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An Oxfordshire Dragonfly and Damselfly site guide

In contrast to wealth of local information on birding, I am unaware of much information online about where best to find dragonflies in Oxfordshire. For birders, a site guide book covers the county and there are online blogs for two of the three main birding sites (Otmoor and Port Meadow). Apart from a useful but obscure booklet "The Dragonflies of Oxfordshire" by Anthony Brownett published in 1996, there is little information for the dragonfly watcher apart from the information below.

I hope this page, with the others on this site on dragonflies in Oxon, will help to increase interest in dragonflies in the county. I freely admit my local knowledge of dragonfly sites is limited, and I would welcome contributions from others with additional information. All the photos shown below were taken at the sites mentioned.

Dragonflies and Damselflies in Oxfordshire
In general terms, Oxfordshire is not a particularly exceptional county for dragonflies and damselflies, mainly due to the almost total absence of acidic heath or marsh habitats. Nevertheless, there are plenty of the commoner species, to be expected in southern England. In terms of the largest and most obvious species, some of the hawkers (Emperor, Migrant, Brown and Southern) are well represented. Darters and chasers and the commoner damselflies also occur in good numbers in the right habitats.

In terms of localised or nationally rare species, Oxfordshire is notable for Club-tailed Dragonfly along the river Thames. Hairy Dragonfly can be found at Otmoor, Small red-eyed Damselflies also have a toe-hold at least in the county, and the rare Lesser Emperor has been seen at a couple of sites. Southern Damselfly, Small-red Damselfly and Keeled Skimmer can also be found, although at only one or two sites.

Species List
For the list of dragonflies and damselflies in Oxfordshire, click here.

Sites
This section has information on the following sites:

• Otmoor RSPB Reserve
• Radley Lakes
• River Thames at Goring
• Dry Sandford Pit
• Cothill Fen and Parsonage Moor
• River Thames at Farmoor
• Cholsey Marsh BBOWT reserve
• Shellingford Pit
  

Access:
To reach the RSPB car park, in the village of Beckley, go past the Abingdon Arms pub, bear left, and then sharp left down Otmoor lane. Continue to the end. Access to Otmoor is also possible from other villages, including Oddington

Links:
Otmoor Blog
RSPB website

Habitat:
Extensive reed beds, pools and ditches. Grassy fields, mature hedgerows.

Description:
In terms of sheer numbers, Otmoor is probably Oxfordshire's premier dragonfly site. On a fine day in mid summer, the relatively newly created ditches are alive with masses of the commoner species. Indeed Hobbies know all about this abundant source of one of their main prey items, and are frequently in attendance in the summer months, once the day has warmed up!

Early in the season, Otmoor is probably at its most interesting for the keen dragonfly watcher, with the very localised Hairy Dragonfly the main target. This species can be difficult to find in among the masses of Four Spotted Chasers that are on the wing at the same time. For Hairies, try both sides of the main east/west track, especially the section between the turn off to the blinds (by the new hide) and Noke. They can be seen patrolling low over the ditches on the north side of the track, and are also sometimes to be found over and in the vegetation and hedge on the south side. With patience, a visit on a good day in late May should be successful. Another interesting species sometimes to be seen early on is the Large Red Damselfly. In 2010 it has become clear that Downy Emerald can also be found here early in the season.

Later in the season, large numbers of Black-tailed Skimmers and some Broad-bodied Chasers appear, along with good numbers of Southern and Brown Hawkers. Common Darter are very numerous.

Notable species

• Hairy Dragonfly
• Downy Emerald
• Emerald Damselfly
• Large numbers of common species
• Southern and Brown Hawkers
• Red-eyed, Common Blue, Azure Damselflies
• Banded Demoiselle

Access:
From the Audlett Road/Twelve Acre Drive roundabout, take the Radley Road for about 500m. At the road junction, turn right onto Thrupp Road, then follow a number of sharp right-angled turns. Park on the left when you get to a metalled lane with cycle track signs. Walk down the lane, and view the flooded gravel pits mainly to the right.

Links:
Radley Village Website
Site Dragonfly list from Radley Village Website
Site map on Radley Village Website

Habitat:
Flooded gravel pits, fly ash filled lagoons, woodland, river Thames.

Description:
Going back several years, this was a delightful area with a variety of flooded gravel pits. Good for birds and no doubt dragonflies. Then the Didcot Power Station owners arrived and filled two of the pits with waste fly ash. This work has now ceased, but both these areas are surrounded by tall steel fences. More recently there was a real threat that the remaining pits would go the same way, and the whole area was patrolled by guards for sometime. Following a very vocal local campaign, this threat has now thankfully been lifted. The latest development is that the Northmoor Trust is to manage the area for the benefit of the remaining wildlife.

The second and smaller lake (Bullfield Lake) to the right of the main access track (just before it comes to a disused railway) is probably the best pit for dragonflies. The list of dragonflies given on the Radley Village website is an impressive one, including (local) Club-tailed Dragonfly (presumably along the Thames). Beware however disturbance from illegal motorbike activity, mainly near to the large fly ash lagoon.

One species that brought me back to this area was a Lesser Emperor seen in August 2007. Also present at that time were impressive numbers of hawkers - especially Southern Hawker and Brown Hawker. In 2010, Wayne Bull managed to add Hairy Dragonfly, Downy Emerald and Small red-eyed Damselfly to this site's list, making it probably the premier site in the County for dragonflies!

Notable species

• Hairy Dragonfly
• Southern Hawker
• Brown Hawker
• Lesser Emperor (once)
• Downy Emerald
• Small red-eyed Damselfly

Access:
There are two ways of accessing this site. Either park in the (signed) public car in Goring (with toilets) and then walk south along the river to where the railway crosses the river, or for a nearer approach take the minor road past Goring station towards Gatehampton Manor. There is limited parking by the turn to the Manor, or you might be able to park in the nursery/garden centre (which is further on along the track towards the Manor). Then follow the public footpath through the grounds of the Manor (to the left of the buildings), then right and down to the river, and then right again (west) for a short distance.

Habitat:
River Thames with well vegetated banks in places.

Description:
This is the only dragonfly site in Oxfordshire that has a full entry in the book "Watching British Dragonflies" by Steve Dudley et al, on the strength of its speciality - Club-tailed Dragonfly. However, the location described in this book differs somewhat from the one I give above - which is where I have seen this species.

This is an early flying insect (late May/early June) and is not easy to find. I have seen it only once (on 2 June 2007) in 3 or 4 visits - just downstream of the railway bridge. It can be found resting on the riverside bushes but stationary dragonflies are very difficult to find it my experience. On my successful visit it was easier to spot flying low over the river. However even then it was quite difficult to pick out.

Also at this site at a similar time of year are White-legged Damselfly - these should be easier to locate in the riverside vegetation than Club-tails.

Notable species

• Club-tailed Dragonfly
• White-legged Damselfly
• Banded Demoiselle

Access:
On the minor road just to east of Cothill there is a small car park obscured by bushes, just off the south side of road (difficult to spot). There is an information board, and a path leads out of the car park and circles the pond/marshy area. The best area is on the left side.

Links:
BBOWT website

Habitat:
Pool with some open water and a marshy area.

Description:
This is a compact BBOWT reserve with some apparently acidic habitat - very unusual in Oxfordshire. It is notable for Southern Damselfly and also the acid loving Keeled Skimmer (since 2006 at least). There are also good numbers of Large-red Damselfly. Other species include Ruddy Darter and Southern Hawker.

The marshy area is fragile and easily damaged. This site can be combined with the adjacent Cothill Fen/Parsonage Moor area (see below).

Notable species

• Southern Damselfly
• Keeled Skimmer
• Large-red Damselfly

Access:
On the minor road in Cothill there is a public car park on the north-west side of the road, opposite the Merry Miller pub. From here take the public footpath that runs north and then west out of the village (String Lane on the map). The two reserves are adjacent to one another, with Parsonage Moor being reached first. This is a BBOWT reserve which is being actively managed to improve the site. It has a sign at the entrance and a boardwalk. Cothill Fen (green area on map) is less obvious, and is tucked away on the western edge of Parsonage Moor. It can be accessed either from further along String Lane or by an indistinct track through Parsonage Moor.

Habitat:
Parsonage Moor has reeds and one or two shallow pools and wet areas. Cothill Fen has a tiny, deeper pool surrounded by hazardous (deep) boggy areas (extreme care needed).

Description:
These two sites have some acidic pools/boggy areas - probably unique in Oxfordshire. Parsonage Moor is notable for Southern Damselfly and Cothill Fen is probably the only site in Oxon to have Small-red Damselfly. Keeled Skimmer and Variable Damselfly have also been seen.

When I visited for the first time in the dry August of 2011, Cothill Fen was the better site, as Parsonage Moor was very dry.

Both sites are very fragile and easily damaged. Stick to the Parsonage Moor boardwalk if possible.

Notable species

• Southern Damselfly
• Small red Damselfly
• Variable Damselfly
• Keeled Skimmer

Access:
Park in the Farmoor reservoir car park, and walk over the causeway (permit required). Access to the Pinkill hide is to the right and down the slope at the far end of the causeway.

Alternatively, access without a permit is possible by parking in Farmoor village and following public footpaths down to the river.

Links:
Thames Water website

Habitat:
Pinkhill lagoon and Shrike Meadow lagoon, River Thames, grassy meadows.

Description:
Farmoor reservoir is probably the premier birding site in the county, but the reservoir itself is concrete lined, and has no dragonfly interest.

However, the adjacent River Thames and the Pinkhill lagoon (with hide - needs key provided if you have a permit) can be reasonable for dragonflies, especially in mid/late season when hawkers can be fairly abundant in a good year. It is a notable site for Brown Hawker, usually to be found along the Thames between the two lagoons. From the Pinkhill hide various species can be seen albeit distantly such as Black-tailed Skimmer, and various damselflies. Migrant Hawker is often be seen here, and can even be photographed from the hide (as shown here). Club-tailed Dragonfly has also been seem here, though not every year.

Notable species

• Migrant Hawker
• Brown Hawker
• Black-tailed Skimmer

Access:
From the A329 east of Cholsey take the minor road past the southern edge of the old Fair Mile Hospital down to the river.

Habitat:
River Thames with emergent vegetation. Freshwater marsh.

Description:
This site gives easy access to the river Thames and is just a few miles upstream from Goring. A path goes both north and south from the end of the road. Probably to the north is better for immediate access to the river bank. There is a chance of Club-tailed Dragonfly here. More likely are good views of White-legged Damselfly and Banded Demoiselle.

Notable species

• Club-tailed Dragonfly (possible)
• White-legged Damselfly
• Banded Demoiselle

Habitat:
Flooded quarry with islands and varying water levels and emergent vegetation.

Description:
This small private site was surprisingly good for dragonflies and damselflies, and their photography. Viewers of my photographs will see many taken at this site. With widely varying water levels, seasonally and from year to year, some summers can be better than others. Black-tailed Skimmer and Emperor are reliable. Others such as Broad-bellied Chaser are not seen every year. Late in the season, Migrant Hawker can be present in varying numbers - sometimes very numerous (e.g. 2007, but only a few in the dismal 2009!).

This site has held small numbers of Small red-eyed Damselfly ever since at least 2006, with many seen in 2010. The commoner Red-eyed Damselfly is also usually present. On one notable occasion in August 2008 there was also a Lesser Emperor, which even settled giving good views and photo opportunities!

Other species include plenty of the commoner damselflies.

In the dry summer of 2011, the water levels have fallen to record lows at this site, which has now almost dried up completely, leaving only two small pools. The consequences for the dragonflies and damselflies have been disastrous, with only small numbers present. It is unclear what controls the water levels here, and the present outlook for this site is very bleak.

Notable species

• Broad-bodied Chaser (some years)
• Small red-eyed Damselfly (since 2006 at least)
• Emperor
• Lesser Emperor (once!)