Return to moorhen home page
Return to section index
Image-of-the-Day by Subject
Dragonflies & Damselflies Page 33
Image Taken on 22 Jul 2007
at 10:31 Image of day on 15 Aug 2007
This Hawker dragonfly (about 10cm wingspan) landed in a sunny hedge
in front of us. To see an image in flight look in the archive for
20 Sep 2006.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20070815_d10_20070722_1031_049 southern hawker dragonfly immature male (web crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 09 Aug 2014
at 15:55 Image of day on 20 Oct 2014
The Southern Hawker Dragonfly making another quick turn - all this in half a second.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20141020_df2_20140809_1555_430-433 southern hawker dragonfly in flight turning & flying back 01-04 of 11 (montage @ 7fps)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 09 Aug 2014
at 15:54 Image of day on 20 Oct 2014
A somewhat atypical Southern Hawker Dragonfly that was patrolling
this pond from mostly in the shade, turning as each end of his
flight took him out into the sunshine. Except in very hot weather
(which this wasn't) dragonflies here normally stick to the sunny
patches. This first is 1 second of flight. The visual impression of
'instant' change of direction reflects the reality!
(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20141020_df2_20140809_1554_382-386+388-390 southern hawker dragonfly in flight turning & flying back 1-5+7-9 of 9 (approx montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 23 Aug 2011
at 15:59 Image of day on 05 Oct 2011
We watched entranced (and wet) for several minutes as the Southern Hawker
Dragonfly placed eggs in various spots.
Here you get a good view of her egg laying equipment.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20111005_df1_20110823_1559_070 southern hawker dragonfly laying eggs on wet rotten wood by pond side (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 23 Aug 2011
at 15:59 Image of day on 05 Oct 2011
Here is a Southern Hawker Dragonfly laying eggs on a sodden branch
left by the edge of the main pond for a couple of years.
If you want wildlife, untidiness can be a virtue! We noticed
the insects unusual behaviour through the window and stampeded
out into the drizzle to see these few minutes for a first time.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20111005_df1_20110823_1559_060+062 southern hawker dragonfly laying eggs on wet rotten wood by pond side (montage for focus)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 05 Aug 2026
at 10:37 Image of day on 01 Oct 2026
Southern Hawker Dragonflies are a colourful addition to the fauna ...
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20261001_r5w_20260805_1037_058 southern hawker dragonfly male (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 28 Jun 2025
at 12:49 Image of day on 16 Aug 2025
At last this male Southern Hawker Dragonfly stops where we can see him land.
.jpg)
Ref: 20250816_d72_20250628_1249_085 southern hawker dragonfly male(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 28 Jun 2025
at 12:50 Image of day on 16 Aug 2025
.jpg)
Ref: 20250816_d72_20250628_1250_096 southern hawker dragonfly male(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 08 Sep 2020
at 17:42 Image of day on 20 Oct 2020
The Southern Hawker is the second-most populous Hawker Dragonfly here.
.jpg)
Ref: 20201020_d73_20200908_1742_050 southern hawker dragonfly male(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 18 Sep 2016
at 14:26 Image of day on 06 Nov 2016
In a patch of sunshine on a cool day this lovely Dragonfly was on the wing for
long enough for us to see him land. He is in remarkably good condition for this
late in the summer - normally the wing edges will have been torn on a few thorns
by now.
.jpg)
Ref: 20161106_df3_20160918_1426_096 southern hawker dragonfly male(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 20 Aug 2008
at 15:15 Image of day on 05 Sep 2008
A new dragonfly this week - a male Southern Hawker. Quite a
beauty and a strong flyer. Windy out, so no hope of photo in a
natural setting, so took some indoors before letting him go.
.jpg)
Ref: 20080905_p34_20080820_1515_350 southern hawker dragonfly male(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 23 Jul 2022
at 12:52 Image of day on 07 Sep 2022
The Southern Hawker Dragonfly appears most years, and here is
the first one we have spotted hanging on a blackberry stem up in a sunny hedge.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20220907_df3_20220723_1252_191 southern hawker dragonfly male (1st of 2022)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 25 Aug 2013
at 12:37 Image of day on 15 Oct 2013
This Southern Hawker Dragonfly seems to be gliding on the rear wings while
flapping the front pair.
This image is the top right image in the following montage.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20131015_a77_20130825_1237_347 southern hawker dragonfly male 90 degree turn in flight 1 of 4 (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 25 Aug 2013
at 12:37 Image of day on 15 Oct 2013
This was an unusual moment to photograph - the legs are down even
though it had flown non-stop for at least several seconds. At 4 fps the
insect was flying towards the camera and made a right angled turn
with little forward motion (all in 250mS) and then accelerated to the left.
Do the legs change the aerodynamics to improve the turn?
Had it spotted something to eat? Dragonflies sometimes predate small butterflies, catching
them in flight.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20131015_a77_20130825_1237_347-350 southern hawker dragonfly male 90 degree turn in flight 1-4 of 4 (4 fps montage lower 3 accurate)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 20 Aug 2008
at 15:21 Image of day on 05 Sep 2008
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20080905_da1_20080820_1521_020 southern hawker dragonfly male eye detail (web crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 10 Aug 2023
at 15:15 Image of day on 03 Oct 2023
This male Southern Hawker was dashing around over the (rather low) surface
of the main pond. Here is just over a second of flight, including a pause for
4 frames (at top right - only one shown) before dashing off in the reverse direction.
The rightmost image shows his blurred head turning in preparation for the banking.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20231003_df3_20230810_1515_025-033 southern hawker dragonfly male flies low hovers & swerves @7fps 1+2+4+7-9 of 9 (approx montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 10 Aug 2023
at 15:15 Image of day on 03 Oct 2023
Another moment during the 4 frame hover (not included in the montage).
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20231003_df3_20230810_1515_030 southern hawker dragonfly male flying low over main pond and swerving 6 of 9 (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 12 Aug 2016
at 13:54 Image of day on 01 Oct 2016
Lower left is a male Common Darter Dragonfly watching over 'his' pond from a
convenient perch. Top right a male Southern Hawker Dragonfly patrolling his patch
in his own manner - endless flight over and around the pond. He kept flying close
to the Darter, who occasionally reacted but returned each time to his perch.
You don't often see Darters and Hawkers in the same image - these are the same
distance from the camera so you can compare sizes.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20161001_df3_20160812_1354_056-058 southern hawker dragonfly male flying past common darter dragonfly male on perch 1-3 of 3 (accurate montage @ 7fps)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 11 Aug 2014
at 14:46 Image of day on 20 Oct 2014
This Southern Hawker Dragonfly landed in a hedge close
to us where we grabbed this image before it flew on.
.jpg)
Ref: 20141020_df2_20140811_1446_004 southern hawker dragonfly male hanging from hawthorn(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 06 Aug 2009
at 11:43 Image of day on 14 Sep 2009
We generally put our 'guests' on a hawthorn hedge to fly off in their own time
and if they don't go immediately we take a few portraits.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20090914_db1_20090806_1143_046 southern hawker dragonfly male head on view of face (web crop)(r+mb id@576).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:-
