Darters in Hunstanton, Norfolk (1 Viewer)

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i321587

Well-known member

• Aug 27, 2015

• #1

Hi

I've only recently started taking an interest in dragonflies so would appreciate help identifying this pair. I can't decide whether they are red veined darters or common darters with the pink hydrangea bush giving the impression of red veins. Thoughts and reasons why would be appreciated.

Thanks

Tony

 

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A

aeshna5

Well-known member

• Aug 27, 2015

• #2

Pair of Common Darters.

 

Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• Aug 27, 2015

• #3

One of the separating features for Red-veined is that the lower half of the eyes is white, you can see on yours that they're yellowy green.


Andy

 

A

aeshna5

Well-known member

• Aug 28, 2015

• #4

andyadcock said:

One of the separating features for Red-veined is that the lower half of the eyes is white, you can see on yours that they're yellowy green.


Andy

Click to expand...

Lower half of eyes usually bluish on RVD in my experience.

 

ApusApus

Well-known member

• Aug 28, 2015

• #5

aeshna5 said:

Pair of Common Darters.

Click to expand...

Agree, in #2 you can see the yellow stripes on the black legs, the lower eye is yellowish green which on a Red-veined Darter is actually blue or blue-grey and there is no yellow patch at the base of the hindwings as there would be on RvD.


Shane

 

Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• Aug 28, 2015

• #6

aeshna5 said:

Lower half of eyes usually bluish on RVD in my experience.

Click to expand...

Sorry aeshna, confusing the feature, bluish rather than yellow green. Don't know why I had white in my brain, should have checked pics and notes before posting!

We had a detailed discussion about this when we found one during an irruption which got in to Belarus for the first time this year, what am I confusing it with?


Andy

 

Last edited: Aug 28, 2015

Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• Aug 28, 2015

• #7

Sorry aeshna,
getting the colours mixed up, knew it was a feature and should have checked pics and notes before posting in haste.

We had a discussion about RvD in Belarus where we found it after an irruption where the species reached the Country for the first time.

Sorry for misleading, Andy

 

Last edited: Aug 28, 2015

I

i321587

Well-known member

• Aug 28, 2015

• #8

Thanks to you all for ID and finer points which will help me in the future.

Tony