This event was hosted on Saturday 27th June 2026 by Siobhan and led by Dragonfly expert Sue Rees-Evans
There is nothing quite like combining a relaxed, outdoor lunch with a bit of local wildlife spotting. Recently, Shropshire Dragonfly County Recorder Sue Rees-Evans was kind enough to lead the RVCWG on a wonderful sun filled summer dragonfly picnic.
The day started at Habberley Village Hall with refreshments, cake and an engaging introductory talk about the ancient and fascinating world of dragonflies. Sue’s infectious enthusiasm for Odonata and Michael’s modelling assistance set the tone as she shared her wealth of knowledge about these amazing creatures – from the bizarre underwater lifecycle of the nymph to the breathtaking aerial manoeuvres of the adults.
After a quick break the group followed our host Siobhan just a short distance to the picnic site – her very own freshwater pond and meadow. Whilst enjoying their own delicious looking ‘picky bits’ the group witnessed the lifecycle in action. With Sue’s keen eye and guidance, the group successfully identified several species darting across the water, mating and ovipositing as well as examining samples of exuviae.
Key highlights included:
- The experts among us: With Sue at the helm, amateur recorders learned the diagnostic features used to tell different damselflies and dragonflies apart.
- Close Encounters: Under supervision, participants of all ages had the chance to practice ID skills using close focus binoculars, catching glimpses of hunting dragonflies over the water as well as seeing an up-close dragonfly in the hand where Sue pointed out different physical characteristics.
- Learning about ecosystems: Throughout the talk and the picnic, the group discovered the critical role that healthy ecosystems play and how to actively create spaces where local wildlife can flourish.
To dive deeper into the world of Odonata, be sure to visit the Shropshire Dragonflies website to explore their interactive distribution maps and read Sue’s flight season blog and informative Spring Newsletters – don’t forget to submit your sightings to iRecord – you never know you may get featured on the blog too!
