At Fairburn Ings over the years we’ve lost some species and are gaining some too. Dragonflies tend to hold their wings out perpendicular to their bodies when resting, like an aeroplane. Damselflies tend to fold their wings up and hold them together across the top of their backs. Below shows a table of species that have been recorded on the reserve as well as a few species of what to look out for.
| Damselfly Species | Status |
| Banded Demoiselle | Probable resident: frequent |
| Emerald | Resident: increasingly scarce |
| Large Red | Resident: moderately common |
| Azure | Resident: extremely common |
| Common Blue | Resident: extremely common |
| Blue-Tailed | Resident: moderately common |
| Red-eyed | Non resident |
| Dragonfly Species | Status |
| Common Hawker | Annual: unlikely resident |
| Migrant Hawker | Resident: common |
| Southern Migrant Hawker | Non resident: extremely rare New addition 2019 – Pete Carr |
| Brown Hawker | Resident: common |
| Southern Hawker | Annual: possible breeder |
| Emperor | Resident: frequent |
| Golden-Ringed | Non resident: Occasional visitor |
| Four-Spotted Chaser | Resident: extremely coom |
| Broad-Bodied Chaser | Increasingly Scarce |
| Black-Tailed Skimmer | Resident: very common |
| Common Darter | Resident: extremely common |
| Ruddy Darter | Resident: extremely common |
| Black Darter | Non resident: no recent record |
| Yellow-Winged Darter | Migrant: only a single reserve record |
Banded Demoiselle
Calopteryx splendens
One of Britain’s biggest damselflies. The male has large blue patches on each of its four wings, and a polished looking blue/green body. The females wings are a metallic green, with a polished looking green body
Wingspan 60mm
Flight season late April to August
Large Red Damselfly
Pyrrhosoma nymphula
One of the commonest British damselflies, found throughout the country and one of the first signs of spring. Both sexes have red abdomens; with yellow sides to its metalic green/black thorax.
Wingspan 48mm
Flight season April to August
Top – Alan Kelly
Bottom – Keith Boyer
Azure Damselfly
Coenagrion puella
The male of this species is typically blue with back markings. The females tend to be green or blue with more extensive black marking. They are often separated to the common blue by the ‘U’ shape on the body just below the wings.
Wingspan 42mm
Flight season April to mid-September
Alan Kelly
Ruddy Darter
Sympetrum sanguineum
Mature males are easily identified by their clubbed, blood red abdomen and all black legs. Females are browner with no waist.
Wingspan 54mm
Flight season early June lasting well into November
Top – Keith Boyer
Bottom – Alan Kelly
Black-Tailed Skimmer
Orthetrum cancellatum
The males has a blue abdomen with a black tips and are commonly known as the blue arrows. The females are yellow-brown with dark brown marking son the edge of the abdomen.
Wingspan 76mm
Flight season end of April to the beginning of September
Top – Keith Boyer
Bottom – Alan Kelly
Migrant Hawker
Aeshna mixta
Distinctively smaller than most other hawkers. The yellow T or nail shape below the wings on the abdomen is most notable in mature males, where it contrasts with the blue spots on the rest of the abdomen. Females and fresh males have more yellowish spots.
Wingspan 85mm
Flight season July to November
Keith Boyer
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Emerald Damselfly – Peter Maugham 
Azure Damselfly – Alan Kelly 
Azure Damselfly – Keith Boyer 
Banded Demoiselle – Keith Boyer 
Banded Demoiselle – Keith Boyer 
Banded Demoiselle – Mark Coates 
Black-tailed Skimmer – Alan Kelly 
Black-tailed Skimmer – Keith Boyer 
Common Darter – Amanda Peters 
Common Darter – Simon Joseph 
Large Red Damselfly – Alan Kelly 
Large Red Damselfly – Keith Boyer 
Large Red Damselfly – Mark Coates 
Migrant Hawker – Alan Kelly 
Migrant Hawker – Keith Boyer 
Ruddy Darter – Alan Kelly 
Ruddy Darter – Keith Boyer 
Ruddy Darter – Mark Coates 
Ruddy Darter – Simon Joseph 
Ruddy Darter – Simon Joseph
