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Image-of-the-Day by Subject


Dragonflies & Damselflies Page 20

Image Taken on 29 Oct 2006 at 12:53    Image of day on 02 Nov 2006

This pair of coupled Common Sympetrum Dragonflies spent some time laying eggs in the adjacent pond & warming themselves in the sun on a patch of dry grass where they are surprisingly difficult to spot if you don't see them land.


Ref: 20061102_p34_20061029_1253_733 common sympetrum dragonfly pair in tandem on grass(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 20 May 2020 at 12:43    Image of day on 18 Jun 2020

Over the meadow area there are dozens of these Azure Damselflies. This is a male in flight.


Ref: 20200618_d73_20200520_1243_013 damselfly azure male in flight(r+mb id@768).jpg


Image Taken on 21 Jul 2021 at 11:09    Image of day on 28 Aug 2021

We last saw an Emerald Damselfly in 2010 - 11 years ago. This female landed a few metres up a tree and this is the best pic we could get. In the 2010 session we took images of both sexes in our 'flight tunnel' - you can see them at 26 Sep 2010 and 2 Oct 2010.


Ref: 20210828_d73_20210721_1109_128 emerald damselfly female (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 15 Aug 2010 at 14:10    Image of day on 02 Oct 2010

In 26 Sep 2010 we showed you a male Emerald damselfly brought to us for some technical photos (see previous description). To complete the study we photographed some more males and this female.


Ref: 20101002_da1_20100815_1410_011+1521_149_ft1 emerald damselfly female in flight with ornamental rush (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg


Image Taken on 20 Aug 2025 at 16:18    Image of day on 07 Oct 2025

Emerald Damselflies are infrequent visitors, only previously seen by natural arrival in 2021. This species rests naturally with wings partially open.
In the [Image of the Day (View Archive by Subject)] and the [Ultraviolet (UV) UK Survey ...] (both linked from the home page) you will find images from 2010 for an insect brought to us by the Bucks Dragonfly recorder for some technical and in-flight photos


Ref: 20251007_d72_20250820_1618_040 emerald damselfly female on twig with wings partly open (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 20 Aug 2025 at 16:19    Image of day on 07 Oct 2025

From the opposite side of the stick we catch this beauty opening and closing her wings while perched. The montage is 'accurate' and the insect was perched for both instances rather than preparing for flight.


Ref: 20251007_d72_20250820_1619_049+1620_054 emerald damselfly female on twig with wings varying in position 1+2 of 2 (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg


Image Taken on 08 Aug 2010 at 14:43    Image of day on 26 Sep 2010

And taking a final fly before going back to the waterside


Ref: 20100926_da1_20100808_1443_037+1436_016_ft1 emerald damselfly male in flight with hop sedge (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg


Image Taken on 08 Aug 2010 at 14:39    Image of day on 26 Sep 2010

A male Emerald Damselfly brought to us for some technical photos of the blue 'pruinescence' (a powdery substance that rubs off) & went on to provide some delightful images before release. The Hop sedge looks a bit strange but that is how it goes - there were hundreds like this with very similar strips sticking up and down.


Ref: 20100926_da1_20100808_1439_028_ft1 emerald damselfly male on hop sedge (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg


Image Taken on 22 Jul 2012 at 15:36    Image of day on 31 Aug 2012

Here we accidentally caught a moment of flight between patches of the pond weeds where she was laying.


Ref: 20120831_df1_20120722_1536_081 emperor dragonfly female flying between laying (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 23 Jun 2008 at 19:41    Image of day on 07 Jul 2008

The Emperor Dragonfly is big with 10cm wingspan and absolutely beautiful intricate body and wings.


Ref: 20080707_p34_20080623_1941_234 emperor dragonfly female hanging on pond grass (web crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 23 Jun 2008 at 19:19    Image of day on 07 Jul 2008

Soak in the detail - on the original you can see the segments of the compound eye.


Ref: 20080707_dc1_20080623_1919_041 emperor dragonfly female head detail(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 30 May 2020 at 12:28    Image of day on 04 Jul 2020

From another flight sequence of a female Emperor Hawker Dragonfly that fell off the edge of frame, this image is more diagnostic for an ID.


Ref: 20200704_df3_20200530_1228_068 emperor dragonfly female immature (crop for id)(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 30 May 2020 at 12:24    Image of day on 04 Jul 2020

At the corner of the Wheat crop this immature female Emperor Hawker Dragonfly was hunting over the field margin.


Ref: 20200704_df3_20200530_1224_015-019 emperor dragonfly female immature in flight @7fps 1-5 of 5 (accurate montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg


Image Taken on 25 Jun 2023 at 12:51    Image of day on 23 Aug 2023

This is our first sighting of an Emperor Dragonfly for 3 years.
Positioning is accurate at about 7 fps.


Ref: 20230823_df3_20230625_1251_222-224 emperor dragonfly female in flight (accurate montage @7fps)(r+mb id@768).jpg


Image Taken on 25 Jun 2023 at 12:51    Image of day on 23 Aug 2023

The middle pic in the montage at a more easily identifiable scale.


Ref: 20230823_df3_20230625_1251_223 emperor dragonfly female in flight 2 of 3 (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 22 Jul 2012 at 15:35    Image of day on 31 Aug 2012

A female Emperor Dragonfly facing us as she lays eggs on the underwater vegetation. Who is watching who?


Ref: 20120831_df1_20120722_1535_059 emperor dragonfly female laying (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg


Image Taken on 22 Jul 2012 at 15:39    Image of day on 30 Aug 2012

We had about 5 minutes watching this Emperor Dragonfly placing her eggs on to sub-surface vegetation before she unexpectedly flew off. In this image you can see the last few abdominal segments under water along with her Claspers (Anal Appendages).


Ref: 20120830_df1_20120722_1539_164 emperor dragonfly female laying (crop)(r+mb id@1024).jpg


Image Taken on 09 Jul 2010 at 17:58    Image of day on 13 Aug 2010

A beautiful Emperor dragonfly female depositing eggs. The only image we got before she flew off for no obvious reason - this was taken from at least 5 meters away - it's possible to get much closer when there isn't water in the way!


Ref: 20100813_df1_20100709_1758_014 emperor dragonfly female laying into duck pond (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg


Image Taken on 25 Jun 2010 at 16:37    Image of day on 02 Aug 2010

Our first definite Emperor Dragonfly at our site. This is the glorious male on Hop sedge on the island of Duck Pond.


Ref: 20100802_df1_20100625_1637_108 emperor dragonfly male (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg


Image Taken on 19 Jul 2020 at 12:24    Image of day on 28 Aug 2020

We first saw (no photo) a male Emperor Dragonfly some weeks back in this area. At last getting a photo, we see he has led a busy life in the interim, wings now really tatty from endless brushing on foliage, but still flying well. These at 10 fps.


Ref: 20200828_d73_20200719_1224_106-109 emperor dragonfly male (old & very tatty) in flight 1-4 of 4 (accurate montage with insert)(r+mb id@1024).jpg


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