Tim Walter has sent in this beautiful multiple exposure photo of Ruddy Darter flying from a bramble at Pam’s Pools. Tim also sent in the inflight Emperor (left below) which shows really clearly the blocks of apple green and blue that catch your eye as it flies past! Mark Underwood has also sent in another great shot of an Emperor at Pole Cottage Pools, highlighting the diagnostic black dorsal line which again can even be seen in flight. Further below left Kevin McGee has sent in the first Keeled Skimmer record for this year with this single female seen near Cramer Gutter on Catherton Common. Both Keeled and Black-tailed Skimmers have clear wings- a useful feature to separate them from Chaser species- and tiny perpendicular yellow wing veins called antenodal crossveins.
Common Hawker and Brown Hawker have also been seen on the wing by myself, but having photos of neither I’ve decided to post 2 great shots from Geoff Hall (bottom left and right). These show a female Emperor ovipositing whilst being closely watched by 2 Azure Damselflies and on the right a great head on view of Four-spotted Chaser. Big sun is forecast…a busy week for dragonflies!
