Female Common Darter Dragonfly

[Ian-Highlander]

Our garden seems to have suddenly attracted quite a few dragonflies over the last day or so. Spent a fairly pointless hour or so this evening trying to catch one in flight as it chased round the garden over and over again (none of those shots came out particularly well). However just as I gave up and started taking some pics of butterflies, this little one landed on one of the bushes, very small compared to the other ones that were flying around but really obligingly sat there for quite some time while I took a couple of hundred shots with various lenses :LOL:

First time I've ever got up close to a dragonfly let alone been able to take pics of one so quite pleased at that at least.

Crit very welcome.

Immature Female Common Darter Dragonfly
by Ian-Highlander, on Flickr

Immature Female Common Darter Dragonfly
by Ian-Highlander, on Flickr

[Daywalker]

Nice pic heres one i took

[ScotsDragon]

Great pics, Nice work....

[paulvectrac]

Both piks are mint

[ditchp]

2nd pic he looks like he's even smiling for you lol, 3 good pics there..

[Ben50n]

They dont have make a racket when they fly. Great pics lads.

[JagRigger]

First one isn't a he at all - she's a Black Tailed Skimmer

[Ian-Highlander]

First one isn't a he at all - she's a Black Tailed Skimmer

Thanks, just looked that up and looks like you're right, female black tailed skimmer

[davedrinks]

very nice as always mate

[Ian-Highlander]

First one isn't a he at all - she's a Black Tailed Skimmer

It's an immature female Common Darter apparently, they look quite similar but there are big differences in the tail markings. (not that I knew until someone else more knowledgable on dragonflies pointed it out on a photography forum I frequent ).