A selection of great photos!

J.Almond has sent in some lovely photos of his sightings reported recently on the blog.

A female Golden-ringed Dragonfly Cordulegaster boltonii ovipositing on Catherton Common. This species has a fairly distinctive ovipositing motion, almost appearing to be bouncing up and down on a pogo stick whilst placing eggs into the substrate.

A male Keeled Skimmer Orthetrum coerulescens clearly showing the distinctive dorsal keel running down the abdomen.

And a male Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura pumilio seen on Titterstone Clee Hill. In this rare species the blue tail is close to the end of the abdomen primarily on segment 9. In the common and widespread Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans the blue tail is higher up the abdomen on segment 8.

 

D. Swaby has also sent in a fantastic shot of a female Blue-tailed Damselfly having a bite to eat. Strictly speaking this photo was taken just over the border in Cheshire, but it was so good I thought I'd include it!  The female in this photo is an immature form called form rufescens with distinctive orange pink sides to the thorax. As this individual matures the thorax will become pale brown.