dragonflies, Thursley, UK (1 Viewer)

I am totally ignorant re dragonflies but keen to start learning. I took these shots on Thursley Common, Surrey on Saturday 8 June. Pictures 2 and 3 are the same individual and the Damselfly was bluer in real life. Any help gratefully received

First 4 all appear to be Four-spotted Chaser, damsel is Common Blue Damselfly.

Thank you Barry. A couple of people nearby at the time were talking about Broad-bodied Chaser for number 2/3. Could it be?

glyn said:

Thank you Barry. A couple of people nearby at the time were talking about Broad-bodied Chaser for number 2/3. Could it be?

Click to expand...

for me, the dark spot half way along the leading edge of the forewing, and the lack of antehumeral stripes (on the thorax) fits Four-spotted Chaser better.

Definitely four-spotted. Once you've got your eye in, the shapes are very distinctive, but the easiest thing to look for is the black mark on the wings. As long as you've got a decent photo, look for small black marks half way along the front of the wings (four-spotted) or much larger ones next to the body (broad-bodied).

My photo is a male broad-bodied, which is a different colour. A female or an immature would be more of a yellow-brown, like a four-spotted, but the wings are still a giveaway.