019
Two dragonflies darted rapidly to and fro over the Yellow Water Lily covered main pond at Woods Mill, with no inclination to pause for a photograph or come close enough to make identification definite. One was unmistakably a male Broad-bodied Chaser  but the other one was slimmer with a brown and black appearance and I best guess this dragonfly as my first ever Four-spotted Chaser, Libellula quadrimaculata. Beautiful Demioselles were frequently seen but they were very active as well, appearing like a dark butterfly fluttering between the plants on the pond margins. Azure Damselflies were seen around the pond margins.

30 May 2019
A male Broad-bodied Chaser (dragonfly) flew to and fro over the new pond at Truleigh Hill. It was my first dragonfly of the year.  A few Azure Damselflies were seen on the top meadow of Mill Hill.

19 May 2019
I spotted my first Azure Damselfly of the year in the field next to Ladywells on the Coombes Road. It was with a teneral Large Red Damselfly.

1 May 2019
On the southern part of the Waterworks Road, Old Shoreham, (which doubles up as a Footpath 3138), I disturbed my first Large Red Damselfly of the year.
 


2018
 

1 August 2018
Afterwards I cycled to Annington Sewer and back noting plenty of Common Blue Butterflies and Silver Y Moths in the verges and Small White Butterflies over the verges on a quick passage journey. Annington Sewer was full of water as the River Adur was on a high spring tide. Three blue Southern Hawkers (dragonfly) patrolled about 30 cm above the surface.

22 May 2018

Blue-tailed Damselfly

It was very much a mixed bag after leaving the downs: around the pond in Castle Lane Park, Bramber, numerous damselflies flitted between the reeds and pondside plants. The small blue ones were difficult to get close to identify, (Azure or Common Blue?), but there were also a half a dozen or more of the unmistakable Blue-tailed Damselflies. At least two much larger dragonflies hawked amongst the reeds and the damselflies were very quick to get out of their way. They did not stop for for me to get a very clear look at them, but I saw enough to determine it could only be a Hairy Dragonfly, Brachytron pratense.

20 May 2018

 Azure Damselfly
Downs Link Cyclepath verges near Old Shoreham

Teneral
A teneral insect is one that has recently moulted and its exoskeleton is yet to harden and get its final colouration. In this state the insect is very vulnerable and the teneral state can last for some time. Teneral insects may be mobile and may even fly during this time but can often be hard to identify because of their pale colouration.

Dragonfly Anatomy (Glossary)
Dragonfly Anatomy (with pictures)
Dragonfly Anatomy & Terminology

Azure Damselfly

The shape of the hind margin of the pronotum is diagnostic in blue damselflies. Pronotum: a shield-like plate covering the top of the thorax.
Comparison of pronotums of blue damsels

18 May 2018
The only surprise of the early afternoon was a very quick male Broad-bodied Chaser (dragonfly) chasing after the skippers on the lower slopes of Mill Hill.  A few Azure Damselflies were seen around the Brambles.

15 May 2018

Large Red Damselfly, Azure Damselfly
Broad-bodied Chaser, Beautiful Demoiselle

By the big pond at Woods Mill, scores of bright blue Azure Damselflies, Coenagrion puella, occasional Large Red Damselflies and frequent Beautiful Demoiselles, Calopteryx virgo, skirted the vegetation of the fish less ponds and streams of the Nature Reserve.  A female a Broad-bodied Chaser, Libellula depressa, patrolled incessantly over the still water.

8 May 2018
My first damselfly of the year was an unidentified teneral by the Streamside Scout Hut near Ladywells Stream and weir next to the Coombes Road
 

2017
 

6 November 2017
At least three Common Darters (dragonfly) showed over the lower slopes and over the paths through the scrub of Mill Hill..

12 October 2017
With the verges on both sides shorn of vegetation, if there was hardly anything of interest a week ago, there was absolutely nothing to make my cycle ride to the Cement Works worthwhile. I cycled to Woods Mill and that had mostly mud, fallen leaves and acorns. Common Darters (dragonfly) were frequent near the pond. .

26 & 28 September 2017
Occasional Common Darters (dragonfly) appeared on over the lower and middle slopes and over the paths through the scrub of Mill Hill.

27 August 2017
A Grey Heron was surprised at Annington Sewer and the large bid took flight, a short hop into the neighbouring pasture. This left an Emperor Dragonfly, Anax imperator, on patrol over the confluence of two streams south of the road bridge. In Castle Lane Park (adjacent to Clays Hill), Bramber, three species of dragonfly were quickly seen by the pond: one Common Darter, one Southern Hawker and a clearly seen Brown Hawker, Aeshna grandis.
Butterfly Report
Wild Flowers 2017

1 August 2017
My first of the year Southern Hawker was spotted at the top of Chanctonbury Drive, north Shoreham.

30 July 2017
Most impressively a huge Emperor Dragonfly patrolled the shady Downs Link Path (by the Cement Works) incessantly.

16 July 2017
Woods Mill was generally disappointing, but  it had its moments, notably three restless male Beautiful Demoiselles, Calopteryx virgo, over a stream, and a really large dragonfly in Hoe Wood. It was really close but it would not stay still so I'm not sure which one it was. I think it was most likely an Emperor Dragonfly, Anax imperator. I also spotted a handful of Blue-tailed Damselflies, Ischnura elegans.

6 July 2017
A Brown Hawker Dragonfly flew to and fro over the big pond at Woods Mill where it sparred with an Emperor Dragonfly and was accompanied on the nature reserve by Blue-tailed Damselflies and I also spotted a male Banded Demoiselle (probable ID). An Emperor Dragonfly was the dominant dragonfly at Tottington Wood pond.

2 July 2017
Pride of the day was a spectacular Emperor Dragonfly, Anax imperator, that patrolled over a confluence in the Meadowsweet-lined Annington Sewer near the A283 Steyning by-pass bridge over the tidal River Adur. Annington Sewer was partially clear of Water Fern and in this open water Whirligig Beetles gyrated and it looked there was quite a lot of bug life. The Emperor chased away a male Broad-bodied Chaser, Libellula depressa, (dragonfly), which appeared very much smaller. Later, in the early afternoon, two Blue-tailed Damselflies, Ischnura elegans were seen in a field near Coombes.

10 June 2017
Azure Damselflies, Coenagrion puella, were out in the Waterworks Road, Old Shoreham, and Blue-tailed Damselflies, Ischnura elegans in a field of Yellow Flag Iris, Hedge Woundwort, various grasses and Stinging Nettles, next to Ladywell's Stream & the Scout Hut (just north of Cuckoo's Corner). There were less than a dozen seen but I expect there were many more.

9 May 2017
My first damselfly of the year, a Large Red Damselfly, flitted around the short vegetation on the lower slopes of Mill Hill.
 
 

2016
 

18 September 2016

 

By Widewater Lagoon, a Common Darter landed for a second on the bank near the bridge.


25 August 2016
Over the cyclepath just north of Old Shoreham, my first Southern Hawker (dragonfly) of the year, cruised by at a height of about two metres. This was quickly followed by a Common Darter.

10 August 2016
A large brown dragonfly patrolled the large pond at Woods Mill, Small Dole, and I think this is most likely to be a Brown Hawker which appeared double the size of a Common Darter seen at the same time.

8 August 2016
The first Common Darter of the year was seen at top of Chanctonbury Drive, north Shoreham (SE of Mill Hill Bridge). .

19 July 2016
A Common Blue Damselfly was seen at Annington Sewer on the warmest day of the year.

5 July 2016
 

Common Blue Damselfly, Enallagma cyathigerum


4 June 2016

On breezy humid afternoon, I  looked out the meadow-like road verge at Buckingham Cutting (south) where there was a Common Blue Damselfly.

29 May 2016
A large unidentified dragonfly was seen flying rapidly over Shoreham Beach and the Shoreham Fort end (east). It flew like a hawker.

12 May 2016

Hairy Dragonfly Brachytron pratense
Photograph by Ray Hamblett
South Lancing

2015

23 September 2015
Cloudy but at least it was not raining and anything fluttering in the breeze was more likely to be a fallen leaf as the equinox passes and the days become even shorter. The Pixie Path hosted three Common Darters and a larger dragonfly. As they all appeared simultaneously so I did not get a chance to chase the larger dragonflyto find out what is was. I fancied it to be a Migrant Hawker but I expect it was the more usual Southern Hawker.
 
Common Darter 

3 July 2015
I noted the first signs of the impending autumn with the first Buddleia in flower by the River Adur, and a large dragonfly hawking up The Street, Old Shoreham. This was possibly a Southern Hawker but it seems too early in the year for this species?

22 April 2015
The first Large Red Damselfly of the year was seen at the top of Chanctonbury Drive, north Shoreham.
 
 

2014
 

24 September 2014
On a cloudy day. I picked an overcast period.
 

 
Common Darters
 

Darters (dragonflies) were occasionally spotted including a mating pair of Common Darters, Sympetrum striolatum, flying in tandem over the Downs Link Cyclepath, north of Old Shoreham.

7 September 2014
Two hawker dragonflies flew over the cyclepath north of Old Shoreham and another one over Shoreham. They were not recognised as Southern Hawkers and could have been Migrant Hawkers?  Common Darters were seen mating at Annington Sewer.

31 August 2014
Two hawker dragonflies flew over the cyclepath north of Old Shoreham. A Southern Hawker flew over Shoreham.
 
23 August 2014
My first Common Darter, Sympetrum striolatum, (dragonfly) of the year was spotted over the drainage ditch/stream that runs along get eastern bank of Shoreham Airport and parallel to the River Adur.
19 August 2014
Azure Damselfly 

Top of Mill Hill Road/Pixie Path

31 July 2014
I spotted a Southern Hawker patrolling the top of Buckingham Park and the one in the photograph stopped by the path at the top of The Drive, north Shoreham.

12 & 31 July 2014
 

 
 Southern (?) Hawker
Dragonfly nymph
 
 Dragonfly nymph
Photograph by Kim Murphy

Hammy Close Pond Life

22 July 2014
A cycle ride to Annington Sewer and back, with a detour to Anchor Bottom, brought 15 different species of butterfly, but the highlight of the day was a male Banded Demoiselle, Calopteryx splendens, over a stream next to the cyclepath halfway between Old Shoreham and Upper Beeding. This blue demoiselle has a butterfly-like wing, but like all damsels landed with its wings closed. I spotted a Southern Hawker patrolling the flowering Buddleia at the edge of the cyclepath south of the Cement Works.

21 July 2014
After the thunder and rain deluges (a weather front from the south), I was curious to see what life was out on the downs and about in the humid sunshine on an overcast muggy afternoon.
 

 
 Common Darter
 Banded Demoiselle
 

An amble up to Mill Hill produced my first of year teneral Common Darter (dragonfly) landed in front of me. As I was about to go home I spotted a blue Southern Hawker patrolling the unruly hedge at the bottom of the lower slopes.

10 June 2014
A flash of turquoise in the roadside woods by Ladywell's Stream, on the Coombes Road, was a Kingfisher flying a straight like an arrow. This stream on the eastern side of the road hosted Sticklebacks and I noted an Azure Damselfly, Coenagrion puella, on the streamside vegetation. At Cuckoo's Corner Ladywell's Stream ran rapidly out to the sea: amongst the trees that bordered the bank, two flashes of dark blue were two male Banded Demoiselles, too far away to photograph.

14 April 2014
A first of the year Large Red Damselfly settled briefly in the Butterfly Copse next to the Waterworks Road, Old Shoreham.
 

2013
 

6 October 2013
The first of two Common Darters (dragonfly) was seen amongst the Brambles on the lower slopes of Mill Hill.

29 September 2013
A Common Darter (dragonfly) was seen at Upper Beeding and a Southern Hawker at the southern edge of the Saltings Field at Bramber by the River Adur.

16 September 2013
A Southern Hawker, (dragonfly) flew about and then settled high up in the trees over the outskirts of Steyning by Rublees allotments.

5 September 2013
At least two Southern Hawkers, (dragonfly) were seen over the Downs Link Cyclepath and another looked much larger over a drainage stream near the river near Botolphs.

25 August 2013
After the rain, there were only small muddy puddles on the Downs Link Cyclepath north of Old Shoreham, where my first Southern Hawker, (dragonfly) of the year landed immediately in front of me on the clay path.

12 July 2013
The highlight of the day was a dark blue damselfly over the top of Erringham Road in north Shoreham. I thought it was a male Beautiful Demoiselle, Calopteryx virgo, from my rather restricted view of the insect in flight. (It was possible it could have been a male Banded Demoiselle, Calopteryx splendens,)

5 June 2013
With scarcely a cloud in the clear blue sky, the damsels and demoiselles were seen on the outskirts of Shoreham. Just three were seen of two different species most spectacularly a male Beautiful Demoiselle, Calopteryx virgo, on the Downs-Coastal Link Cyclepath just north of the Flyover, and two Azure Damselflies, Coenagrion puella, on the Pixie Path to Mill Hill.

6 May 2013
The first Large Red Damselfly of the year was seen on the verges of the footpath section of the Waterworks Road.
 

2012
 

15 October 2012
With Cumulus clouds rushing across the sky, the weather was changeable, the sun shining through the gaps in the clouds for a few minutes on the lower slopes of Mill Hill, and I was subsequently battered by hail blowing horizontally (Force 4) from the west on the upper plateau.
 

 
 
 Common Darter
Common Darter
 
 

Altogether, there was very little of interest: dragonflies replaced butterflies and Common Darters were frequently seen with 14 counted and one large predatory Southern Hawker near the copse at the top of the hill.

4 October 2012
On the fourth day of the month the rain had stopped and it was worthwhile taking the camera out. A Southern Hawker dragonfly flew over the Pixie Path and Frampton's Field. Common Darters (dragonfly) frequently arose from the lower slopes of Mill Hill.

9 September 2012
Occasional (4+) Southern Hawkers were seen on the cyclepath north of Old Shoreham, and one blue one appeared much larger than the others, but I think the ID was correct. (There was a possibility that the large one was an Emperor, and another possibility that the smaller ones were Migrant Hawkers.)

6 September 2012
I noted my first Common Darter (dragonfly) of the year in Lancing. It was one of a few.

17 August 2012
 

Female Emperor Dragonfly
Photographs by Sharon Penfold

This spectacular dragonfly was spotted in a Sompting garden. It is female Emperor Dragonfly, Anax imperator.

Report and Photograph by Sharon Penfold
Adur Dragonfly Reports
 

16 August 2012
A Southern Hawker (dragonfly) hawked over the car park and country road at Cuckoo's Corner.

Southern Hawker
11 August 2012
Southern Hawkers (dragonfly) were occasionally spotted (about eight seen) on the cyclepath north of Old Shoreham to the Cement Works. Identification was certain on one that settled on a Buddleia.

6 August 2012
My second of the year Southern Hawker* (dragonfly) looked menacing as it patrolled beneath the tree canopy in St Julian's churchyard, Kingston Buci. (*Originally identified as a Migrant Hawker and changed later.)

23 July 2012
Under a blue sky, the sun bathed Mill Hill in light (>19.3 °C), and I found myself on an overgrown part of the southern part of Mill Hill Nature Reserve which was covered in Stinging Nettles and not normally an area that I visit. A Southern Hawker (dragonfly) flew past (first of the year).

31 May 2012
My first Common Blue Damselfly, Enallagma cyathigerum, of the year put in an appearance over the verges of the Waterworks Road, Old Shoreham.

12 May 2012
In the weak sunshine (12.4 °C), my first Odonata of the year, a Large Red Damselfly showed amongst the Stinging Nettles in the Butterfly Copse next to the Waterworks Road.

2011
 

1 November 2011
An emerald green Southern Hawker (dragonfly) hawked along the western end of Nicolson Drive in residential Shoreham.

15 September 2011
On a pleasant day (>17.2 °C), the outskirts of Shoreham (Waterworks Road - Pixie Path - Chanctonbury Drive, passage trek) a handful of Common Darters (dragonfly) flew rapidly overhead with none of them showing any signs of settling.

11 September 2011
Three splendid blue South Hawkers (dragonfly) were the most impressive sight on a cloudy day with two around the hedgerows below Old Erringham (on the levels to the south-west of the farm; on the road to Old Erringham) and another one over the Pixie Path to Mill Hill. A Common Darter landed on the Downs-Coastal Link Cyclepath north of Old Shoreham.

26 August 2011
A emerald green Southern Hawker (dragonfly) hawked to and fro long the Buddleia-lined Downs-Coastal Link Cyclepath at Upper Beeding. It was an impressive insect which I watched for a few minutes.

27 July 2011
On the Pixie Path I spotted my first Migrant Hawker (dragonfly), Aeshna mixta, of the year. This was a distant view and the identification is just a probable. The thorax appeared light blue in the brief sighting and the the abdomen a much darker blue, almost black with patterns.
There was also at least two Common Darters.

24 July 2011
On the top part of the Pixie Path I spotted my first Common Darter (dragonfly) of the year.

1 July 2011
As the sun shined intermittently through the clouds, I spotted my first Blue-tailed Damselfly of the year on the River Adur eastern towpath at the same latitude as Mill Hill (south of the upper car park) (TQ 202 073).

4 June 2011
It was warm and blustery, the warmest day of the year so far recorded at 25.8 °C at 3:00 pm, but again spoilt by steady Strong Breeze (Force 6) from the north-east gusting to Gale Force 7 all through the day. Two bluish-green Hawker dragonflies were seen sparring at the top of Chanctonbury Drive, north Shoreham (SE of Mill Hill), but they flew upwards over house height against the wind before I could get a closer look.

1 June 2011
A large bright blue dragonfly cruised over the Ladywell's Stream by the Scout Hut, and although it was prominent as it flew to and fro, it never got close enough for a positive identification. I think it was probably a male Broad-bodied Chaser although it looked longer. One pair of Azure Damselflies, Coenagrion puella, flew in a mating tandem over the stream and there were singles seen.

31 May 2011
Immediately I entered the Bramble-bordered path that opening up in the southern bank of the Buckingham Cutting, a Broad-bodied Chaser, Libellula depressa, landed.

21 May 2011
The first Common Blue Damselfly of the year put in an appearance in amongst the brambles in a shady area behind the southern bank of the Buckingham Cutting.

Two female Broad-bodied Chasers, Libellula depressa, (a dragonfly) cruised over an open part of the path that runs parallel with the dual carriageway at the top of the southern embankment of the the Slonk Hill Cutting. Both of them settled, one of them long enough for the photograph above.

4 May 2011

My first teneral Azure Damselfly, Coenagrion puella, was seen on the Green Alkanet and other vegetation on the verges of the Waterworks Road, Old Shoreham. Later a blue one was seen over the Ladywell's Stream, near Cuckoo's Corner on the Coombes Road.
 

29 April 2011
Maybe it was fitting for the morning of the Royal Wedding there was the emergence of the female Beautiful Demoiselles, Calopteryx virgo, with three seen of these damselflies on the outskirts of Shoreham. The first one was seen amongst Brambles at the top of Mill Hill Cutting (south) on the overgrown footpath, the second on the return trip at the top of the Pixie Path and the third seen over the Waterworks Road, Old Shoreham.
 
26 April 2011
My first dragonfly of the year was seen on the top of Mill Hill with a female Broad-bodied Chaser flying over the Brambles. Large Red Damselflies were occasionally seen on the downs and approaches away from any immediate water.
 
19 April 2011
My first damselfly of the year was spotted over the road entrance to Old Erringham from the Steyning Road. It was almost certainly a dark teneral Large Red Damselfly.
 


2010
 
 
6 October 2010
Two dragonflies were seen: a Common Darter on the top part of Mill Hill, and a Migrant Hawker, Aeshna mixta, on the north-south part of the Pixie Path.
Migrant Hawker
Late September 2010
Common Darters (dragonfly) were occasionally seen on the Pixie Path and Mill Hill

10 September 2010
On a day too cool for butterflies a Southern Hawker patrolled the Coastal-Downs Link Cyclepath north of Old Shoreham.
 
7 September 2010
On the hedgerows on the southern side of Buckingham Cutting, a Migrant Hawker (dragonfly), Aeshna mixta, flew over and then it was spotted settled on Bramble with blackberries.

1 September 2010
Common Darters (dragonfly) were seen beside the stream at Brooklands, east Worthing with one impressive Southern Hawker flew by in the brief spell of sunshine.

31 August 2010
Teneral Common Darters (dragonfly) appeared with half a dozen seen over the footpath section of the Waterworks Road, Old Shoreham.

29 August 2010
At least two Common Darters (dragonfly) were seen, one in the hedgerows on the south side of Buckingham Cutting and the other one on the Pixie Path. A Southern Hawker flew by the hedgerows at top of Chanctonbury Drive (SE of the Mill Hill Road Bridge).
 
24 August 2010
This looks like a teneral male Migrant Hawker, Aeshna mixta, one of two hawkers on the the Buckingham Cutting area south. 


The other one was definitely a Southern Hawker.

There was a Common Blue Damselfly that flitted over the meadow.

Common Darters (dragonfly) were occasionally seen on the Pixie Path. 

Wiltshire Dragonfly News Blog


19 August 2010

After the overnight rain shower, I made an extended visit to the Buckingham Cutting area from the eastern end. Odonata were represented by a dangerous looking (from a butterfly's view) Southern Hawker (dragonfly), a handful of Common Darters and my first Common Blue Damselfly of the year.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Common Blue Damselfly

12 August 2010
A Southern Hawker flew rapidly over the Co-operative (=Somerfield) supermarket along Ham Road, Shoreham.

9 August 2010
There was an active Southern Hawker in the meadow south of the top copse on Mill Hill and at least two Common Darters over  Frampton's Field, Old Shoreham.

28 July 2010
There was a fresh Southern Hawker mobbed by a Holly Blue Butterfly in the Butterfly Copse near the Waterworks Road, and a Common Darter on the path that runs along the south side of Frampton's Field, Old Shoreham.

18 July 2010
In the immediate hedgerow as the path leads east from the southern bank of Buckingham Cutting, north Shoreham, there was an explosion of flying insects: dragonflies, butterflies, hoverflies and other small flies and beetles. A Southern Hawker (dragonfly) had scared the butterflies into hiding but after it flew off three Speckled Woods and a Comma Butterfly appeared with another Meadow Brown. The first Common Darter (dragonfly) of the year was spotted in the same hedgerow.

11 July 2010
A Southern Hawker cruised over the mown grass at the top of Chanctonbury Drive, north Shoreham (SE of Mill Hill) and then rested just too high in the shrubbery for a photograph.

10 July 2010
At Shermanbury the freshwater reaches of the western River Adur are more like a large slow flowing stream, with plenty of vegetation including yellow Water Lilies. Shoals of Rudd with reddish fins could be seen in the surface waters with much smaller silvery fish fry.
 
 

  The River Adur at Shermanbury showing the location of the male Banded Demoiselles.

By far the most impressive sight was the appearance of frequent attractive male Banded Demoiselles which were everywhere and numbered in excess of thirty in a small area of river near the road bridge. A large brown dragonfly cruised repeatedly over the river, and it was much too large to be a Common Darter (comparable in size to a Broad-bodied Chaser but a different shape). My inclination was to think it was Hairy Dragonfly, but its identity awaits confirmation. Several Blue-tipped Damselflies flitted over the river.
Adur Levels

9 July 2010
A spectacular male Banded Demoiselle (a damselfly), Calopteryx splendens, an Azure Damselfly, and a Small Red Damselfly all flew over the Annington Sewer near the Oak Tree.
 

Banded            Demoiselle


I chased a male Broad-bodied Chaser on my bicycle down the towpath south of the South Downs Way Bridge over the River Adur.

8 July 2010
Azure Damselflies were mating above the small weir on the Ladywell's Stream (on the Coombes Road, north of Cuckoo's Corner)  with two dragonflies flying and not settling. They seemed too small to be Broad-bodied Chasers compared to the two males seen over the Lancing Ring dewpond puddle. A Blue-tailed Damselfly was seen resting on vegetation by the Ladywell's Stream, and a Southern Hawker cruised over the Lancing Ring meadows and was later seen to the west of the dewpond.
Adur Levels

2 July 2010
A first of the year Southern Hawker (dragonfly) cruised amongst the first flowering Buddleia along the Coastal-Downs Link Cyclepath by the Cement Works at Upper Beeding.
 
22 June 2010
A female Beautiful Demoiselle, Calopteryx virgo, settled on the top of a leaf amongst vegetation at the top of Slonk Hill Farm Road on the south-west side of the bridge over the A27.

21 June 2010
A male Broad-bodied Chaser, Libellula depressa, rose from a dry mud patch next to Lancing Ring dewpond and flew into the scrub where it hid.
 
20 June 2010
On a day too cool for butterflies a female Broad-bodied Chaser, Libellula depressa, cruised over an open part of the path that runs parallel with the dual carriageway at the top of the southern embankment of the the Slonk Hill Cutting

There is no obvious water nearby but this wandering dragonfly has been seen in this area before. 

18 June 2010

A Large Red Damselfly settled at the top of Chanctonbury Drive, north Shoreham.
 

 

 
Large Red Damselfly

3 June 2010
An Azure Damselfly, Coenagrion puella, was seen on the Coastal-Downs Link Cyclepath north of the Toll Bridge. This one was azure blue in colour.

23 May 2010
Over the Waterworks Road, (Old Shoreham), the first female Broad-bodied Chaser (dragonfly), Libellula depressa, of the year cruised above my head
 
21 April 2010
A Large Red Damselfly were seen on Spring Dyke, (next to Miller's Stream),  north of Old Shoreham.
Miller's Stream
Large Red Damselfly

19 April 2010

A Large Red Damselfly was seen near Ladywells Stream, north of Cuckoo's Corner on the Coombes Road.
 
11 April 2010
The first Large Red Damselfly, Pyrrhosoma nymphula, of the year was seen in the Butterfly Copse near the Waterworks Road.
 
8 April 2010
In the Butterfly Copse, (the Waterworks Road), my first damselfly of the year was spotted amongst the Alexanders. I think this is most likely to be the Azure Damselfly, Coenagrion puella. However, it is surprisingly early for this species.  Grid ref:  TQ 209 062

The shape of the hind margin of the pronotum is diagnostic in blue damselflies.
Comparison of pronotums of blue damsels

Adur Azures (first reports)

I think it is more likely an immature blue form Azure Damselfly, Coenagrion puella, given the shape of the pronotum. The pink on the thorax will colour with age. It's a little early, but Azure was out on 19th April last year and 26th the year before. In 2007 when lots of spring species were early, Azure was out on 8th April.

Comments by Dr Pam Taylor
President - British Dragonfly Society (Norfolk Dragonfly Recorder) 
Message on Dragonflies of the United Kingdom Yahoo Group
 


2009
 
7 November 2009
A Southern Hawker (dragonfly) flew over Frampton's Field, Old Shoreham. Common Darter dragonflies were seen frequently as expected over the Pixie Path.
 
2 October 2009
Under the blue sky I could not resist the temptation for a quick cycle ride up to the upper car park on Mill Hill, where there were about fifty Common Darter dragonflies over the tarmac path next to the meadow to the north.
 
20 September 2009
Southern Hawker and Common Darter dragonflies were seen as expected at this time of the year on Mill Hill and the Waterworks Road.
19 September 2009

A Southern Hawker (dragonfly) flew south down Victoria Road in Shoreham town.
 
25 August 2009
There were at least two Common Darters seen, one amongst Ivy on the Pixie Path and the other one over the Waterworks Road.
 

August2009
 
Southern Hawker                    on Mill Hill (Photograph by Alec Trusler)
Southern Hawker on Mill Hill
Photograph by Alec Trusler

13-18 August 2009
Southern Hawkers (dragonfly) are seen in each of the five days, in ones on the edge of Shoreham town, over the residential areas of both Shoreham and Southwick.

12 August 2009
At Annington Sewer and medium-sized orange-brown (and I thought slightly hairy) dragonfly caught me by surprise as it darted over the stream. It was possibly a Hairy Dragonfly. A Blue-tailed Damselfly, Ischnura elegans, settled.

10 August 2009
A brown Common Darter was seen on Ivy on the Pixie Path.

9 August 2009
A Southern Hawker (dragonfly) was seen over the Waterworks Road, Old Shoreham.

5 August 2009
One large dragonfly with a bright blue abdomen cruised over Lancing Ring dewpond without stopping for at least 15 minutes and probably considerably longer. It did not seem big enough for an Emperor Dragonfly but this its most likely identity. The first red Common Darter (dragonfly) of the year was also seen resting whilst I was waiting for this large impressive insect to settle so I could have a closer look.

29 July 2009
Six Southern Hawkers (dragonfly) flew around without stopping in a shaded part of the Coastal-Downs Link Cyclepath.

23 July 2009

Under a cloudy sky a definite first of the year Southern Hawker (dragonfly) hawked to and fro in the wooded area at the top of The Drive in north Shoreham.
 
15 July 2009
A Migrant Hawker (dragonfly) flew around near St. Michael's Church, Southwick about midday.
 
14 July 2009
There were two ponds in Tottington Wood. The pond in the photograph at the eastern end hosted a Large Red Damselfly. A Migrant Hawker (dragonfly) was seen in a woodland ride and on the edges of the duckweed covered duck pond at the southern part of the wood, Common Blue Damselflies mated over the Gypsywort covered edges.
 
4 July 2009
The languid flight of a male Banded Demoiselle with its dark blue wings was a notable sighting in the late afternoon on the banks of the River Adur north of Cuckoo's Corner on the Coombes Road. There is a stream that runs from Cuckoo's Corner northwards alongside a field of Broad Beans.
Adur Level Reports 2009


2 July 2009
A dragonfly with a multi-patterned abdomen flew amongst the Hawthorn scrub on Mill Hill. It was most likely to be the first Migrant Hawker of the year.

22 June 2009
The most interesting observations of the day occurred at Annington Sewer where a large blue dragonfly flew over the stream and it looked subtly different from a Southern Hawker and may very well have been a male Emperor Dragonfly. Unfortunately, it quickly flew out of sight. Its display was excelled by a pair of Banded Demoiselles that danced over the stream for a full ten minutes and probably longer. They appeared to be courting, but both of the wings had bright blue patches whereas the female has wings of metallic green. Interestingly there was a resting emerald green damselfly of about the same size which may have been a female of the species. There were a few first of the year Common Blue Damselflies, and at least one Large Red Damselfly, Pyrrhosoma nymphula. Over a stream next* to the Coastal-Downs Link Cyclepath there was another Large Red Damselfly, Common Blue Damselflies and one Blue-Tailed Damselfly, the first seen this year. (*Off the cyclepath through a gap in a locked gate off the cyclepath from Old Shoreham just before Shoreham Cement Works: this is a short cut to the River Adur towpath).

19 June 2009
Over Lancing Ring dewpond, I spent ten minutes or more watching three pairs of Broad-bodied Chasers (dragonfly), Libellula depressa, chasing each other all over the pond. Occasionally one of them would dip on the surface of the murky water. On two occasions in-flight mating was observed for about ten seconds, possibly longer on the first occasion. Over McIntyre's Field two dragonflies were observed in quick succession, the first one was brown in colour and thought to be the Hairy Dragonfly, Brachytron pratense, and the second one with a blue abdomen was probably a Southern Hawker (although it could have been an Emperor?).

12 June 2009
On the Coastal Link Cyclepath just south of the Toll Bridge, Old Shoreham, the flying insect fluttering and being blown about in the breeze was not a butterfly but a Banded Demoiselle (a damselfly), Calopteryx splendens.
 
 Banded Demoiselle
Banded Demoiselle

There were at least two Azure Damselflies, Coenagrion puella, at the Annington Sewer, north of Botolphs on the Coastal Link Cyclepath.

9 May 2009
My first dragonfly of the year flew over Frampton's Field, Old Shoreham. It had a  mostly greenish thorax and abdomen, seen for about two seconds before it whizzed out of sight. It was probably a Hairy Dragonfly, Brachytron pratense.

7 May 2009
At least one Azure Damselfly, Coenagrion puella, and at least one Large Red Damselfly, Pyrrhosoma nymphula, were seen over the verges of the Waterworks Road.

26 April 2009
The first of the year Azure Damselflies, Coenagrion puella*, were seen amongst the Stinging Nettles on Spring Dyke, north of Old Shoreham. (* The identification was not positive.)

22 April 2009

The first Large Red Damselfly, Pyrrhosoma nymphula, of the year was seen, one of two, the second in the Butterfly Copse near the Waterworks Road.

2008
 

17 October 2008
As expected at this time of the year Common Darters were frequently seen on Mill Hill, and occasionally on the outskirts of Shoreham town.
 
Comma Butterfly and Common Darter


A Comma Butterfly and Common Darter settled on the wooden rail in the Butterfly Copse next to the Waterworks Road.

26 September 2008
Common Darters were frequently seen over the Coastal Link Cyclepath.

20 September 2008
A Southern Hawker and frequent Common Darters were noted over the Coastal Link Cyclepath.

11 September 2008
A Southern Hawker was seen by the Ladywells Stream and Coombes Road.

10 September 2008

A couple each of Common Darters and Southern Hawker dragonflies were noted over the Coastal Link Cyclepath.
 
Common Darter6 August 2008
A Southern Hawker was seen on the Coastal Link Cyclepath about 200 metres south of the Toll Bridge, Old Shoreham. There were two Common Darters (dragonflies) seen at the top of Buckingham Park, Shoreham, and there could have been more.

4 August 2008
A handful of Common Darters (dragonflies) were seen at the top of Buckingham Park and a Southern Hawker in the Butterfly Copse (next to the Waterworks Road).

22 -23 July 2008
About half a dozen Southern Hawkers were seen on the downs in the two days from Slonk Hill Farm to the Waterworks Road, with a Common Darter on Mill Hill.

20 July 2008
The first Common Darter (dragonfly) of the year was seen in the Butterfly Copse next to the Waterworks Road, Old Shoreham, resting on Common Bindweed.

17 July 2008
A Southern Hawker flew over the Waterworks Road, Old Shoreham at a height of about six metres.

5 July 2008
A Southern Hawker flew rapidly along Ham Road, Shoreham by Somerfield supermarket at a height of about four metres. I estimated its speed at about 12 mph.

30 June 2008
A large blue dragonfly hawked the Coastal Link Cyclepath just 50 metres north of the Toll Bridge, Old Shoreham, and another one flew over Anchor Bottom. They were almost certainly both Southern Hawkers.

29 June 2008
A large blue dragonfly hawked over the southern part of Buckingham Cutting and this was thought most likely to be a Southern Hawker.

24 June 2008
Over the Lancing Ring dewpond and a male Broad-bodied Chaser dragonfly dipped its head on to the surface of the water, and it was accompanied by a one third longer dragonfly in bright blue which was either the frequently seen Southern Hawker, or the locally scarce Emperor Dragonfly. Either of the latter two would have been first for the year.

17 June 2008
On the southern bank of the Slonk Hill Cutting covered in hundreds of Common Spotted Orchids and frequent Pyramidal Orchids, my first Common Darter (dragonfly) of the year rested on a herb, followed by a strong-flying female Broad-bodied Chaser, Libellula depressa, over the scrub hedgerow area on both sides of the path to the west of the spinney.

8 June 2008

A Broad-bodied Chaser, Libellula depressa, (dragonfly) flew over the thin strip of intermittent horse pasture to the east of Mill Hill, but it was in silhouette so its gender was not discerned.
 
6 June 2008
One Azure Damselfly, Coenagrion puella, was seen on the southern part of Mill Hill.
 
5 June 2008
One Large Red Damselfly, Pyrrhosoma nymphula, landed on the dominating Stinging Nettle patch in the Butterfly Copse next to the Waterworks Road.
 

4 June 2008
With a brief glimpse of the sun, over the path on an west to east journey along the path on the southern bank of the Slonk Hill Cutting that runs parallel with the A27, I spotted one Large Red Damselfly, Pyrrhosoma nymphula, and more spectacularly a strong flying male Broad-bodied Chaser dragonfly.
 
25 May 2008
There was one Large Red Damselfly, Pyrrhosoma nymphula, and one Azure Damselfly, Coenagrion puella, seen on the Waterworks Road, Old Shoreham.
 
23 May 2008
There were two Large Red Damselflies, Pyrrhosoma nymphula, at the Annington Sewer on a hazy day.
 
22 May 2008
One Azure Dragonfly was seen in the hedgerow on the approaches to Lancing Ring from due south.
Yellow Flag Iris was flowering in Lancing Ring dewpond and a male Broad-bodied Chaser dragonfly dipped its head on to the surface of the water producing very small ripples.
 
20 May 2008
Scores of Azure Damselflies, Coenagrion puella, were seen on Spring Dyke, north of Old Shoreham, plus one Large Red Damselfly, Pyrrhosoma nymphula.

Azure Damsel15 May 2008
Scores of Azure Damselflies, Coenagrion puella, flew over Spring Dyke, north of Old Shoreham. Not so much as flying as darting about in the air over the vegetation which contained about 20% Stinging Nettles.

10 May 2008
The first female Broad-bodied Chaser (dragonfly), Libellula depressa, of the year flew across in front of me at the top of the Pixie Path. A male and female pair of Azure Damselflies, Coenagrion puella, were also seen on the north-south section of the Pixie Path.

9 May 2008
A Large Red Damselfly, Pyrrhosoma nymphula, was seen in the scrub of Mill Hill.
But there was also a puzzling damselfly that eluded the camera on the Pixie Path. Its body was a dark grey and the wings were misty rather than veined like the normal blues. It was smaller with a body about the same size as a Large Red Damselfly. I originally thought that this could be a female Beautiful Damselfly Calopteryx virgo, but I have now rejected this identification. The female damsel is not as distinctive and colourful as the male with its vivid blue abdomen.

6 May 2008

My first Large Red Damselfly, Pyrrhosoma nymphula, of the year was seen in the copse of Mill Hill.
 

Damsels & Dragons 2007 Link
 
  
Blue Damsel ID Photographs
 
Common Blue Damselfly
Azure Damsel
Blue-tailed Damsel

Adur Damselflies & Dragonflies (List of Species)

Link to            the Adur Nature Notes 2008 web pagesLink to the Adur 2010 Nature Notes            pagesLink to the            Adur Nature Notes 2011 web pages