Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum)
Species
Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum). Male. Taken at Radley Lakes, Oxon., on July 11th 2019.
Male. Taken at Radley Lakes, Oxon., on July 11th 2019. (© David Hastings)
(1/125th sec at f14. Click image for larger version)
Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum). Male. Taken at Radley Lakes, Oxon., on June 28th 2024.
Male. Taken at Radley Lakes, Oxon., on June 28th 2024. (© David Hastings)
(1/640th sec at f11. Click image for larger version)
Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum). Imm. male. Taken at Narborough, Norfolk, on June 18th 2024.
Imm. male. Taken at Narborough, Norfolk, on June 18th 2024. (© David Hastings)
(1/800th sec at f11. Click image for larger version)
Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum). Female. Taken at Aston, Oxon., on June 2nd 2022.
Female. Taken at Aston, Oxon., on June 2nd 2022. (© David Hastings)
(1/800th sec at f13. Click image for larger version)
Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum). Female. Taken near Montmorillon, France on June 29th 2010.
Female. Taken near Montmorillon, France on June 29th 2010. (© David Hastings)
(1/160th sec at f9. Click image for larger version)
Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum). Pair in cop. Taken at Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon., on June 12th 2023.
Pair in cop. Taken at Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon., on June 12th 2023. (© David Hastings)
(1/640th sec at f13. Click image for larger version)

Description

Wing span: 70-82 mm; Body length: 44-50 mm

A medium-sized dragonfly, with the abdomen tapering evenly from S2-3. Females and immatures are pale, yellowish brown with two bold lines running along the length of the abdomen. The wings are clear, have a yellow costa and a very dark brown or black pterostigma. The males develop a blue pruinescence on the abdomen darkening to the rear with with S8-10 becoming black. Their eyes are very dark green. Females retain their colour and markings, though they become greyish-brown with age.

The main distribution of this species is in England. It is also found in Ireland and south Wales.

Its prefered habitat is larger standing or slow-flowing waters, generally open and often with un-vegetated margins. It occurs in brackish waters and can tolerate high fish densities. It is a good colonist of new sites, especially while open margins persist.

Eggs are laid in flight. They hatch after five or six weeks and the larvae live partially hidden by bottom debris. They emerge after two or three years. The main flight period is June and July.

Males characteristically perch horizontally on exposed surfaces. They fly fast and low, skimming the water surface, while defending their territories. Mating can occur in flight or on land.

A locally common species.

Earliest UK sighting: 26th May ; Latest UK sighting: 29th August

Sightings

25-Jul-2025 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (1)
16-Jul-2025 : Mortimer, Berks (6)
16-Jul-2025 : Greenham Common, Berks (6)
14-Jul-2025 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
11-Jul-2025 : Rushy Common, Oxon (8)
08-Jul-2025 : Cothill Fen, Oxon (1)
29-Jun-2025 : Standlake Common, Oxon (2)
27-Jun-2025 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (6)
25-Jun-2025 : Bernwood Forest, Bucks (2)
25-Jun-2025 : Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon (1)
18-Jun-2025 : Whelford Pools, Glos (3+)
16-Jun-2025 : Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon (2)
30-May-2025 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (6)
29-May-2025 : Aston, Oxon (1)

09-Aug-2024 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (3)
06-Aug-2024 : WWT Arundel, W Sussex (2)
05-Aug-2024 : Pagham Harbour, W. Sussex (1)
02-Aug-2024 : Pagham Harbour, W. Sussex (1)
30-Jul-2024 : Standlake Common, Oxon (4)
19-Jul-2024 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (2)
04-Jul-2024 : Bernwood Forest, Bucks (2)
04-Jul-2024 : Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon (1)
28-Jun-2024 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (5)
24-Jun-2024 : Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon (1)
18-Jun-2024 : Narborough Railway Line, Norfolk (3)
17-Jun-2024 : Hickling Broad, Norfolk (4)
16-Jun-2024 : How Hill NNR, Norfolk (2)

25-Jul-2023 : Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon (3)
17-Jul-2023 : Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon (4)
26-Jun-2023 : Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon (1)
25-Jun-2023 : Standlake Common, Oxon (2)
23-Jun-2023 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (6)
16-Jun-2023 : Whelford Pools, Glos (8)
12-Jun-2023 : Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon (3)
02-Jun-2023 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (7)

19-Aug-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1f)
09-Aug-2022 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
02-Aug-2022 : Aston, Oxon (2)
29-Jul-2022 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (4)
22-Jul-2022 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (10m,1f)
04-Jul-2022 : Bernwood Forest, Bucks (1)
01-Jul-2022 : Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon (2)
15-Jun-2022 : Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon (2)
10-Jun-2022 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (10)
07-Jun-2022 : Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon (1f)
02-Jun-2022 : Aston, Oxon (1f)

11-Aug-2021 : Mortimer, Berks (1)
14-Jul-2021 : Bernwood Forest, Bucks (1)
14-Jul-2021 : Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon (4)
12-Jul-2021 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (4)
11-Jul-2021 : Standlake Common, Oxon (1)
08-Jul-2021 : Whelford Pools, Glos (4m,3f)
25-Jun-2021 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (2)
24-Jun-2021 : Parsonage Moor, Oxon (2m,1f)
15-Jun-2021 : Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon (2)
14-Jun-2021 : Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon (1tenm)
13-Jun-2021 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (10+)
12-Jun-2021 : Bernwood Meadows, Bucks (1m)
07-Jun-2021 : Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon (2ten)

10-Aug-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
05-Aug-2020 : Mortimer, Berks (1f)
21-Jul-2020 : Culham, Oxon (1)
12-Jul-2020 : Banbury, Oxon (1m)
11-Jul-2020 : Standlake Common, Oxon (1f)
10-Jul-2020 : Parsonage Moor, Oxon (1f)
06-Jul-2020 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
24-Jun-2020 : Standlake Common, Oxon (3m,2f)
20-Jun-2020 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (10+)
08-Jun-2020 : Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon (1m)
07-Jun-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1f)
05-Jun-2020 : Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon (1)
02-Jun-2020 : Culham, Oxon (3m)
30-May-2020 : Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon (1)
29-May-2020 : Abingdon, Oxon (1ten)
29-May-2020 : Parsonage Moor, Oxon (1m,1f)
26-May-2020 : Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon (1f)

29-Aug-2019 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
24-Aug-2019 : Mortimer, Berks (1)
11-Aug-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
02-Aug-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
28-Jul-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
12-Jul-2019 : Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon (2)
12-Jul-2019 : Bernwood Forest, Bucks (1)
11-Jul-2019 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (20+)
27-Jun-2019 : Standlake Common, Oxon (3m,3f)
22-Jun-2019 : Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon (1)
22-Jun-2019 : Bernwood Forest, Bucks (1)
20-Jun-2019 : Standlake Common, Oxon (2)
18-Jun-2019 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (2)
16-Jun-2019 : Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon (1m,2f)
02-Jun-2019 : Abingdon, Oxon (7)
01-Jun-2019 : Ardley Wood Quarry, Oxon (1ten)

05-Aug-2018 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (3)
23-Jul-2018 : Vercors Natural Park, France
17-Jul-2018 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (1)
10-Jul-2018 : Greenham Common, Berks (19)
07-Jul-2018 : Besselsleigh Wood, Oxon (1)
02-Jul-2018 : Bernwood Forest, Bucks (2)
01-Jul-2018 : Silchester Common, Hants (3)
27-Jun-2018 : Gait Barrows NNR, Lancashire (3)
26-Jun-2018 : Leighton Moss, Lancashire (20+)
21-Jun-2018 : Whelford Pools, Glos (2m,2f)
20-Jun-2018 : Standlake Common, Oxon (3)
18-Jun-2018 : Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon (1)
18-Jun-2018 : Bernwood Forest, Bucks (4)
14-Jun-2018 : Aston Rowant NNR, Oxon (1 ten)
06-Jun-2018 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
06-Jun-2018 : Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon (1)

29-Jul-2017 : Standlake Common, Oxon (2)
18-Jul-2017 : Greenham Common, Berks (5)
02-Jul-2017 : Silchester Common, Hants (1)
01-Jul-2017 : Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon (2)
17-Jun-2017 : Standlake Common, Oxon (10+m,2f)
14-Jun-2017 : Whelford Pools, Glos (1m,2f)

06-Aug-2016 : Greenham Common, Berks (3)
16-Jul-2016 : Greenham Common, Berks (4+)
15-Jul-2016 : Bernwood Forest, Bucks (1)
11-Jul-2016 : Bernwood Forest, Bucks (1m,2f)
04-Jul-2016 : Leighton Moss, Lancashire (2)
03-Jul-2016 : Gait Barrows NNR, Lancashire (1)
25-Jun-2016 : Whelford Pools, Glos (1m,1f)
02-Jun-2016 : Lymington-Keyhaven NR, Hants (1)

15-Aug-2015 : Rushy Common, Oxon (1m)
23-Jul-2015 : Mesta River fishponds, Bulgaria
18-Jul-2015 : Greenham Common, Berks (2m,1f)
18-Jul-2015 : Silchester Common, Hants (1)
04-Jul-2015 : Calvert Jubilee, Bucks (7)
04-Jul-2015 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
21-Jun-2015 : Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon (1)

31-Jul-2014 : Leighton Moss, Lancashire (2)
19-Jul-2014 : Hinksey Lake, Oxford, Oxon (2)
06-Jul-2014 : Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon (1)
02-Jul-2014 : North Cave Wetlands, E. Yorkshire (1)
30-Jun-2014 : Tophill Low, E. Yorks (2)
25-Jun-2014 : General Todorov, Bulgaria
25-Jun-2014 : Rupite Hot Springs, Bulgaria
16-Jun-2014 : Whelford Pools, Glos (1)
10-Jun-2014 : Abingdon, Oxon (1 ten.)

08-Jul-2013 : Whelford Pools, Glos (1m)
26-Jun-2013 : Hickling Broad, Norfolk (5)
25-Jun-2013 : Hickling Broad, Norfolk (1)
25-Jun-2013 : Catfield Fen, Norfolk (4)
01-May-2013 : The Camargue, France (1)
25-Apr-2013 : Marais du Viguierat, France (1m)

26-Aug-2012 : Greenham Common, Berks (1m)
03-Aug-2012 : Otmoor, Oxon (1m)
26-Jul-2012 : Otmoor, Oxon (1m)
17-Jul-2012 : Hyde Hall, Essex (1m)
17-Jun-2012 : Otmoor, Oxon (1 ten)
28-May-2012 : Hatchet Small Pond, Hants (1 ten)

14-Jul-2011 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (1)

19-Jul-2010 : Whelford Pools, Glos
29-Jun-2010 : Vienne, France
28-Jun-2010 : Vienne, France
26-Jun-2010 : The Brenne, Loire Valley, France
25-Jun-2010 : The Brenne, Loire Valley, France
24-Jun-2010 : The Brenne, Loire Valley, France
22-Jun-2010 : Radley Lakes, Oxon

09-Aug-2009 : Greenham Common, Berks (3m)
05-Jul-2009 : Otmoor, Oxon