Dragonflies of Milton Keynes - A collection of the Dragonfly species that can be found in Milton Keynes

Dragonflies of Milton Keynes

One of my many passions (or more specifically on of my wildlife passions) is watching Odonata, specifically it is photographing them. And more than that it is photographing the Dragonflies of Milton Keynes. These aerial monsters can be a challenge to capture well, but when you get a really good photograph they can be absolutely stunning.

With that I have a goal:

To photograph (at least once) every species of Odonata that has been recorded in Milton Keynes (Buckinghamshire).

Dragonflies of Milton Keynes

I try to updated this page once a year at least, and rather than the original 19 species, with expansions of ranges, the list is (to the best of my knowledge) 23 regular species plus 1 that has only occurred once (so isn’t on the list below).

If anyone spots I have missed one from the list please let me know (or if you have sightings of any that I have not photographed and might be able to help me achieve this project I would be very grateful to hear from you).

This is not a short term project as you can see I have been working on it already for many years (although only seriously since mid 2012). As you may note I have reordered the Dragonflies of Milton Keynes species list (below) to be correct, but as I wasn’t thinking of this when originally started I haven’t done the same with the photos; quite frankly that is just too much work, sorry. Although I might try soon if I have a spare few hours or so.

I have also spent some time updating my spreadsheets (which are also now in a better format) for Flight times and locations, now if I have missed some vital sites, or more importantly, some species at sites please let me know. I can easily make changes now (I am planning on adding other sites at some point but these are really only ones I visit).

The Dragonflies of Milton Keynes Species List:

  1. Southern Hawker [Aeshna cyanea]
  2. Brown Hawker [Aeshna grandis]
  3. Migrant Hawker [Aeshna mixta]
  4. Emperor Dragonfly [Anax imperator]
  5. Hairy dragonfly [Brachytron pratense]
  6. Banded Demoiselle [Calopteryx splendens]
  7. Beautiful Demoiselle [Calopteryx virgo]
  8. Azure Damselfly [Coenagrion puella]
  9. Variable Damselfly [Coenagrion Pulchellum]
  10. Downy Emerald [Cordulia aenea]
  11. Common Blue Damselfly [Enallagma cyathigerum]
  12. Red-eyed damselfly [Erythromma najas]
  13. Small red-eyed damselfly [Erythromma viridulum]
  14. Blue-tailed damselfly [Ischnura elegans]
  15. Emerald Dragonfly [Lestes sponsa]
  16. Willow Emerald [Lestes viridis]
  17. Broad-bodied Chaser [Libellula depressa]
  18. Four spot chaser [Libellula quadrimaculata]
  19. Black-tailed Skimmer [Orthetrum cancellatum]
  20. White-legged damselfly [Platycnemis pennipes]
  21. Large Red-Damselfly [Pyrrhosoma nymphula]
  22. Ruddy Darter [Sympetrum sanguineum]
  23. Common Darter [Sympetrum striolatum]

The Odonata Photographs

So, without waffling on any more, here are the photos I have taken for this project so far (in the wrong order):

Red Eyed Damselfly

Red-Eyed Damselfly (Erythromma najas) photographed at Lodge Lake, Milton Keynes (2014)
Red-Eyed Damselfly (Erythromma najas) photographed at Lodge Lake, Milton Keynes. 2014
Red-Eyed Damselfly (Erythromma najas) photographed at Tattenhoe Park, Milton Keynes (2017)
Red-Eyed Damselfly (Erythromma najas) photographed at Tattenhoe Park, Milton Keynes, 2017

Small Red-Eyed Damselfly

NONE


Common Blue Damselfly

Male Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum) photographed in Stonepit Park, Milton Keynes, 2012
Male Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum) photographed in Stonepit Park, Milton Keynes, 2012
Male Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum) photographed in Stonepit Park, Milton Keynes, 2012
Male Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum) photographed in Stonepit Park, Milton Keynes, 2012
Common Blue Damselfly Female (Enallagma cyathigerum) photographed in Stonepit Park, Milton Keynes (2012)
Common Blue Damselfly Female (Enallagma cyathigerum) photographed in Stonepit Park, Milton Keynes, 2012

Banded Demoiselle

Male Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens) Willen Lake, Milton Keynes, 2013
Male Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens) Willen Lake, Milton Keynes, 2013
Female Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens) Willen Lake, Milton Keynes, 2013
Female Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens) Willen Lake, Milton Keynes, 2013
Banded Demoiselle Female (Calopteryx splendens) photographed by the river Ouse in Old Wolverton Milton Keynes
Banded Demoiselle Female (Calopteryx splendens) photographed by the river Ouse in Old Wolverton Milton Keynes, 2012
Male Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens) Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve, Milton Keynes, 2022
Male Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens) Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve, Milton Keynes, 2022

Beautiful Demoiselle

NONE


Emperor Dragonfly

Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator) Photographed in Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes 2014
Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator) Photographed in Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes, 2014
Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator) Photographed in Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes 2014
Resting Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator) Photographed in Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes, 2014
Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator) Photographed in Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes 2014 - Dragonflies of Milton Keynes
Eating Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator) Photographed in Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes, 2014

Broad-Bodied Chaser

Broad-Bodied Chaser Male (Libellula depressa) photographed in Linford Wood, Milton Keynes, 2012
Broad-Bodied Chaser Male (Libellula depressa) photographed in Linford Wood, Milton Keynes, 2012
Broad-Bodied Chaser (Male) (Libellula depressa) Photographed in Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes, 2014 - Dragonflies of Milton Keynes
Male Broad-Bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa) Photographed in Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes, 2014
Broad-Bodied Chaser (Female) (Libellula depressa) Photographed in Howe Park Wood, Milton Keynes 2017
Broad-Bodied Chaser (Female) (Libellula depressa) Photographed in Howe Park Wood, Milton Keynes, 2017

Black-Tailed Skimmer

Black-Tailed Skimmer  (Orthetrum cancellatum) female - Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes, 2014
Female Black-Tailed Skimmer  (Orthetrum cancellatum) – Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes, 2014
2. Black-Tailed Skimmer  (Orthetrum cancellatum) Immature Male- Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes (2014) - Dragonflies of Milton Keynes
Black-Tailed Skimmer  (Orthetrum cancellatum) Immature Male- Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes, 2014
Black-Tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) Male - Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve, Milton Keynes, 2022
Black-Tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) Male – Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve, Milton Keynes, 2022

Common Darter

Male Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) Photographed Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes, 2012
Male Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) Photographed Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes, 2012
Female Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum), photographed Bradwell Abbey, Milton Keynes, 2012 - Dragonflies of Milton Keynes
Female Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum), photographed Bradwell Abbey, Milton Keynes, 2012

Ruddy Darter

Male Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum), photographed Howe Park Wood, Milton Keynes, 2012
Male Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum), photographed Howe Park Wood, Milton Keynes, 2012

Brown Hawker

Brown Hawker (Aeshna grandis) - Manor Farm, Wolverton, Milton Keynes, 2015 - Dragonflies of Milton Keynes
Brown Hawker (Aeshna grandis) – Manor Farm, Wolverton, Milton Keynes, 2015

Southern Hawker

Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea), close up of head, photographed Lodge Lake, Milton Keynes, 2012
Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea), close up of head, photographed Lodge Lake, Milton Keynes, 2012
Female Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea), at rest, photographed, Lodge Lake, Milton Keynes, 2012 - Dragonflies of Milton Keynes
Female Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea), at rest, photographed, Lodge Lake, Milton Keynes, 2012
Male Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) in flight in Linford Wood
Male Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) in flight in Linford Wood, Milton Keynes, 2012

Azure Damselfly

Male Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella), Photographed, Linford Wood, Milton Keynes, 2011
Male Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella), Photographed, Linford Wood, Milton Keynes, 2011
Azure Damselfly, female (Coenagrion puella), Photographed, Lodge Lake,
Azure Damselfly, female (Coenagrion puella), Photographed, Lodge Lake, Milton Keynes, 2013
Male Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella), Photographed, Linford Wood, Milton Keynes, 2014
Male Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella), Photographed, Linford Wood, Milton Keynes, 2014

Blue-tailed Damselfly

Blue-tailed Damselfly male (Ischnura elegans) at rest, photographed on lodge lake,
Male Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans) at rest, photographed on lodge lake, Milton Keynes, 2013
Blue-tailed Damselfly female of the rufescens colour form (Ischnura elegans) at rest, photographed on lodge lake
Blue-tailed Damselfly female of the rufescens colour form (Ischnura elegans) at rest, photographed on lodge lake, Milton Keynes, 2013

Variable Damselfly

NONE


White-Legged Damselfly

White-Legged Damselfly Male (Platycnemis pennipes) - Teardrop Lakes,
Male White-Legged Damselfly (Platycnemis pennipes) – Teardrop Lakes, Milton Keynes, 2014
White-Legged Damselfly Male (Platycnemis pennipes) - Teardrop Lakes, Milton Keynes, 2014 - Dragonflies of Milton Keynes
White-Legged Damselfly Male (Platycnemis pennipes) – Teardrop Lakes, Milton Keynes, 2014
White-Legged Damselfly female (Platycnemis pennipes)
Female White-Legged Damselfly (Platycnemis pennipes) – Teardrop Lakes, Milton Keynes, 2014
White-Legged Damselfly Immature (Platycnemis pennipes) - Teardrop Lakes, Milton Keynes, 2014 - Dragonflies of Milton Keynes
White-Legged Damselfly Immature (Platycnemis pennipes) – Teardrop Lakes, Milton Keynes, 2014

Migrant Hawker

Migrant Hawker Male (Aeshna mixta) photographed in Howe Park Wood,
Migrant Hawker Male (Aeshna mixta) photographed in Howe Park Wood, Milton Keynes, 2012
Male Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta), Photographed, Bradwell Abbey, Milton Keynes 2012.
Male Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta), Photographed, Bradwell Abbey, Milton Keynes 2012.
Female Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta), Photographed Linford Wood
Female Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta), Photographed Linford Wood, Milton Keynes, 2012

Emerald Damselfly

Emerald Damselfly (Lestes sponsa) - male, photographed in Howe Park Wood, Milton Keynes, 2015
Male Emerald Damselfly (Lestes sponsa) – photographed in Howe Park Wood, Milton Keynes, 2015
Emerald Damselfly (Lestes sponsa) - male
Emerald Damselfly (Lestes sponsa) – male, photographed in Tattenhoe Park, Milton Keynes, 2017
Emerald Damselfly (Lestes sponsa) - male, photographed in Tattenhoe Park, Milton Keynes, 2017 - Dragonflies of Milton Keynes
Emerald Damselfly (Lestes sponsa) – male, photographed in Tattenhoe Park, Milton Keynes, 2017

Willow Emerald

NONE


Hairy Dragonfly

Hairy Dragonfly (Brachytron pratense), 
Hairy Dragonfly (Brachytron pratense), Photographed in Bancroft Park, Milton Keynes, 2014

Four-Spotted Chaser

Four-Spotted Chaser Male (Libellula quadrimaculata) Photographed in Loughton Valley, Milton Keynes 2013 - Dragonflies of Milton Keynes
Male Four-Spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata) Photographed in Loughton Valley, Milton Keynes 2013
Four-Spot Chaser Male (Libellula quadrimaculata)
Four-Spotted Chaser Male (Libellula quadrimaculata) Photographed in Tattenhoe Park, Milton Keynes (2017)

Large Red Damselfly

Large Red Damselfly, Male (Pyrrhosoma nymphula)
Male Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) Photographed Lodge Lake, Milton Keynes, 2013
Large Red Damselfly, female (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) Photographed Howe Park Wood, Milton Keynes 2013 - Dragonflies of Milton Keynes
Large Red Damselfly, female (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) Photographed Howe Park Wood, Milton Keynes, 2013

These are a select few photos of each species (where I have any) but more of my Dragonfly images can be seen on my photography site under Insect Photography or in my Dragonfly Set on Flickr, and of course all over this blog in the warmer months.

Beyond those listed there are several that may occur as immigrants/migrants or are possibly heading our way, If I am ever lucky enough to see one of these I will add them here but until then these few remain a pipe dream: Scarce Chaser, Yellow-winged Darter and Red-veined Darter (the latter two have been recorded but are far from regular) Southern Migrant Hawker (one seen in 2022 – sadly not by me).

Dragonfly Flight Times.

With dragonflies it is important to know when to look and so I devised the below chart to help me with this (the light green reflects possible early/late flight times, dark green is peak, and pink is none, pretty much, of course there will always be exceptions):

Dragonflies of Milton Keynes Site Locations

Below is my confirmed site guide to Milton Keynes Dragonflies (I’m sure other areas will have some and I may have missed some from certain sites). All this information is already available in the public domain so I’m not putting anything sensitive out there. [Green = confirmed; Red = Not known]

Further Advice on Odonata

If you would like to read my advice on photographing Dragonflies here is the link – Photographing Dragonflies and Damselflies. – Happy to hear other peoples tips or if I have missed anything.

I normally use the photographic guide, Britain’s Dragonflies – Wildguides to identify my dragonflies, damselflies, darters, and their kin. I find it an invaluable resource for knowing what I am looking at.


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Dragonflies of Milton Keynes - A collection of the Dragonfly species that can be found in Milton Keynes
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