Tim Walter has seen Black-tailed Skimmers at Pam’s Pools near Bridgnorth and sent in these lovely photos of a female ovipositing (and reflection) and in flight. I was lucky enough to see my first skimmers at a private site yesterday as well as some Variable Damselflies (below right). My photograph shows a ‘wonky’ male, but it also shows the broken antehumeral (shoulder) stripes that appear like exclamation marks, the large black mark at the end of the abdomen (larger than in azure) and the stalked goblet shape on segment 2 of the abdomen. It’s worth looking closely at small blue damselflies as it’s quite likely this species is under recorded.
Elsewhere Geoff Hall has sent in some fabulous Emperor Dragonfly photos seen at Brokenstones near Wistanstow and a couple of chasers for good measure; Broad-bodied Chaser (far below left) and Four-spotted Chaser (far below right). Both clearly show the pigment at the base of the wings diagnostic for chasers and separating them from clear- winged skimmer species.
