Dragons and Damsels.

[nomad]

The dainty Damselflies and especially the larger Dragonflies are eye-catching insects. As we see little mentioned of Dragonflies and Damselflies on this forum, I thought it would be good idea to share my images of them, that were taken mainly in the fens of Norfolk in England and in the Weerribben of Holland. Although I did not go there to especially look for them, you cannot but help notice and admire. Sometimes, I like to sit and watch their skill in the air. At rest the larger Dragonflies are very hard to approach and much stealth is needed.

In this thread, I will add a few images at a time. I hope some here will enjoy them.

Here is a male (top) and a female (bottom) of the well named Beautiful Demoiselle, Calopteryx virgo. This is common species in Britain. The images shown here were taken in Wiltshire where both sexes had flown uphill from a sandy bottomed stream, to hunt along the edges of a wide oak woodland ride.

[nomad]

The Four-spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata is a common Dragonfly in Britain. The images here were taken in the Norfolk Broads.

[nomad]

The Hairy Dragonfly, Brachytron pratense is a uncommon species in Britain. These images show this small hawker Dragonfly in tandem, feeding and basking in the Norfolk Broads, June 2015.

[nomad]

The Dutch "Vuurlibel " the Fire Dragonfly, Crocothemis erythraea or as it is called in English, the Scarlet dragonfly, is a species that does not occur in Britain. Therefore I was pleased to see and photograph this superb species in the fens of Der Werrribben National Park in Holland. What a really splendid insect this is with the males vivid colour. The yellow brown females seem to be less often encountered.