A quick reminder that it's easy to submit records of your #dragonfly & #damselfly sightings online. We recommend irecord which has a special form for easy entry of multiple odonata sightings at the same spot. Your local dragonfly recorder will see it & if you include a photo they can help with ID.

5 hours later and this is all that remains of the Southern Hawker! The wasp has been working hard. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Finally Willow Emerald Damselfly has reached Devon! A male found today in a former quarry pool in East Devon. Long anticipated, but not the easiest species to find. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Beaver pond and flushes at amazing site with restricted access in E Devon held: 11 Scarce Blue-t D (mix of old and new; new site c25km from nearest source); c50 Small Red D; 1 Norfolk Hawker; 5 Less Emperor (2 prs egg-laying); & 36-50 Red-v Darters (10 prs egg-laying) @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Saw 6 Southern Migrant Hawkers around muddy, grazed dry ditches at Exminster Marshes today (image shows one that held 2 males), while a further 7 males and a female egg-laying alone reported 1km away at Matford Marshes @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

3 stunning male Southern Migrant Hawkers again today near Exminster, Devon, but no sign of female. Also 3 Lesser Emperors over Exeter Canal (end of Station Road). @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Southern Migrant Hawker is breeding in Devon! 4+ (inc pr egglaying) at dry pool in Devon Wildfowling and Conservation Association reserve near Exminster today. 2 previous Devon records, so these prob arrived in earlier year. Thanks to DWCA for access & management @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Well done Mark

Mark D@seaskywatch.bsky.social · 4w ago

Nice Dragonflies at Beesands Ley on 05/07/26, 6+ Red-veined Darters, 3+ Norfolk Hawkers and lots of Black-tailed Skimmers

Southern Hawker no. 17 from my pond was unlucky on its maiden flight yesterday, but the sparrow chicks had a feast! @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Male Lesser Emperor and 7 Scarce Chasers on territory at Decoy Lake, Newton Abbot, today, viewed from fishing platforms on the north side.

The tenth Southern Hawker to emerge from my pond in the last two weeks preparing to take off. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Just love the intricate wing venation on this Southern Hawker - compare the newly-expanded wing with that of the wing-sheaths on the exuvia! Note also how 3-D the wings are - not at all flat. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

After yesterday's Southern Hawker exuvia, here's a second one today - but this time with the adult still there, waiting for a bit of sun! @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

My second earliest exuvia of Southern Hawker in my Devon pond today. Not too surprising given other early emerging dragonflies in recent days. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social. Note the eyes smaller than in Emperor, which is busy emerging currently. White strands are the linings of the tracheae.

Despite the hot weather I was still surprised to see newly-emerged Emerald Damselfly and Common Darter today at Ventiford Ponds (private), ,S Devon. 12 other species included Red-eyed Damselflies, 6 Hairy Dragonflies (1 egg-laying) & 8 Downy Emeralds (+2 exuviae) @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Serin in my Seaton back garden for about ten seconds at 7pm tonight. Last seen flying off west. Managed a brief recording of three calls, heard six or seven trills in total. Bit of a surprise whilst enjoying some coffee and cake with my family! #ukbirding

14 species of dragonflies on today's BDS walk at Stover. Highlight was male Red-veined Darter over lake, plus lots of Hairy Dr, 4+ Downy Emeralds, Scarce Chaser and first Black-t Skimmer of the year. Perfect Bee Orchids & Dingy Skipper bonuses. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

A row around the margins of Stover Lake today produced at least 14 Hairy Dragonflies, 3 Downy Emeralds and a recently emerged Scarce Chaser - the first conclusive proof of breeding in the Bovey Basin, S Devon.

Bonaparte’s Gull - a quick glance at the gulls from home while I waited for my toast and I thought one looked a bit interesting. Grabbed the scope and sure enough the interesting gull was a first year Bonaparte’s Gull. Time for a few record shots before getting back to work. Topsham, Devon #Gulls

Great seawatch at #BerryHead #Devon 0545-1025hrs Highlights: 1 ad Sabine’s Gull, 1 Little Gull, 1 Little Tern, 2-3 E Storm Petrels, 878 Manxies, 3 GN Divers, 6 Puffins, 120+ Kittiwakes including 44 1st Summers, 1 Yellow Wagtail. Lots of Octopus being caught by crabbing boat.

Wishing a very happy 100th birthday to Sir David Attenborough, Patron of the British Dragonfly Society @britishdragonflies.bsky.social and world class communicator. Here's an image of Attenborough's Pintail from Madagascar, named after the great man on his 90th birthday.

It won't be long until the Dainty Damselfly starts to emerge, so now is a good time to get familiar with the identification of the species. There are probably unfound colonies out there still waiting to be found. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social @smallshire.bsky.social #KentDragonflies

7 dragonfly spp at Ventiford near Stover today: Devon's earliest ever Downy Emerald (4 terr. males, 19 exuviae, 5 emerging - first proof of breeding here) & Red-eyed Damselflies. Also 8 Hairy Dr, Beaut Dem, Azure, Large Red and Blue-tailed. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social @marcheath.bsky.social

Saw my first of the year yesterday too, in Devon. Also pleased to find an exuvia at an urban fringe SUDS pond! @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Dawn Balmer@debalmer.bsky.social · 3mo ago

My first odonata of the year and it's a Hairy Dragonfly. Absolutely pristine. Lakenheath Fen today @britishdragonflies.bsky.social #dragonfies #odonata

A great lineup for the end of April!

Marc Heath@marcheath.bsky.social · 3mo ago

A pleasant couple of hours at Westbere Lakes this afternoon produced: 5 Large Red Damselfly 8 Blue-tailed Damselfly 8 Azure Damselfly 15 Variable Damselfly 4 Red eyed Damselfly 4 Hairy Dragonfly 2 Banded Demoiselle 1 Common Blue Damselfly @britishdragonflies.bsky.social #KentDragonflies

A welcome visitor to my S Devon garden: a recently emerged male Broad-bodied Chaser - my first of the year.

Inputting sightings to BirdTrack: on this day in 1968 walk from Gradbach to Roaches across N Staffs Moors produced B Grouse, 38 R Grouse, G Plover, Curlew, Snipe, S-e Owl, Wheatears, 3 R Ouzel & 3 Y Wags over. Wonder what walk today would produce! @btobirds.bsky.social @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social)

First signs of Large Red Damselflies emerging from my pond today, and significant activity from Red Mason Bees also. Drone Fly in flight showing front legs tucked behind head, like dragonflies do!

Just found 12 recently moulted Southern Hawker skins in this tiny pond.

Good to see my first Large Red Damselflies (3 tenerals) of the year today at Stover CP, Devon.