The Wiltshire Dragonfly Atlas

-- Most Accessible Sites

Sites Reference: Space here restricts this list to those sites that are the most accessible and give the observer good views of dragonfly activity. The list is compiled from the latest database of records. Click here for a county map showing under recorded and well recorded sites.

Wilts RA70 Recording Card

To submit Wiltshire records:Download the RA70 recording card (above), fill it in and send it to Steve Covey (as an e-mail attachment).


Site List:

 

 



 

Aucombe Island Pond and Surrounding Area [ST843425.]
Aucombe Island Pond is towards the head of the feeder stream that creates Shearwater Lake near Warminster. The pond itself holds a range of regular common species including:[Damselflies] - Large Red; Azure; Common Blue; Blue-tailed and Red-eyed. [Dragonflies] - Migrant Hawker; Southern Hawker; Brown Hawker; Emperor; Broad-bodied Chaser; Black-tailed Skimmer and Common Darter. Occasionally Banded Demoiselle, Emerald Damselfly and Four-spotted Chaser are seen.
Of especial interest is the drainage ditch adjacent to the forest track which connects the pond to the main lake. Due to the underlying Greensand and extensive coniferisation of the area [part of the Longleat Estate] the ph levels are low. The ditch has several small sphagnum moss mats and holds a small amount of water throughout the year. As a result this ditch holds both Golden-ringed Dragonfly and Keeled Skimmer; both scarce Wiltshire species. Black Darter has been recorded from the nearby Center Parcs site.
Unfortunately self-sown conifer seedlings are gradually shading out the ditch and reducing the available area for breeding. It is hoped that Longleat Estates will clear the ditch before irreparable damage is done.
The site has open access with an 'honesty box' operating at the entrance to the lake [50p pedestrians; £1.00 cars]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

King Charles Pond,Blackmoor Copse - Wilts Wildlife Trust [SU235295].
This woodland pond has quite a good assemblage of species considering it's modest size. Until 1995 it held little of interest; then in the winter of that year some of the large trees on it's southern edge were felled, allowing much more sunlight to reach the pond. The odonata responded almost immediately and that same summer Downy Emerald was found there for the first time. It has been recorded every year since. Other species seen: [Damselflies] - Emerald, Large Red, Azure, Blue-tailed and Common Blue. [Dragonflies] - Migrant, Southern and Brown Hawkers; Emperor; 4-spot and Broad-bodied Chasers; Ruddy and Common Darters. The pond has a luxuriant growth of Water Soldier on it [to the extent that work parties have to clear a large amount out each winter - but no Norfolk Hawkers yet!!
The reserve as a whole, along with adjacent Bentley Wood, is also justly famous for it's Lepidoptera including such beauties as Purple Emperor, the Pearl-bordered's and Silver-washed Fritillaries, White Admiral, plus Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth. So a full, enjoyable day can be had there. There are two or three ponds in Bentley Wood which have the occasional Downy Emerald and others visiting. King Charles and at least one of the Bentley Wood Ponds has a log book so please leave your sightings in it at the end of your visit.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wilts and Berks Canal (Swindon)

The newly restored Wilts and Berks canal currently provides an excellent dragonfly habitat from the section south of Swindon as their is currently hardly any boat traffic. 17 species were recorded in 2005 (not all had proof of breeding). In the Autumn, Common Darter and Migrant Hawkers can occur in large numbers. Common Blue Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Red Eyed Damselfly, Emerald Damselfly, Banded Demoiselle, Beautiful Demoiselle, Black-tailed Skimmer, Four-spot Chaser, Broad-bodied Chaser, Emperor Dragonfly, Brown Hawker, Migrant Hawker, Southern Hawker, Common Darter, Ruddy Darter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

River [Bristol] Avon [from ST887623 to ST796598].
This stretch of the River Avon starts just downstream of Melksham and continues to where it flows out of the county west of Bradford-on-Avon. It has been selected as a 'site' because along this length can be found several breeding colonies of Scarce Chaser. Until a couple of years ago this metapopulation was one of only six in the country but [whether due to climate change or not] there are colonies turning up in new counties almost annually. It has recently been found on the R. Biss near it's confluence with the Avon.
This dragonfly requires top quality riverine habitat and the Avon here certainly fits the bill! It shares this habitat with the White-legged Damselfly another quality indicator. Various other species have been seen along the river and it's tributaries; these are: [Damselflies] - Banded Demoiselle; Large-red, Blue-tailed, Common Blue, Azure and Red-eyed. [Dragonflies] - Brown, Southern and Migrant Hawkers; Emperor; Broad-bodied and Four-spotted Chaser; Black-tailed Skimmer; Common Darter.
The best places to see Scarce Chaser are at Bradford-on-Avon either side of 'Town Bridge' and near Whaddon, north of Hilperton, at [approx.] ST882617.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cotswold Water Park [Ashton Keynes Section]
This 'site' is in the very north of the county, the whole complex straddling the county boundary with Gloucestershire. It comprises a large group of gravel pits which, when combined with the Lechlade/Fairford section just to the east, forms the largest body of man made standing water [well over 100 lakes] in the country. Weaving it's way between these pits is the River Thames [here in it's youth] and several of it's smaller tributaries. As you can imagine this area is dragonfly heaven!
A good range of species can be expected, some such as Azure Damselfly can be seen in huge numbers in mid summer. Black-tailed Skimmer and Common Darter can also be seen in large numbers at the appropriate times of the season.
The lakes themselves vary in composition from actively worked pits which are pumped and so have many shallow pools and boggy flushes; to mature re-flooded lakes that have an abundance of submerged, floating and emergent vegetation.
Species found include: [Damselflies] - Banded Demoiselle; Emerald, Large-red, White-legged, Azure, Common Blue, Blue-tailed, Scarce Blue-tailed and Red-eyed. [Dragonflies] - Migrant, Southern and Brown Hawkers; Emperor; Downy Emerald; Four-spotted and Broad-bodied Chasers; Black-tailed Skimmer; Common and Ruddy Darters. [Lesser Emperor was seen in 2005 but acceptance of the record is still pending].
Unfortunately, due to health and safety issues, the active working pits are out of bounds. This is a shame because in the past it is the temporary pools on such sites that have yielded the Scarce Blue-tailed records. The good news is that if the plans for a new nature reserve come to fruition then experimental habitat creation for this species will be undertaken there - watch this space!!
One of the more accessible sites at which most of the species can be found is Swillbrook Lakes, a Wiltshire Wildlife Trust Reserve. Also a walk around the Upper Waterhay group of lakes can yield a good range of species.
To obtain a map of the area showing all the lakes and their current usage [water sports, angling etc] plus bike trails/bridle ways, visit the park centre at Keynes Country Park or the Gateway Information Centre just off the A419 as you enter the park.

 

 

 

 

Stourhead - National Trust [ST769345].
Although this site is more famous for it's 18th Century House and Gardens [including the main 'Garden Lake'] it is the smaller ponds at the North end of this main lake which have the greatest odonata interest. They sit in the lower end of a valley known as Six Wells Bottom. The main species of note is Downy Emerald which is known to have been present since at least 1990 when it was mentioned in an environmental report commissioned by N.T. 
Other species recorded there are [Damselflies]: White-legged, Large-red, Red-eyed, Azure, Common blue and Blue-tailed. [Dragonflies]:Migrant, Southern and Brown Hawkers, Four-spotted and Broad-bodied Chasers, Common and Ruddy Darter.
As this is a N.T. property there is an entry fee, but well worth it to see the spectacular landscaped gardens, structures and house - as well as a seeing a good range of odonata species in such a setting.
 

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