113. Broad-bodied Chaser - Libellula depressa - UK - European Dragonfly photo The Broad-bodied Chaser ( Libellula depressa ) is very attractive and brings back a nostalgic memory . When I started as Cheshire County Recorder I can remember doubting a local record from a newly created habitat along a disused railway line. On visiting [...]
Libellulidae Libellula – Chasers 112. Four-Spotted Chaser - Libellula quadrimaculata - UK - European Dragonfly photo The Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata) was chosen as the emblem of the British Dragonfly Society. It is widespread and common across Europe and North America where is it called the Four-spotted Skimmer but very attractive none-the-less. Numbers can [...]
Macromia- Cruisers – River Cruisers (NA) Splendid Cruiser - Macromia splendens - European Dragonfly photo The Splendid Cruiser ( Macromia splendens ) is one of the rarest and most difficult of the European dragonflies to photograph and I was fortunate to be shown this site in Andalucia, Spain. It is endemic to southern [...]
Oxygastra – Orange-spotted Emeralds Orange-spotted Emerald - Oxygastra curtisii - European Dragonfly photo The Orange-spotted Emerald ( Oxygastra curtisii ) is now largely restricted to the Western Mediterranean but until the 1950’s, although never widespread, it was found in the U.K. on the River Tamar on the Devon - Cornwall boundary and the West Moors [...]
Corduliidae Cordulia – Downy Emeralds 101. Cordulia aenea – Downy Emerald Downy Emerald - Cordulia aenea - UK - European Dragonfly photo The Downy Emerald ( Cordulia aenea ) can be a difficult dragonfly to photograph as it often flies off fast and high into nearby trees even after the most careful approach. It is [...]
Cordulegastridae Cordulegaster – Goldenrings – Spiketails (N/A) Common Goldenring - Golden-ringed Dragonfly- Cordulegaster boltonii - UK -European Dragonfly photo The Common Goldenring ( Cordulegaster boltonii ) is certainly a favourite dragonfly for many people due to its large size and striking black and yellow markings. The sub species C.b. algirica was shown to me [...]
Onychogomphus - Pincertails Small Pincertail - Onychogomphus forcipatus - European Dragonfly photo Small Pincertail ( Onychogomphus forcipatus ) is the most common and most widely distributed of the Onychogomphus species in Europe. It is often to be found sitting on sunny rocks at the edge of rivers.The first photograph of O. forcipatus ssp unguiculatus in Spain [...]
Gomphidae Gomphus – Clubtails Common Clubtail - Club-tailed Dragonfly - Gomphus vulgatissimus - UK - European - Dragonfly photo Regarding the Common Clubtail - Club-tailed Dragonfly ( Gomphus vulgatissimus ) I was with the National Recorder, Bob Merritt, on the River Dee, Cheshire UK in 1985 when he found the first exuvia some 140 miles further [...]
Boyeria – Spectres – Spotted Darners (NA) Western Spectre - Boyeria irene - European Dragonfly photo The Western Spectre ( Boyeria irene ) is endemic to the Western Mediterranean and is unusual in that it flies mainly up and down the banks of streams in the shade and always perches well out of the sun. It is [...]
Brachytron – Hairy Hawkers Hairy Hawker - Hairy Dragonfly - Brachytron pratense - UK - European Dragonfly photo The Hairy Hawker - Hairy Dargonfly - (Brachytron pratense) has special significance for me as I re-discovered it at Hatchmere in Cheshire U K during the 1970’s after very many years when none had been recorded. I [...]