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Aeshna grandis
This hawker is nearly as large as the emperor at 73mm in length. Easily identifiable by its golden brown wings and blue 'waist' markings. These are very rarely still, even eating their prey on the wing. They are very territorial and defend their hunting ground (pond) aggressively. Adults are on the wing from June to September.
seen at Old Moor nature reserves ponds, in the Dearne valley. This site is owned by the RSPB.
Only stopped once in twenty five minutes on the other side of the pond on a beech hedge rather than a stick (which dragonflies tend to favour) .
3 Comments
would you please consider adding this spotting to The U.K Arthropod Survey as it would be a interesting contribution.Thanks!
http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/4649...
Thanks Pedro, it is from the same genus, we also get migrant and common hawkers but I have yet to find those! This one stopped literally for a second right across the other side of the pond so was at the end of my lens range and not quite perfect but still identifiable :-)
Wow, what a stunning dragonfly. It's from the same genus as my Green-eyed Hawker but I dare to say it's more beautiful!