Cotswold Water Park Society

Dragonflies & Damselflies

The Cotswold Water Park supports a diverse range of Dragonfly and Damselfly species, reflecting the variety of wetland habitats found here. To date more than 20 species have been recorded, ranging from the Common Blue Damselfly found in swarms of several thousand, to the Lesser Emperor Dragonfly (single males recorded in 2005 and 2006).

Key Facts

Our dragonflies reflect our habitats



• Large numbers of Banded Demoiselles may be seen fluttering along many sections of the River Thames, demonstrating the high water quality and excellent habitat.
• Many of the deeper lakes support vast swarms of several thousand Common Blue Damselflies, a species suited to deep water habitats.
• The warm shallow waters of lake margins and recent mineral workings can support huge swarms of Black-Tailed Skimmers and Blue-Tailed Damselflies.
• The rare, Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly, has been recorded in some mineral working in the Cotswold Water Park, utilising the warm, shallow pools in the earliest stages of vegetation succession seen in active mineral workings. These sites can be very dangerous so please do not access these areas.
• The diverse wetlands of Swillbrook Lakes support a superb dragonfly assemblage of 16 breeding species, a result of the variety of water depths and pool sizes seen here.