Rare dragonfly discovered at Bog Meadows Nature Reserve — a first for Belfast

Rare dragonfly discovered at Bog Meadows Nature Reserve — a first for Belfast

Black tailed skimmer dragonfly at Bog Meadows Nature Reserve (c) David Littlejohn

Volunteers at Bog Meadows Nature Reserve, in west Belfast, discovered a rare black-tailed skimmer dragonfly last week – the first ever recorded in Belfast and only the second sighting in County Antrim.

David and Ellen, two volunteers who were taking a short break from litter picking, noticed a flurry of dragonfly activity and stopped to observe. With their cameras ready, they managed to photograph the black-tailed skimmer along with a female emperor dragonfly and a common darter. 

The black-tailed skimmer has a very limited distribution in Northern Ireland, particularly in the east of the province, with few records overall. Its presence at Bog Meadows Nature Reserve is a significant find and underlines the importance of this urban wildlife haven.  

The discovery also highlights the value of habitat improvements carried out at the nature reserve in recent years by local nature conservation charity Ulster Wildlife, which manages this 47-acre site. The newly created pond and scrapes at Bog Meadows Nature Reserve provide the ideal open water and bare bank habitat favoured by dragonflies. 

David Littlejohn, who photographed the rare creature, said: “We’ve seen more dragonflies here recently than ever before, but we didn’t expect to spot something so rare. It’s fantastic to see the nature reserve supporting such a variety of species.” 

Ellen Sheridan added: “The black-tailed skimmer was a real highlight! It really shows how important it is to protect places like this for wildlife.” 

Black tailed skimmer at Bog Meadows (c) David Littlejohn

Black tailed skimmer dragonfly at Bog Meadows Nature Reserve (c) David Littlejohn

Dawn Patterson, Community Engagement Officer at Bog Meadows Nature Reserve with Ulster Wildlife, said: “This exciting discovery is a testament to the hard work of our volunteers and the improvements we’ve made to the habitats here at Bog Meadows. To find the first black-tailed skimmer for Belfast – and only the second for County Antrim – right in the heart of the city shows what’s possible when we create the right conditions for nature to thrive. Bog Meadows continues to surprise us with its growing list of wildlife highlights, and we hope this inspires more people to visit and get involved.” 

This isn’t the first time Bog Meadows Nature Reserve has made headlines for its wildlife discoveries. Last year, an 8-year-old schoolboy discovered a rare water stick insect – the first record of the species in Northern Ireland – firmly putting this urban oasis on the map as a haven for biodiversity. 

Find out more about Bog Meadows Nature Reserve and how you can get involved