In this wonderful weather the Dragonflies are flying and on Saturday Lockhart got this shot of a Ruddy Darter.
They are such a lovely blood red colour, but the classic feature is the red frons (the Latin for forehead) which Lockhart captured in this photo. This differentiates them from the more orangey Common Darter, and also the legs are black. Lockhart told me he got the shot after lunch which is to be expected as they prefer afternoons.
The nymphs like to be around the roots of Typha (bullrush or reedmace) and they are beeding here as Dean has found an exuvia at the southern Dragonfly pond. (More Latin - exuvia means something stipped from the body, so it is the last skin shed from which the adult emerges).
They used to be rather scarce but have increased over the last 20 years. On hot days they adopt the obelisk position - pointing the abdomen to the sun to stay cool.
For more information click on the link above. And to see our Dragonflies just come along and follow the Dragonfly Path - which now really lives upto its name.
Thanks to Lockhart for the photo, and Dean for the facts.
Peter