ARDTORNISH GARDENS

Some dragonflies to be seen

in and around the garden

I am a complete beginner at identifying and photographing dragonflies but they are fairly common here at certain times of the year. Dragonflies can fly very fast and their keen eyesight makes it difficult to get close if they don't want you to.

Common HawkerGolden Ring DragonflyHighland DarterGolden Ring DragonflyCommon DarterCommon Hawker

Left to right and top to bottom are (I think):-

  1. Common Hawker.
  2. Gold Ring.
  3. Keeled skimmer- this is the female.
  4. Mating Gold Rings which fly united for ages before alighting on a suitable resting place.
  5. Highland Darter male, a species more likely to be seen in the north.
  6. Common Hawker on Geranium "Golden Crest".

Photos and text by Ian Lamb.