Sunday, 11 January 2026

Looking Back Through The Dragons.

I reviewed my top four dragon species found in 2025.

Banded Demoiselle.

13 May: 16 at Bull Beck in the Lune Valley by the River Lune. I didn't expect to find Banded Demoiselle before the beginning of May. This was my best and earliest ever count of the species anywhere.  

19 May: 4 on the Lancaster Canal east of Conder Green.

Golden-ringed Dragonfly.

Golden-ringed Dragonfly Grisedale Brook. Pete Woodruff.

23 June: One on Grisedale Brook. 
16 July: 2 Birk Bank around the bog.
26 June: 3 Birk Bank around the bog.
15 August: 3 Grisedale Brook.

Emperor Dragonfly.

Emperor Dragonfly Lancaster Canal. Pete Woodruff.

25 June: One Saltcote Pond Glasson.
9 July: One Saltcote Pond Glasson.
12 July: 6 Lancaster Canal Garstang area.
16 July: 2 Birk Bank around the bog.
21 July: One Lancaster Canal Glasson.
26 July 2 Lancaster Canal Garstang.
6 August: One Birk Bank around the bog.
11 August: 2 Fairfield NR including female ovipositing.
5 September: 2 Birk Bank around the bog.
9 September: One Birk Bank around the bog.
25 September; One Birk Bank around the bog.

Note. My September records of Emperor Dragonfly at Birk Bank, carries the comment on the iRecord website....'Date is outside the known flight period of Anax imperator'.

Keeled Skimmer.

Keeled Skimmer Birk Bank Bog. Pete Woodruff.

16 July: 4 Birk Bank around the bog.
6 August; One Birk Bank around the bog.
25 August: 5 Birk Bank around the bog.

Keeled Skimmer Birk Bank Bog. Pete Woodruff.

Not my best year for dragonflies, on the down side, the worst experience was finding the dead male Keeled Skimmer on Birk Bank bog. Presumably drowned, but if it was predated the culprit didn't finish the job! 

On the plus side, finding the Emperor Dragonfly again this year at Birk Bank was excellent, even more so, that it was still being seen there on 25 September, a late date in the year for the species. 

I'd sooner be birding......but still haven't done so this year yet, causing my mental condition to deteriorate rapidly 😠
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10 comments:

  1. Ian Mitchell11 January 2026 at 13:15

    Excellent annual record of your Dragonfly sightings and lovely pictures, thanks for sharing.
    Good on you for entering the Emperor Dragonfly on iRecord, shows how things change/evolve.
    Rubbish day as I post this but hopefully will get better soon and your & my mood will improve.
    Looking forward.
    Ian

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pete Woodruff12 January 2026 at 12:14

      Thanks Ian. Hope you - and the weather - get out soon.

      Pete.

      Delete
  2. Caroline 11 January 2026 at 13:36

    Hi Pete, excellent photos of the dragonflies. I hope you feel better soon for birding again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pete Woodruff12 January 2026 at 12:16

      Thanks Caroline. Hope you are continuing well with your recovery too.

      Pete.

      Delete
  3. sami niilola11 January 2026 at 15:24

    I really had to go and see how many dragonfly species there are in Finland. There are 64 of them. That could be one goal for the coming summer. To recognize at least a few.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pete Woodruff12 January 2026 at 12:19

      That is an excellent goal for this summer, 64 dragonfly species to ID and photograph. You can only but try.

      Go for it Sami....Pete.

      Delete
  4. Marc Heath11 January 2026 at 17:28

    A nice summary Pete and we'll done on your excellent record keeping. Hopefully this year will be good for the both of us on the dragonfly front. Hope you can get out soon. Take care.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pete Woodruff12 January 2026 at 12:22

      Thanks for compliments Marc, soon be spring.

      Pete.

      Delete
  5. waldlaeufer68 Frank Scholtyssek13 January 2026 at 05:14

    Hi Pete,

    Great work with your awards! I'm less lucky with dragonflies ;-) Get well soon.

    Cheers, Frank

    ReplyDelete
  6. Pete Woodruff13 January 2026 at 17:19

    Thanks for your words Frank, much appreciated.

    Regards....Pete.

    ReplyDelete