welcome note


On this blog you will be able to share sightings of Dragonflies and Damselflies within the recording area of VC41. However, sightings further afield will be welcome on this site also. To become an author of this blog please register by sending an email to vc41dragonfly@gmail.com and an invite will be sent to you. Alternatively if you want to record your sightings on this blog but do not wish to register then please email sightings with or without photos to the above address and they can be published for you. Please continue to record your sightings through the correct channels and details of these can be found above.

Monday, 7 July 2025

Parc Penallta. 04/07/2025

 Visited the lower half of the park where there are a number of ponds, the first is in a field near to the car park on the Nelson/Ystrad road. On the way to the pond I found a Broad-bodied Chaser on some bramble plus a few Blue-tailed Damsels.



At the pond there were a lot of Dragons and Damsels flying around, over the water I saw 5 male Broad-bodied Chasers and a male Emperor. In the vegetation around the pond a single Keeled Skimmer plus male and female Black-tailed Darters. Damsels were Blue-tailed and Common Blue.









I then moved on to the fishing ponds were again there were a lot of Damsels and a few Dragons. Damsels were Blue-tailed, Azure and Large Red, Dragons were again Male Black-tailed Skimmers, male Emperor and a single male Broad-bodied Chaser.








On the way to the next pond I came across Three dragons in the hedge growth, Southern Hawker, Golden-ringed and a female Common Darter.




At the next pond were a male Black-tailed Skimmer, male and female Broad-bodied Chasers mating, Blue-tailed Damsels and Azure Damsels.




A very productive day, just wished there was a cafe nearby 😞

Monday, 30 June 2025

Cyfarthfa Castle. 29/06/2025

 A few hours up at Cyfarthfa Castle to check out the ponds behind the castle in the woodland. Parking up by the greenhouses there were quite a few Damsels flying around the flower beds, mainly male and female Common Blues.



Up at the ponds there were a lot more Damsels about mainly Common Blues with a few Azure and Blue-tailed Damsels.




There was a male Emperor hunting over the lower pond but did not stop for a photo, no other dragons seen.

Monday, 16 June 2025

Llanech Wood 11/06/2025

 Everything looked good at the pools at first but after a few minutes I noticed that there was not a lot moving around. After three trips around the pools I did not find any Red-eyed Damsel which I have always found here plus no Dragons flying around the pools and again very few Damsels compared to previous years. Only two species found, Blue-tailed and Azure Damsels.



Will need to come back again to check it out.

Pysgodlyn Mawr 11/06/2025

 Down to Hensol to look for the Downy Emerald, the weather was a lot better than last Sunday so hopefully a better day. A lot more activity here with Emperors, Black-tailed Skimmers, Four-spotted Chasers and Downy Emeralds with plenty of Damsels mainly Azures with a few Large reds.

The Emperors and the Downy Emeralds were camera shy but not so the others.





I then moved on to Llanech Woods to check the pools out there.

The Neath Canal at Resolven 08/06/2025

 Hi all, back at it again.

A few hours out at the canal on an overcast but warm day did not produce much in the way of Dragons, with only a few Damsels seen. In total I only found less than 20 Damsels along a 500 metre stretch. whether that was down to the weather or some other problem I do not know.

Damsels seen were Blue-tailed and Azure.




Will try again when the weather gets better.

Thursday, 26 January 2023

Jersey Canal, Resolven 07/08/2022

 Long walk along the canal I lost count of the number of Golden-ringed Dragons flying up and down the canal(more than 10).


Other Damsels & Dragons were Azures and Common Darters.



There were also plenty of Beautiful Demoiselles up and down the canal.








Wednesday, 6 July 2022

Rhoose Point, 03/07/2022

 My first visit to this site so just had a walk around to see what wild areas were there. some nice fields with wild flowers a couple of ponds the coastal path and some rough ground. Plenty of wildlife and insects about. I found a couple of Black-tailed skimmers by one of the ponds and a few Blue-tailed Damsels.

Well worth another visit.