Dragons and Damsels: 25 Species to Spot Across Fforest Fields, Edw Valley and Aberedw Hill

The ponds, streams, lakes and marshy corners of Fforest Fields and the hills beyond aren’t just beautiful.

They’re full of fast, fierce, shimmering life.

From the first damselflies of April to the last hawkers of autumn, the dragonflies and damselflies here tell the story of the year unfolding.

Here’s the full list pf 25 (and a few bonus ones) to look out for across the seasons.

Damselflies

(Resting wings together, dancing over ponds)

1. Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula)

Our earliest damselfly, often out by mid-April.

Where: Every pond and slow stream.

2. Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella)

Sky-blue, delicate, everywhere by late May.

Where: Lakes, ponds, slow ditches.

3. Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum)

Later than Azure, bluer, bolder, into high summer.

Where: Larger ponds and lakes.

4. Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans)

Tiny and wiry with a neat blue spot.

Where: Scrubby, shallow pond edges.

5. Emerald Damselfly (Lestes sponsa)

Metallic green, wings half open when perched — slow and elegant.

Where: Still, reed-fringed ponds.

6. Red-eyed Damselfly (Erythromma najas) — (Rare here)

Likes floating vegetation. Worth a lookout on sunny ponds.

Where: Big still water bodies.

7. Small Red-eyed Damselfly (Erythromma viridulum) (Very rare wanderer, possible in hot summers)

A newcomer to parts of Wales, if the weather’s hot enough, they might just drift in.

Where: Lily-covered ponds.

8. White-legged Damselfly (Platycnemis pennipScarcel)(Scarce but possible)

Loves slow rivers with lush banks — maybe possible along the Edw.

Where: Vegetated river margins.

Dragonflies (Fast, fierce, showy fliers)

9. Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa)

Big, bold, often first dragonfly on the ponds.

Where: Scruffy pond edges.

10. Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata)

Brown, busy, noisy, everywhere in early summer.

Where: Every pond and lake.

11. Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum)

Grey-blue males, fast fliers over open water.

Where: Bigger, sunny ponds and lakes.

12. Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens) (Rare upland record possible)

Likes wet flushes, heathy bogs, Aberedw Hill could just support them.

Where: Marshy, boggy ground.

13. Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator)

Huge, bold, green and blue. King of the lakes.

Where: Big ponds and lakes.

14. Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea)

Friendly, inquisitive, green and black.Will fly up to inspect you sometimes.

Where: Wood edges, lakes, hedgerows.

15. Common Hawker (Aeshna juncea)

Upland, bog-loving hunter.Could be found higher up Aberedw Hill later in the summer.

Where: Moorland pools, upland ponds.

16. Brown Hawker (Aeshna grandis)

Bronze-winged, strong flier.Often seen late summer.

Where: Lakes, ponds, ditches.

17. Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta)

A later summer arrival — small and neat.

Where: Around hedgerows, warm sheltered spots near water.

18. Golden-ringed Dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii)

Striking black-and-gold, long-bodied.

Stream hunter supreme.

Where: Fast streams and clear ditches.

19. Downy Emerald (Cordulia aenea) (Rare, possible if near woodland edges)

Metallic green, fast and skittish over woodland ponds.

Where: Still, tree-fringed ponds.

20. Brilliant Emerald (Somatochlora metallica) (Extremely rare here, but worth dreaming)

A rare dragonfly for Wales, but some upland habitats hint they could stray.

Where: Well-vegetated lakes and bog edges.

Darters (Late summer dragons, red and restless)

21. Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum)

Small, red and friendly. Loves to perch on fences and boots.

Where: Everywhere sunny by July.

22. Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum) — (Occasional, warm summers)

Deep, blood-red beauty. A rare prize.

Where: Shallow, sunny ponds.

23. Black Darter (Sympetrum danae)

Tiny, dark-winged, upland specialist.Late summer flier, special if found.

Where: Boggy pools.

24. Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) (Vagrant species!)

Hot summers sometimes bring these Mediterranean wanderers north.

Super rare but possible.

Where: Warm, open, weedy ponds.

25. Vagrant Emperor (Anax ephippiger) (Rare African migrant!)

Wild card: in stormy, hot years, they’ve been recorded moving inland in Wales.If you ever see a golden, dusty dragonfly powering over Fforest Fields in October - it might just be one.

Where: Literally anywhere if one drifts through!

How Many Can We Find?

From the first shimmer of red damselflies to the last patrolling hawkers of October, Fforest Fields and the hills beyond are alive with dragons and damsels.

Some will find you without you even looking.Some need a quiet hour by the pond, a good pair of eyes, and a bit of luck.

All of them are part of the life of this place, fast, fierce, fleeting, unforgettable.

Join Us on the Hunt

We’re keeping a tally here.If you spot one, or twenty, let us know.

Let’s see how many we can tick off together, across a wild season in the hills.

Book your stay, wander the ponds and streams, and come and meet the wild wings of Radnorshire.