This morning, I visited Wixhall Moss in Shropshire with my friend Marc Hughes. It was my first time at this site, and I was immediately struck by its vast, open landscapes and the sense of wilderness it conveys. Our main target was the elusive White-faced Darter, recently reported on iRecord.
We began our search in the Wixhall section of the reserve, but despite a thorough walk, the White-faced Darters eluded us. Still, the outing was far from disappointing. We enjoyed numerous Green Hairstreak butterflies flitting through the vegetation and observed several Large Red Damselflies, their vivid red bodies standing out against the greenery.
Large Red DamselflyDeciding to try our luck elsewhere, we drove to the Welsh side of the reserve at Fenn’s Moss. Here, our patience was rewarded: we spotted two White-faced Darters. One darted past, too quick to relocate, but we were fortunate to observe a teneral male settling on vegetation right in front of us—a truly remarkable sight.
Newly Emerged White-faced Darter
Marc explained that this was an extraordinary find for Wales, as there are few, if any, other known locations for this species in the country. He was visibly thrilled, and I was delighted to record my first White-faced Darter.
Our luck continued when we spotted a Four-spotted Chaser, which we reported to the warden. Remarkably, this sighting marked the earliest record for the site, adding to an already memorable morning.
Eventually, it was time to leave, but we left with plans to return in the coming weeks. Between rare dragonflies, abundant butterflies, and the sheer beauty of the mosses, it was a day that perfectly captured the excitement of exploring new wildlife sites.
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