Common Darters and a Southern Hawker dragonfly

This weekend saw another first for me, the photographing of a Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) dragonfly. I came across it on the path behind the visitor centre that runs alongside Ellingham Lake at Blashford Lakes nature reserve. It obligingly hanged around on this twig for a while, providing the opportunity to try out different focal length shots and compositions.

There were also Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) dragonflies found along this path, mainly in flight although managed to catch this one briefly resting.

The best place for the Common Darters was across the bridge and just before the board walk to the Ivy South hide, one branch in particularly seemed very popular for both genders.

A variety of shots of the male.

and the Female Common Darter

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