Cornish Nature

Dragonflies, images and studies of nature from near and afar

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Dragonflies of Cornwall

The head of a Common Darter - Sympetrum striolatum

Welcome to my Cornish Dragonfly pages

Here you will find image galleries, notes and articles on the 19 species of Anisoptera (true dragonflies) currently known to have occured in Cornwall.

If you would like to contact me about the dragonflies that you have found in Cornwall please get in touch via the Contact Steve option on the main menu.



Red-veined Darters & Painted Ladies arriving in Cornwall

Red-veined Darter male near Campillos, AndaluciaAnyone with even the remotest interest in the natural history of Cornwall can’t have failed to notice the huge influx of Painted Lady Butterflies – Cynthia cardui sweeping across our peninsula. It is one of the biggest events of it’s kind that the county has witnessed in over a decade.

During the second week of April 2009 I was staying in the Sierra Grazalema Natural Park, Andalucia, Spain, where hundreds of Painted Ladies (plus a handful of Clouded Yellows – Colias croceus) could be seen nectaring and presumably laying eggs everywhere we went.

Last Updated on Monday, 15 June 2009 19:32
 

An Unexpected Predator of the Four Spot Chaser Dragonfly

Green Tiger Beetle adult displaying it's large powerful jawsOn the 30th May 2008 during a trip to Windmill Farm on the Lizard peninsula I did my usual circuit of all the dragonfly hotspots within the reserve, including the bunded northern scrapes. These bunds may not be the most attractive of features to have around a pool but they are a clever use of the material which had been excavated in order to create the pools in the first place, in that they make an effective windbreak around the entire water body.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 27 January 2009 22:27
 

A photo gallery of Cornish Dragonflies

Broad Bodied Chaser - Libellula depressa

Welcome to my gallery of dragonflies occuring in Cornwall

Each photo will have captions giving information on where & when each species was photographed. 

Remember to check back with us from time to time as new photographs will be added to this gallery as they become available. Wink New photos added 14th February 2009

 

Last Updated on Sunday, 16 August 2009 21:30
 

An introduction to Cornish Dragonflies & Damselflies

 

Dragonflies and damselflies are extremely beautiful insects which capture the very essence of summer as they perform their intricate aerobatics around the gleaming backdrop of rivers and pools on warm and sunny days. As such they are highly visible, and important indicators of the health of our wetlands.

 

Last Updated on Friday, 28 November 2008 23:08
 



Holidays and Fieldtrip anouncements.

The Sierra de Grazalema In Western Andalusia is an amazing place. Wild flowers in Spring are are a botanic photographers dream come true! Griffon vultures so close you can hear the wind rushing through their feathers. Landscapes of mountain peaks and lush green valleys.

Join Steve and Cornish Nature for a week long holiday with hosts Clive and Sue of Wildside Holidays

More details here