There were a good number of Large Red Damselflies and freshly emerged Azure Damselflies at Burton Mill Pond on Sunday drying off in the sun.

Have a look at our 2012 Events Page for some great field trips to Burton Mill Pond and other great dragonfly-spotting sites.

The 4 photos of a Large Red Damselfly emerging are a sequence from 1 damselfly in our pond in Cuckfield, W Sx. We have counted 26+ emerging over the last month.

5 Large Red Damselflies emerged from our pond today from 11am. 1 was quickly eaten by a spider but the others, once they had warmed up flew off successfully. We are next to Holy Trinity Church in Cuckfield, W Sussex. Photo posted.

We meant to add to our previous sighting that we live next to Holy Trinity Church in Cuckfield, West Sussex, RH17 5JZ. Julie and Malcolm Redford

1st April 2012 Our 1st damselfly of the year, a Large Red Female, emerged today in our garden pond. It basked in the sun for some 25 minutes before flying off. Our 2 photos are posted on the photos page. Julie and Malcolm Redford

See our 'news' page for details about our exciting competition "1st Sussex Dragonfly sighting of the year competition 2012"

C Darters in wheel position on 13 November at Weirwood Reservoir meadow pond. Photographed by Derek Washington and shown on http://www.weirwood.me.uk/photos. There were 5 others all rather faded.
Peter Erridge

Hi Ben
Two late sightings: the first a Common Darter male at Southease Bridge on 14 November; then a frustrating hawker sp at Pound House Farm, Upper Beeding, on 20 November, but not giving me a close enough or long enough view for certain ID, although Southern seemed most likely from the size. Both very active in sunshine.

Best wishes

Adrian

Hi Ben,

had a couple of aged common darters one ovipositing and a female southern hawker ovipositing on one of the more sheltered ponds on the estate where i work on monday 24th, but the hail and rain put pay to any sightings today.

Saw a migrant hawker yesterday Ben!

Has anyone seen any late season Hawkers recently? I was seeing migrant hawkers and southern hawkers up until last week, but now it just seems to be the occasional common darter.

Hello,
I saw several Brown Hawkers and Migrant Hawkers and an Emerald damselfly at Amberley Wildbrooks yesterday, 21/08/11. Also many Southern Hawkers up at Hollingbury Woods/golf course on Friday 20/08/11

During the Sussex Dragonfly Group walk around St Leonards Forest on Sat 13th Aug we observed Brown, Migrant and Southern Hawkers feeding in the sheltered forest rides and clearings. There were still one or two large red and azure damselflies around a pond. The highlight was a superb male golden-ringed dragonfly holding a territory along a section of partially shaded stream. It was very obliging, settling nearby so we could all get a good look.

Hi Penny, sorry for the late reply to your post. I have been busy or out and about a lot recently and am spending today at home trying to catch up with things. I have just registered with Living Record. I'll enter the details for my Club Tail sighting as I soon as I receive user name and password.

In the meantime....first, thanks for the information about Woods Mill. I've visited Woods Mill many times and did not know there were so many odonata species there. In particular, I've wanted to see Beautiful Demoiselle for a long time now and didn't know they were there so that was a great bonus for me. As a direct result of your information I've seen them several times now so thanks for that. If you follow the stream that goes through the reserve across the road opposite Woods Mill you'll find lots there too but I expect you know that already.

Secondly, on the 25th July I visited Amberley Wildbrooks where I saw two Brown Hawkers (TQ 022131). Again, I'll post the sighting details on Living World when I get the necessary user name etc.

Best wishes,
Sherie

On the 8th July I observed a 'mass emergence' of southern hawker dragonfly on a small pond at Buchan Country Park. 6 newly emerged adults with wet-looking wings, 5 exuviae and one larvae poised on a reed stem ready to transform.

Hi Sherie, Thanks for your post. I'm glad you got to see a Club-tailed Dragonfly. I was planning to go at the weekend but it was so overcast it wasn't worth it. Hopefully I'll get over soon though. At Woods Mill at the moment, there are quite a few species about. I've seen Banded and Beautiful Demoiselle, Emperor, Hairy Dragonfly, Azure Damselfly, Red-eyed Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly and Downy Emerald. If you've not been to Woods Mill before it's a good place to see dragonflies as there is a large lake, woodland rides and two dipping ponds. Don't forget to enter your records on to Living Record - click on the 'Recording' tab to see how to register. All the best, Pen

This is my first post so I'd like to say 'hi' to everyone. I went out to Fittleworth bridge today looking for Club-tailed Dragonflies. I did see one but only one and I was there between 11am and 5pm. I also saw Emperor, Large Red damselfly, Banded Demoiselle, Azure damselfy, Broad-bodied Chaser, Scarce Chaser and Black-tailed Skimmer.

On Mon 23rd May, Pauline Chandler saw a fresh looking Male Golden-ringed Dragonfly near Burton Mill Pond resting up on some Butcher's Broom. Good spot Pauline!

There was a good diversity of Odonata around St Leonard's Forest yesterday. Sunbathing and feeding in glades away from the water (what water?!) were female downy emeralds, male emperor, and male & female white-legged damselflies. male four-spotted chasers and broad-bodied chaser were fighting for territory over what was left of a boggy pool! Join the Sussex Dragonfly Group for a walk here on Sat 13th August 2011 - see events pages shortly.

Hi All, I went to the river at Lower Fittleworth to look for the Club-tails a couple of weekends ago with Graeme Lyons, and bumped in to Ben Rainbow there - it was a bit windy and overcast but there were lots of banded demoiselles on the wing. Just as we were leaving we had a glimpse of one Club-tail over the river. I think another visit this weekend coming would be good to see them as the males return to the river to hold territory and find a mate. Looking back at the records, the river at Stopham Bridge is also a good place to spot them. Let us know if you have any luck, I'll report back after the weekend! All the best, Pen

One broad bodied chaser, 100+ Banded Demoiselles, 20+ large red damselflies and 20+ white legged damselflies by the Arun in Broadbridge Heath

Hi everyone, I wonder if there is anyone in the group who could ID this hatchling.. I guess its an azure but any help would be appreciated, i have posted two pics neither very good in the photos section and i think this should be a link.

http://webjam-upload.s3.amazonaws.com/insect- ... x1873)__1954__.jpg?ViewState=d8025002-2e23-498a-baf2-b6b6c970ac25

Hi Penny, sorry cant help on the Club Tailed , bit of a bogey for me too as i have yet to see one on ashdown forest. I have had sightings of broad bodied chasers males and females , a couple of four spotted chasers, plenty of large reds and azures and a stream full of beautiful demoiselles.

Has anyone seen a Club-tailed Dragonfly yet? It would be interesting to here where and when you saw them, I was thinking of going out looking for them this weekend as I've not caught up with one yet? They're my bogey dragonfly! Thanks, Pen

Today I observed a fresh looking female broad-bodied chaser laying claim to a small pond at West Grinstead. Also lurking in the rushes was a male azure damselfly.

Apologies to Damian Pinguey, I should have posted his sighting sooner but I've been a bit busy! On the 16th of November, he spotted a Male Common Darter at Buchan Country Park. Thanks for sending the record in. I wonder if we'll have many more sightings this year...

On 14th October I spotted about 50 common darter (males & females) basking amongst bracken in a large sunny woodland glade near Pulborough.

Hi Ben, although its on private land, i had a fair showing of common emerald damselles on the park last week , a lone red eye which i thought where over for the season. just a couple of emeralds today but found one of our more secluded ponds and had a couple of southern hakwers.

Well, it certainly looks like the 2010 dragonfly season is far from over yet! (although my sightings of damselflies have now dried up). The warm September sun brought a flurry of activity to several ponds near Henfield yesterday, I spotted a mature female brown hawker (see pic), copulating pair of southern hawker and an egg-laying pair of common darter. Has anyone else seen a damselfly recently?

Michael Grace spotted a lone female golden ringed dragonfly, in a woodland (TQ818312) last Friday. Thanks for sending the record in.

First sighting of small red damselles , a couple of emeralds, other than that the much needed rain stopped play

me again, i have posted a poor picture on the web site gallery. I think its a keeled skimmer given the yellow pterostigma, the tail looks black in the image but thatsa shadow from vegitation..whats confusing me is the yellow makings down the length of the body as all the ids show keeled skimmers as blue bodied. any guidance would be appreciated.

Hi all, I have recently joined the society and thought i shouold post a quick hello. Im the warden for pippingford park in the heart of ashdown forest. ALways been a keen photographer but since taking post im more and more into my wildlife. The area i warden has many ponds and lakes and we are blessed with many of the Uk dragon and damselleflys, i have managed to learn enough to ID most of our species but would love some help with the more unusual visitors. Im not online a lot but look forward to being part of the society.

On Tuesday 6th July I spotted a female brown hawker ovipositing into decaying wood at the shady edge of a weald pond. Three large stripey brown hawker exuviae were also present in the pond edge vegetation. Lots of black-tailed skimmers were holding territories around the pond edge and white-legged damselflies were mating.

Yesterday, whilst out at Ashdown forest, M D Reed watched a brilliant emerald out hawking along a ride, above the gorse. The vulva scale was clearly visable. Thanks for the record.

Whist out in her garden, Jenny Stewart spotted a migrant hawker (on the 19th). Thanks Jenny!

A Black Tailed Skimmer at Birling Gap yesterday was a pleasant surprise. In the new ponds between High and Over and Littlington an Emperor was egg laying, also a male patrolling along with 4 Broad Bodied Chasers and 2 Four Spot Chasers. On the river were many Banded Demoiselles.

Hi, I'm new to dragonflies and am trying to record what I can on Chailey Commons in East Sussex as it seems to be an under-recorded area. Tn an hour today I've seen large numbers of common blue and large red damselflies, two male broad-bodied chasers, a 4spotted chaser and one emperor. I also saw what I think were white-legged damselflies (10+) and a few azure damselflies. Will post some photos - perhaps someone can confirm the identities for me.

Sarah Matthews had a great view of a magnificant Emperor Dragonfly on sunday the 6th, flying amongst the trees at Verdley Wood - thanks for the record Sarah.

On saturday 5th at BioBlitz in Stanmer Park Ben Rainbow and I spotted a broad bodied chaser ducking and diving amongst some scrub. It was a great recording day for plants, though the dragonflies were a bit thin on the ground!

Today, the 4th of June, I spotted a fresh looking female Scarce Chaser hawking in a young plantation woodland, near Shipley. Yesterday I spotted a Large Red Damselfly snatch and then consume a cranefly the same size as it!

Hi there,

I've been away for a bit and I had a spate of records sent in whilst I was gone. So here's a recap of what's been seen over the last two weeks:

On the 20th of May, Matt Bramich spotted an immature female Broad-bodied chaser basking in the sunlight at Black Down.

Richard Lowe spotted a Small Red Damselfly at Millbrook West on the 21st – he tried to take a picture but it refused to settle.

Graeme Lyons saw a Large Red damselfly at the Mens on the 22nd and a Broad-bodied chaser and Beautiful Demoiselle on the same day at Ebernoe.

Down at Edburton, Tony Wilson saw a lone female Beautiful Demoiselle on the 23rd.

Two Scarce Chasers were sighted by Susie on the 30th. The first was seen by the River Arun in Broadbridge Heath and the second in her back garden during a barbecue!

Thanks everyone for sending in your sightings,

Victoria

3 Broad Bodied Chasers including a male turning from brown to blue at TQ5020 0047 Frog Firle. 1 Hairy dragonfly also below High and Over.

Hi Everyone, thanks to all of the sightings you've been sending in so far this season, they're much appreciated. It would be great if you could provide grid references so I can put the records in to the database here at the Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre. Please also make sure that you don't post any sightings for private land as this could encourage trespassing and damage relationships we have with landowners. Please send any records for private land straight to me at the Biodiversity Record Centre: pennygreen@sussexwt.org.uk Thank you.

South of Arlington Weir on the Cuckmere today i counted circa 150 Banded Dems, x3 Male Beautiful Dems, x8Hairy lots of Large Reds and Azures in tandem and Ovi, still only a few Blue-tails around.

May 23rd at Little Horsted,7 Downey Emerald inc pr in tandem ,2 Hairy Dragonfly,100 + Azure Damselfly,3 White-legged Damselfly,Blue-tailed Damselfly,Red-eyed Damselfly and Large Red Damselfly.Club-tailed Dragonfly seen at Fittleworth by D.Barber today.

May 21 at Rowland Wood, 2 Downy Emerald,3 Hairy Dragonfly,Large Red Damselfly,Blue-tailed Damselfly and Azure Damselfly

Good day today, in ditches by Charleston Reed Bed x1 Teneral male Black-Tailed Skimmer, x1 4Spotted Chaser, x19 Hairy inc 1 pair in cop. A few Blue-tailed, many Azure and Large Reds inc x4 in tandem.
Steve Dawson

On the first ever official dragonfly transect at Woods Mill today, Graeme Lyons and I saw three Large Red Damselflies...and then the sun went behind the clouds :-( However, we were rewarded for our efforts when a couple of Red Kites flew over the reserve!

1 Immature Male Common Blue Damselfly basking on a 'Powerade' energy drink bottle on a grassy verge around the corner from Top Shop, Chichester City.

Has anyone been out looking for the elusive Club-tailed Dragonfly yet? Let us know if you have any luck!

May 14th at Frog Firle, Seaford. 1 very photogenic Large Red Damselfly, 1 very shy Blue Damselfly and 1 Broad Bodied Chaser. With the weather at last warming up there will hopefully be lots more to see soon!!

A short walk along Bevern Stream today from Red Bridge to the Old Railway Bridge i counted x50 Large Red Dams and x5 Beautiful Demoiselles,(all females)

2 Hairy Dragonflies seen today. 1 on Frog Firle TQ507 013 and a very fresh 1 with clear wings at High and Over TQ5105 0114. 3 Broad Bodied Chasers also seen and 1 Large Red Damselfly. The damsel and 1 chaser at High and Over, 1 Chaser with the Hairy at Frog Firle and the other chaser at the same spot as seen last week.
Bob Eade.

1 Hairy Dragonfly seen today while undertaking invertebrate survey at private woodland near Ringmer

Michael Blencowe

8 Large Red Damselflies and 2 Blue-tailed damselflies between some of the fantastic waterbodies on the Knepp Estate. Unfortunately no first glimpse of the elusive Hairy Dragonfly yet.

Ben Rainbow

Have had 4 sightings only so far this year. On the 19th April there were singles of Large Red Damselflies at both TQ184 196, the Downslink path near Partridge Green, and also at Mill Hill TQ211 071.
Then, on 27th and 29th April Broad Bodied Chaser at Frog Firle TQ5020 0047 and also 1 at High and Over on the 29th.

Bob Eade.

Friday 9th April 2010

During a quick lunchtime stroll around The Pells area of Lewes parallel to the Ouse 5 or 6 Large Red Damselflies were observed flying or resting on bramble alongside a ditch.

Michael Blencowe

Who will post the first record of the year? Post your sightings here!