CVL BIRDING - Dragonfly List

Twenty two species of dragonfly and damselfly have been recordred at Chew, which isn't bad, considering that the lake doesn't support any real specialities, and even one or two species which might be expected to occur (both residents and migrants) are missing from the list.

It seems that the next addition could just as likely be a continental species as one which has wandered a few miles from the Mendips or Somerset levels. Other species which breed within a short distance include Common Hawker, Black Darter, Downy Emerald, Golden-ringed Dragonfly, Keeled Skimmer and Hairy Dragonfly. In addition, Small Red-eyed Damslefly should now be expected to occur; the latter is probably favourite to be the next to go on the list.

In the third column, B indicates that the species breeds every year, and b indicates irregular or possible breeding.

Calopteryx virgo	Beautiful Demoiselle		Odd individuals here and there - breeds in the River Chew south of Herriott's Pool
Calopteryx splendens	Banded Demoiselle	b	A few records around the lake - breeds on the Chew north of the main dam
Lestes sponsa	Emerald Damselfly	B	Fairly common
Platycnemis pennipes	White-legged Damselfly		Breeds on the River Chew near Chew Magna, but no recent records at the lake
Phyrrosoma nymphula	Large Red Damselfly	B	Surprisingly scarce - seems to be quite localised and difficult to find
Erythromma najas	Red-eyed Damselfly	b	Formerly found at Hollow Brook, but a gap of many years before an influx in 2010
Coenagrion puella	Azure Damselfly	B	Common all around the lake
Enallagma cyathigerum	Common Blue Damselfly	B	Common
Ischnura elegans	Blue-tailed Damselfly	B	Common
Aeshna mixta	Migrant Hawker	B	Common in August and September
Aeshna cyanea	Southern Hawker	B	Fairly common, though less numerous than mixta
Aeshna grandis	Brown Hawker		Rare - very few records
Anax imperator	Emperor	B	Common - favours sheltered bays and pools
Anax parthenope	Lesser Emperor	b	First recorded in July 2006 - at least three at Stratford, including a pair ovipositing
Libellula quadrimaculata	Four-spotted Chaser	B	Small number in a few pools around the lake, but was rare before 2000
Libellula fulva	Scarce Chaser		Two records (Grebe Trail and River Chew by the Pumping Station)
Libellula depressa	Broad-bodied Chaser	B	Fairly common on suitable pools around the lake
Orthetrum cancellatum	Black-tailed Skimmer	B	Common
Sympetrum striolatum	Common Darter	B	Common
Sympetrum fonscolombei	Red-veined Darter		One at Nunnery Point in June 2009
Sympetrum flaveolum	Yellow-winged Darter		One in August 1994, then seven together in the 1995 influx
Sympetrum sanguineum	Ruddy Darter	B	Common - thousands on the wing during peak emergence, but smaller numbers in some years

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