Not Lepidoptera (dragons!)

[Padfield]

I agree, definitely black darter.

Guy

[eccles]

Black tailed skimmer at Backwell Lake on Tuesday.

[Zonda]

On my wildlife pond http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/p- ... directlink I really hope this image will post this time.

[eccles]

Hi Zonda. Welcome to UKB. If you want to embed an image that you've uploaded somewhere you can use the Img tab when creating your message. Alternatively you can just use the 'Upload attachment' option to load your image directly as I have done.
Mike.

[Zonda]

Thankyou Mike ...I'll try that.

[eccles]

Migrant hawker yesterday at Stoke Camp reserve, Somerset.

[Dave McCormick]

I found about 30 of these today.. I am not good with dragons, which one is it?

[xmilehigh]

Hi Dave,

I think it is an immature Common Darter.

[Dave McCormick]

Thanks Jerry, thought it could have been one of those as I have seen common darters around here before, going back tomorrow to see if I can find any again as I know there was 2-3 different types of dragonfly where I was.

[GsButterflies]

A trip to Thursley Common on Wednesday 05th August produced some great Dragonflies and a few Damselflies. I am pleased that I ignored the weather forecast and proceeded with my visit.

Hope you enjoy these...

G

[xmilehigh]

Excellent Golden Ringed shot, good Damsel's as well.

Here's a few from Priddy Mineries yesterday.

[eccles]

Nice pics all. Jerry I think your teneral is a female common darter.
Here's a backlit common darter male, snapped late this afternoon.

[xmilehigh]

I think your right, Thanks Pic corrected.

[Malcolm Farrow]

Hi All

I thought you might be interested in my latest discovery. While visiting a local site in Suffolk I came across a number of damselflies that were new to me. I immediately had a hunch that they were Willow Emerald, and confirmed this on my return. The species has been recorded a few times before in the UK, and there has been a recent spate of records in east Suffolk. However, the number I saw (30+) suggests this might be an established colony, rather than migrants.

I've contacted BDS for advice, and will release the site details as soon as I receive confirmation that it is sensible to do so. In the meantime, I thought I'd share this photo with you. Hopefully, in the years to come these will become widespread in the UK!

[Malcolm Farrow]

Just a follow-up to my previous post regarding Willow Emerald Damselfly. Further exploration today revealed what I hoped to see - evidence of breeding behavior. It's also a useful picture to enable comparison between male and female and see the differences between this species and the UK's two currently resident emerald damselflies. It would be fantastic if this species were to become firmly established in the UK.

BTW, I think both your emerald damselfly shots are of females xmilehigh

[Mikhail]

Great find and excellent pics. Well done!

Misha

[Zonda]

Think i know, but checking with experts. Is this a female Common sympetrum?

[eccles]

Great catch, Malcolm, and nice tandem pic too.
@Zonda, common darter female it is.

[eccles]

Brown hawker has been a nemesis of mine for several years. I spent weeks of frustrating effort by the riverbank chasing this most skittish of dragonflies through the summer of 2005, finally to catch a single female in 2006. Now, three years later Jerry and I both snapped this male today at Priddy Mineries. It's a joy to watch this dragon in flight with the sun shining through its bronze coloured wings. Whoever called it a 'brown' hawker didn't do it justice, as my photo doesn't, but I found to capture it in flight was just too difficult. Maybe one day...

[xmilehigh]

Thanks for the correction Malcolm, on taking a second look and trying to verify with the Steve Brooks book, I'd also say it was a female. I'm surprised just how much these Damselflies can cgange / vary in colour. Very nice pic of the Willow Damsels.

I think we were very luck that the BH decided to take a rest this afternoon and even more so as it did so very close by.

Cheers

Common Darter