Southern Hawker emergence

Southern hawker emrging from our garden pond - August 2010. Just drying out when it poured with rain leaving the insect stranded. By morning it had dried out and I watched it take its first flight.

Vange Marshes

Trip to Vange Marshes (RSPB) site in the wilds of Essex. Takes some finding and the birds are a bit distant (probably for valid reasons). Mainly overcast but a few dragonflies on the wing and several small red-eyed damsels. A young grass snake too which is always special. Best action of the day was a spider catching and wrapping up its butterfly (gatekeeper) prey. Amazingly fast and the camera was on rapid repeat to hope to catch the action. Felt sorry for the butterfly but it clearly didn't know much about it. 2 pics; spider (Araneus quadratus ?) with prey and a flight shot of a common darter.

Migrant Hawkers - Epping Forest

I've heard of migrant hawker dragonflies swarming but never seen it until this week. 50+ were grouped together on one holly tree by the Wake Valley Pond in Epping Forest. Most were content to have their pictures taken in spite of being buzzed by brown hawkers which were airborne all the time I was there.

The collecting of a southern migrant hawker at the start of August has now run its course. Happily, reports of other insects continue to come in from the Hadleigh Park area and it appears that mating and egg laying have occurred. By the miracle of photography, we can still admire the one that got away.