As we move from summer into early autumn many of the dragon- and damselfly species have already given up for the year but some are still active, making use of the patches of sand and bare earth along the paths to....
....warm themselves. The most common sunbathers are the darters, small dragonflies of which there are two species around at the moment, both with similarly coloured males and females. The one here is a male ruddy darter - I think - while....
....this is a common darter, recognisable by the two pale patches on each side of his thorax and the yellow stripes along his legs.
He was one of several species to be found where the path....
....almost disappears into a tangle of vegetation, a spot which is usually also good for....
....emerald damselflies, delicate beauties of which there are several species which to me, in my present state of knowledge, are indistinguishable.
It was while I was photographing the damselfly that a female darter landed on my Challenger cap. This is the second time a dragonfly has chosen this perch, and she was settled enough for me to be able to pass the camera to Gill for her to take a picture.
Patrolling along sections of hedgerow or quarrelling over areas of water are the hawkers, larger dragonflies with beautiful markings. Again, there are two species which are very similar in their markings but I'm fairly sure this is a common hawker, a male, with his gorgeous blue eyes.
Dragonflies are a new interest, offering a welcome challenge in learning to identify and in photographing them. If the weather stays warm we'll have the pleasure of their company into early October. When they do finally give up for the year, they'll be missed.
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