Dameselfly ID, Essex UK (1 Viewer)

[djw0208]

Hi, Could I get an ID please. I don't think it is Common Blue as the black bands are too large. Variable Damselfly looked similar, but I understand it is quite rare, so am not convinced. Many Thanks.

 

[pdwinter]

It could be a blue form female Azure (e.g. see attached pic)
Variable Damselfly usually has a bar between the post-ocular spots - which I can't see in your pic - and Azure usually doesn't (in the UK).
Variable can be quite numerous where they occur - Where was the pic taken ?

 

[creaturesnapper]

I agree with female Azure .

 

[Swindon Addick]

It's a blue-form female of one of the Coenagrion species. Doing females to species can be a bit tricky. It's very blue, which is often a good sign for Variable rather than Azure. But Variable is only at a relatively few sites in Essex. Best I can suggest is have a look at the distribution map on the BDS page for variable, see it your site is one of the ones with records of Variable. If so, I think that's likely to be what it is. If not, Azure is so massively more common that an unusually-blue Azure will be more likely than a Variable.

Species Map - British Dragonfly Society

british-dragonflies.org.uk

 

[djw0208]

Thanks to you all for your responses. I actually saw it at Fobbing, quite close to Corringham. Looking at the map at the link above (also see screenshot), it does look like there is a patch of Variable close by at Wat Tyler, but am also happy to accept the consensus that it is Azure,