David Element's Wildlife Web Page Dragonflies and Damselflies 2

David Element

Wildlife Photography

and Digital Video Images

____________Dragonflies and Damselflies 2

DOWNY EMERALD Cordulia aenea (m)

SOUTHERN HAWKER Aeshna cyanea (m)

HAIRY DRAGONFLY Brachytron pratense (m)

Downy Emerald dragonflies are extemely difficult to photograph as they rarely come to rest in accessible positions. The individual shown was a notable exception to this rule as he settled repeatedly, giving ample opportunity for pictures to be taken. To put things into perspective, this is only the second example of this species which the photographer has managed to film at rest in over 20 years of trying! There is an excellent article about the biology of this species by Steve Cham, National Co-ordinator for the British Dragonfly Society's Recording Network in 'British Wildlife' Volume 16 Number 2 December 2004.

Southern Hawkers are a common sight patrolling along woodland rides in mid to late summer. Hand-held in-flight photography of non-captive insects demands a huge amount of patience and concentration as the critical depth of field is so small. The first photograph shows a fully mature male and the other two are of teneral (freshly emerged) males with much paler markings. When in flight, fully mature Southern Hawkers look greener than the other large hawker dragonflies - a useful field characteristic for distinguishing this species.

The Hairy Dragonfly is the first hawker dragonfly to be seen on the wing in early summer, and therefore relatively easy to identify in the absence of any similar species. Although these insects are conspicuous when flying over rivers they tend to roost in rather inaccessible and boggy areas and they are therefore quite difficult to approach.