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Dragonfly and Damselfly Pics 2017

  Migrant Hawker, Faringdon Folly Park Pond, Oxon

2 September 2017

Good sunny conditions at this site today with plenty of Odonata around, despite all the human disturbance.  This Migrant Hawker only settled briefly - but just long enough!
  Emerald Damselfly, Faringdon Folly Park Pond, Oxon

2 September 2017

Good to finally catch up with this species at this site, previously seen by others here.
   Migrant Hawker, Pinkhill, Farmoor Res, Oxon

2 September 2017

From the Pinkhill hide - a very similar image to last week, but slightly sunnier!
   Ruddy Darter FFPP Ruddy Darter, Faringdon Folly Park Pond, Oxon

26 August 2017

The darters were very skittish today and difficult to approach at all closely.
   Migrant Hawker Pinkhill Migrant Hawker, Pinkhill, Farmoor Res, Oxon

26 August 2017

From the Pinkhill hide - over the new pools
    Small Red-eyed Damselfly, Faringdon Folly Park Pond, Oxon

6 August 2017

Following counts of many more just a few days ago, there were only c. 20 showing today, in less than ideal conditions at this urban site.

Photography was difficult as these tiny damselflies were some way out, with foreground vegetation and not often sideways on. This was taken with the x1.4 converter on my 100-400 lens followed by heavy cropping.
  Common Blue Damselfly Common Blue Damselfly, Tar Lakes, Oxon

8 July 2017

Back in good old Oxon after trips to Scotland and Dorset!

Not a lot of photo opportunities today so I thought I'd try some flight shots of the masses of Common Blue Damsels that were everywhere in the hot sunny conditions.
  Golden Ringed Dragonfly Golden-ringed Dragonfly, Crockford Stream, Hampshire.

7 July 2017

This was my first visit to this premier dragonfly site, which was pretty productive in the hot, sunny weather - only spoilt somewhat by a breeze.  

There were a number of Golden-ringed present - they were more numerous further from the road where the stream becomes boggy. In the hot conditions I found they weren't settling very well, but others seemed to be having more success.
  Keeled Skimmer Keeled Skimmer, Crockford Stream, Hampshire.

7 July 2017

Numerous along the full length of the stream.
  Southern Damselfly Southern Damselfly, Crockford Stream, Hampshire.

7 July 2017

Also very numerous
 
 Southern Damselfly Southern Damselfly, Crockford Stream, Hampshire.

7 July 2017

The view from above showing the distinctive markings on the abdomen.
 
  Beautiful Demoiselle Beautiful Demoiselle, Crockford Stream, Hampshire.

7 July 2017

There were plenty of these all along the stream. This shot was taken in the little pool right by the road.
  Northern Damselfly Loch Garten Northern Damselfly, Loch Garten, Highland

22 June 2017

Driving over from Aberdeen in the afternoon, I arrived at the roadside pool with the boardwalk (57.252582,-3.714661) around 5pm. Conditions were just good enough for these damsels to be showing. One was briefly quite close to the boardwalk but relatively low down in the horsetails - so difficult to get good shots.

I visited this site a few times over the next three days but none were showing probably due to the windy and often cool conditions.
Emerald Damselfly Emerald Damselfly, Loch Garten, Highland

22 June 2017

Around the far edge of the Northern Damsel pool.
  Beautiful Demoiselle Otmoor Beautiful Demoiselle, Otmoor, Oxon

3 June 2017

Responding to a tip-off, we looked carefully for this at the eastern end of the bridleway, and sure enough there was one male and a female "showing well". My first record of this species from Otmoor.
Beautiful Demoiselle Otmoor Beautiful Demoiselle, Otmoor, Oxon

3 June 2017

See above
  Four spotted Chaser Otmoor Four spotted Chaser, Otmoor, Oxon

3 June 2017

Encouragingly high numbers of these around today.
  Common Blue Damsel Common Blue Damselfly, Radcot Lock, Oxon

27 May 2017

While on an abortive Clubtail hunt in poor weather.
   Club-tailed Dragonfly, Tadpole Bridge, Oxon

14 May 2017

Getting the new season and the BDS clubtail count off to a good start! This adult was right by the Thames Path just west of the bridge. No other sightings between here and Radcot, though although there were plenty of Banded Demoiselles up until Radcot lock.
Club-tailed Dragonfly, Tadpole Bridge, Oxon

14 May 2017

Another shot before it abruptly departed - disturbed by the wind, I think.
Club-tailed Dragonfly exuvia, Goring, Oxon

13 May 2017

No emergent insects today but plenty of exuviae - in the three 1km squares between the village and the Railway Bridge!
© All pictures copyright Stephen Burch

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