Dragonflies

Northumbrian Birder in search of Dragonflies !!

Blog Outline

This is just a blog diary on my growing interest in dragonflies, not meant to be too serious, just somewhere I can put some photos and comments on what I have observed.



2010

2010/2011

Sunday 3 October 2010

Common Hawker

Common Hawker  Aeshna juncea 
Male












Sunday 19 September 2010

Banded Demoiselle

Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens
These from along the Wansbeck
This one looked in trouble as it lay on its side in the grass the warmth from my hand seemed to help and it eventually flew off, perhaps it was a tussle with another male
I would like the photographic equipment to get some real close and detailed shots of Dragons
Male & female coupled

The Female after release, notice how articulated the segments are
She composes herself preening and resting .The videos are also of this individual
Two Males fighting for a dominant position


Three Males landing flying over this new territory which is what I had just provide it take not take long for them to land on it.

Tuesday 7 September 2010

Tuesday 27 July 2010

Blue tailed Damselfly

Blue Tailed damselfly.....Ischnura elegans





Thursday 8 July 2010

Black tailed Skimmer


Black Tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum




Female ovipositing Holywell Pond 17-7-2010





Friday 25 June 2010

Black Tailed Skimmer

Black Tailed Skimmer.........Orthetrum cancellatum
First Black Tailed Skimmer of the year on the 22 June, another species I don't know much about . they tend to fly low and often alight on the ground but this does not aid trying to get photographs as the detail is often lost.


Four Spot Chaser

Four Spot Chaser in flight 23-7-2010

Four Spot Chaser....... Libellula quadrimaculata
First one seen on the 17th june, they seem much more common this year with some ponds having double figures , I don't know much about them as all I have seen of them is they patrol an area , but at least they alight frequently often on the same perch or a number of perches if the sun is moving around




Emperor


Emperor............Anax imperator
I think I first encountered these some years ago in Norfolk at Cley Marsh , at the time did not think a great deal about them as nobody seemed to interested in Dragonflies.
My next encounter was in Barcelona at a pool in a small park, there was al sorts of Dragonflies & Damselflies especially these Emperors.......I was starting to get hooked on them .
The first Emperor of the year was noted on the 17th June, they have a tendency to fly what seems like constantly , patrolling back and forth over their chosen area, occasionally dashing off to chase a rival or perhaps some prey, but also occasionally they will hang up and if you are lucky let you get some photos



Male Emperor with an Azure damselfly about to try and settle on it's wing



Female Emperor egg laying in the dense vegetation, in this case right in the middle of the pond
They can remain in the same position for some time. Older Females can take on the colour of the Male
Again an Azure Damselfly trying to settle on the females wing

Thursday 24 June 2010

Turkey Dragonflies



Slender Skimmer





Dragonflies(Warrior Flies) Anisoptera
These where taken end of April start of May S/W Turkey around Dalyan
I still can't work out why some will enlarge fine while others are just too large ?



Scarce Chaser (Blue Chaser) Libellula fulva


With Prey







Violet Dropwing   Trithemis annulata





Violet Dropwing female




Broad Scarlet (Scarlet darter) Crocothemis erythraea














Green Eyed Hawker (Norfolk hawker) Aeshna isoceles


Slender Skimmer Orthetrum sabina


Female Black Tailed Skimmer  Orthetrum cancellatum Ovipositing by just dipping momentarily in the water