Dragonflies 11-6-10

Dragonflies or the lack of ,should really be the title, Friday had some long sunny spells so i went in the search of Dragonflies.One pond had a large amount of Azures/Common Blue in the process of oviposition, flying in tandem so that the male can guard the female from other males, this was in a sheltered part of the pool, a few Large Red Damsels and a few Blue-Tailed , I gave it about an hour just to make sure I had not missed anything. The next pond had more Large Reds, but nothing was very active the pool being exposed to the cool wind again gave it an hour but no sign of any Dragonflies .Two Damselfly Exuvia, (Exuviae plural) left behind after they have emerged .
Large red damselfly
Azure Damsels ovipositing into Lily Pads
Large Reds in tandem
Azures in tandem and some actual Sunshine !!!!!!!!!!!!

More Dragonflies 30-06-09

This is 2" long , wing cases on the top & the jaw that shoots out is just below the eyes,with the exit hole just before the wings

Another run around the ponds looking for Dragonflies found 6 Emperors, 3 Four Spot Chasers, and only one Common Darter , 8 Painted ladies,3 Red Admirals, numerous Ringlets and Meadow Browns, I found a few Exuviae, the case left behind when Dragonflies emerge from their larval stage ,one which I think is from an Emperor was too far out, but having stepped in "something " earlier I decided to wade in and get it new trainers or not Ringlet more and more every day

Ruddy Darter

Female Emperor egg laying , I have seen this many times the eggs are not visible in these shots , they look like small yellow flat discs. Here being mobbed they kept grabbing at the wings from behind

Coming in from behind to grab the wing

I found this case, fairly sure its from a flown Emperor

This is another from a Damselfly possibly, difficult to get a size as they are always out of reach

Four Spot Chaser

Another Four Spot Chaser