Return to moorhen home page
Return to section index
Image-of-the-Day by Subject
Dragonflies & Damselflies Page 26
Image Taken on 21 Aug 2022
at 17:36 Image of day on 30 Sep 2022
These two male Migrant Hawker Dragon flies are NOT a montage. We watched one of
these land to hang in the hedge, and the camera found two almost perfectly
aligned as you see here. The cameraman really did think he was getting some sort
of double image, but quickly realised not, to get this pic. Trying to get a
better angle induced one to take off. The other either took off unseen or just
used it's camouflage to stay hidden.
(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20220930_df3_20220821_1736_175 2 migrant hawker dragonfly males hanging from hedge branch (crop)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 11 Sep 2015
at 14:56 Image of day on 05 Nov 2015
A Migrant Hawker Dragonfly insect catch in a last moment sweep upwards
with legs formed into the 'net' they employ.
We started out assuming that the prey was fairly stationary in
the air, and intending to montage as 3 images with separating
bars, but it turned out that the wind was blowing them both
along, so this is an accurate montage.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20151105_df3_20150911_1456_504-406 migrant hawker dragonfly veering upwards to catch insect 1-3 of 3 (accurate montage at 7fps)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 23 Aug 2021
at 12:40 Image of day on 05 Oct 2021
There are perhaps a dozen Migrant Hawker Dragonflies around the house and Meadow.
This one stopped on this twig just long enough to get this pic.
.jpg)
Ref: 20211005_d73_20210823_1240_017 migrant hawker male hanging from twig(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 01 Aug 2022
at 15:14 Image of day on 15 Sep 2022
Here are the same pair more as human brains re-construct the images it gets
from the eyes flitting between the two and re-focussing without you noticing.
So this is a montage of camera frames focussed on each insect in turn.
Hope that you will enjoy this 'impression'.
 9 of 9 (accurate montage for focus)(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20220915_d72_20220801_1514_030+033 2 migrant hawkers in hedge at blocked gate (female over male) 9 of 9 (accurate montage for focus)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 01 Aug 2022
at 15:14 Image of day on 15 Sep 2022
A 'pair' (one female and the other male - but they don't pair up for more than mating) of
Migrant Hawkers were warming themselves in a well chosen sunny spot at the corner
of a hedge. Here the male is in the foreground with the blurred female behind and left.
The insects are only about 10cm apart, but close-up focus is very sensitive to distance.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20220915_d72_20220801_1514_021 2 migrant hawkers perched in hedge tree at blocked gate 5 of 9 (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 03 Jun 2010
at 12:45 Image of day on 13 Jul 2010
But mating is a dangerous time where the insects are more intent on what they are doing than
looking out for danger. Sad for the insect, but this sort of thing goes unseen all summer long.
- Top Left: Still in tandem attacked by the moorhen
- Top Right: Couple have separated but female head in the beak and male trapped by wing tip.
- Bottom: Adult has swum over to the chick under the foliage & given them to it to eat.
(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20100713_dc1_20100603_1245_067+070+095 moorhen adult catching mating azure damselflies & feeding to chick 01+04+29 of 30 (montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 08 Jun 2008
at 13:58 Image of day on 17 Jun 2008
This is two pairs of Azure damselflies laying eggs in
'Duck' pond among the miniature water lilies and duckweed.
The female on the right has her ovipositor under the water.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20080617_dc1_20080608_1358_039 2 pairs of azure damselflies laying in duck pond (web crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 13 Jun 2010
at 09:52 Image of day on 17 Jul 2010
9 days later we spotted this female Red-eyed damselfly this time with
- wait for it - Red eyes - in a weedy patch 100m from any pond.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20100717_df1_20100613_0952_055 red-eyed damselfly female (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 22 May 2009
at 13:34 Image of day on 16 Jun 2009
A Red-Eyed damselfly with wonderful bronze and bright yellow-green body,
and of course red eyes. This is a female not yet ready to breed.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20090616_d01_20090522_1334_192+1123_029 ft1 red-eyed damselfly imm female in flight with blackthorn (montage)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 22 May 2009
at 13:40 Image of day on 16 Jun 2009
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20090616_d01_20090522_1340_214 ft1 red-eyed damselfly imm female on blackthorn leaf side view (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 04 Jun 2010
at 16:07 Image of day on 17 Jul 2010
A red-eyed damselfly without red eyes!
Many damselflies and dragonflies change colour hugely during their lives and this
the form of the immature male - yet to develop red eyes and blue colouration on the
last 2 tail segments. Thanks to Alan Nelson of the
BDS for the ID.
 (montage 1)(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20100717_da1_20100604_1607_359+20100606_1040_001_ft1 red-eyed damselfly imm male in flight with hop sedge (carex pseudocyperus) (montage 1)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 24 Aug 2007
at 15:57 Image of day on 16 Sep 2007
The dragonflies are now zooming around like fighter pilots.
When they stop for a moment you can get a pic.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20070916_d01_20070824_1557_327 ruddy darter dragonfly (web crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 21 Jul 2021
at 11:04 Image of day on 28 Aug 2021
Our first Darter Dragonfly ID of the year (21 July 2021).
This is a female Ruddy Darter managing to partly obscure herself
on the other side of a very chewed up Iris frond in the middle of
the main pond.
.jpg)
Ref: 20210828_d73_20210721_1104_114 ruddy darter dragonfly female on partly eaten iris frond(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 07 Oct 2022
at 12:37 Image of day on 13 Nov 2022
50 metres away we find this female Ruddy Darter Dragonfly on the sun-warned
armrest an old bench seat.
.jpg)
Ref: 20221113_df3_20221007_1237_079 ruddy darter dragonfly female on warm arm of wooden bench(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 25 Aug 2024
at 10:20 Image of day on 11 Oct 2024
A male Ruddy Darter Dragonfly.
.jpg)
Ref: 20241011_d72_20240825_1020_273 ruddy darter dragonfly male(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 23 Aug 2024
at 12:54 Image of day on 10 Oct 2024
A male Ruddy Darter Dragonfly perched on the top of a seed head, ready to dart
out and grab some passing midge.
.jpg)
Ref: 20241010_d72_20240823_1254_178 ruddy darter dragonfly male(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 23 Aug 2019
at 12:44 Image of day on 23 Oct 2019
A male Ruddy Darter Dragonfly perched on bent over Iris leaf.
This is how they hunt - perch over the water and dash out when they see something to catch.
.jpg)
Ref: 20191023_df3_20190823_1244_444 ruddy darter dragonfly male(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 05 Aug 2019
at 13:01 Image of day on 19 Sep 2019
A few days later a male Ruddy Darter Dragonfly again shows his rich red colouration.
.jpg)
Ref: 20190919_df3_20190805_1301_013 ruddy darter dragonfly male(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 21 Aug 2018
at 15:54 Image of day on 13 Oct 2018
This mature male Ruddy Darter Dragonfly's wings are still mostly intact, but the
trailing edges are showing signs of wear - mostly likely dragged over the thorns
on a few Blackberry stems.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20181013_df3_20180821_1554_037 ruddy darter dragonfly male (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 21 Aug 2018
at 15:55 Image of day on 13 Oct 2018
This mature male Ruddy Darter Dragonfly's worn wings not as obvious here,
and you get a proper view of the body.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20181013_df3_20180821_1555_042 ruddy darter dragonfly male (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Comments and requests for image use
To make a comment, ask for information or to request a full
resolution image, send us an email including the reference or
the date for the image you are interested in.
All initial contacts should be made using the icon below:-
