The season started earlier in 2020, with the first Large Red Damselfly being spotted on April 14^th just as observers were being locked down. The lockdown meant that a number of great sites, including a range of Durham Wildlife Trust reserves, went unrecorded until later in the season.  Despite these restrictions, there were still well over 1000 sightings submitted and only 300 fewer than in 2019.

In total, 20 species were observed in our region, which is excellent as at most there would be 24, even under the best conditions. Once again, Rainton Meadows proved to be the best dragonfly hotspot, with 16 species recorded, including a very rare visitor to our region, the Small Red Eyed Damselfly, pictured below. To the causal observer this looks very much like one of the various blue damselflies that are commonly seen, but a closer look highlights very different markings and most of all, those vibrant red eyes.

Other Durham Wildlife Trust sites that proved to be excellent for observations throughout the season were: Malton, Burnhope Pond, Low Barns, Shibdon Pond and Milkwellburn Woods. 

The boardwalk at Shibdon Pond was renovated last year meaning that access was restricted, yet despite that it was one of only a few sites to have Black Tailed Skimmers. Milkwellburn Woods has three very small ponds, with only one that is easily accessible (at the rear of the wood, see photo below). The surrounding trees protect this small pond from harsh weather and as a result it was the location of the last recorded sighting, on November 14^th when a Southern Hawker was clearly still patrolling this site.

November 14^th is very late for Odonata in our region, however, the day before at Rainton Meadows, this Common Darter was photographed, and what makes that sighting even more amazing, is that it is a “teneral” meaning that it was probably only a day old – very late to be venturing out in to the open.