Hairy Dragonflies at Westbere

With the season well underway now, the challenge seems to be to time my outings after work when the sun is shining, easier said than done as often its lovely and sunny during the day and clouds over during the afternoons. Yesterday was just this with lovely sunny skies during work hours and slowly clouding over during the afternoon. I decided that with breaks in the cloud that I should get some activity so drove down to Westbere Lakes at 3.30pm. It wasn't long until I started seeing the first of at least 300 Variable Damselfly on the wing. There could easily be triple this number as I only checked a few well known areas. Moving on and walking along the river towards Fordwich for a few hundred yards revealed 8 Hairy Dragonflies with a pair seen mating providing me with a few camera opportunities of these superb dragonflies, surely one of my favourites.

Hairy Dragonflies (mating pair)

It was also pleasing to see 4 Scarce Chaser along the river which were my first of the year and a few photos were obtained. I shall post these in due coarse. There were also a few hundred at least of both Blue tailed and Azure Damselfly and I also saw my first 3 Banded Demoiselle's with a male providing a few shots. Despite not the greatest weather, just superb to be out and about seeing plenty of dragonflies and damselflies in good numbers and a few photo opportunities too. Only a few weeks I suspect until the Norfolk Hawkers appear at Westbere, now that I am really forward to again.

Hairy Dragonfly (female) 

Hairy Dragonfly (male)  

Hairy Dragonflies (mating pair)