Went for a walk in the gravel pits next to my house, managed to get a quick picture of this awesome insect. Theyre really impressive close up.



Comments gladly received.
Cheers, Tom.

excellent work
i have not seen any dragonflys yet

hi tomw
liking the photo, not seen any emperors for a couple of years, but we have southern hawkers at work which are an impressive insect aswell as broad-bodied chasers, large red damselflies, beautifull and banded damoisselles, common blue and bluetailed damselflies and common coenagrion, but haven't managed to get the little critters to stay still long enough to get good photo's. They are excellent indicators of water quality as most dragonflies tollerate very little pollution, the nymphs are easy to find by taking a kick sample from a shallow gravel bottom streams and rivers.

Well this water must be pretty healthy then as there were many different types flying around, im not the best at id'ing them though, so i need them to sit still like this one did ive got another damselfly pic from that day, ill upload it in a minute

Here is the other one I saw that day, I havent had chance to look this one up yet, anyone know what it is?



p.s. Thanks for the comments too

hi tom
looks like a beautifull damaoiselle but not entirely sure as the wings are a little darker on them, but that may be down to the light, definately a damselfly as wings are folded back over the body.

Looking at the pictures I think you are right on that one, cheers

Excellent photos Tom..
I've never seen any in shetland, I don't think they venture as far north.. we are at 61' north..

I guess thats one thing we have on the shetlands, although no offence to dragonflies but id rather watch otters

might have to venture there one day, it looks amazing from your photos

Very nice pictures Tom.I love dragonflies find them fasicinating, though i think it has something to do with the fact that i hardly see them lol.

This post was last modified: 05-07-2009 02:57 PM by Carl.

sorry to butt in ,heres a azure damselfy i took last week.

This post was last modified: 05-07-2009 05:01 PM by jonahs.

Here is the other one I saw that day, I havent had chance to look this one up yet, anyone know what it is?



p.s. Thanks for the comments too

Looks like a female beautiful demoiselle (please note correct spelling) to me

Thanks for that, might have to get some extension tubes to get a bit closer next time

Lovely clear images Tom and Jonas......great to see!

That's a cracker!