GALLERY
Category: DRAGONFLIES
♂ Common hawker (Aeshna juncea)
Where and when encountered: Rothiemurchus Estate on 13 September 2022
About: Common hawkers breed in acidic standing waters. Their Great British distribution is largely restricted to the uplands.
Date range for adult records: 28 August to 13 September
♀ Northern damselfly (Coenagrion hastulatum)
Where and when encountered: Abernethy Forest on 12 June 2022
About: Northern damselflies have an extremely restricted distribution in Great Britain, being known only from a small number of lochans in the centre and east of north Scotland.
Editor's note: The individual in the photograph is a newly emerged female adult, and she has not yet developed the bright green undersides to her eyes that are a characteristic of her species.
Date range for adult records: 1 June to 7 July
♂ Northern damselfly (Coenagrion hastulatum)
Where and when encountered: Nethy Bridge on 29 June 2022
About: Northern damselflies have an extremely restricted distribution in Great Britain, being known only from a small number of lochans in the centre and east of north Scotland.
Date range for adult records: 1 June to 7 July
♀ Golden-ringed dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii)
Where and when encountered: Sluggan (Carrbridge) on 8 July 2022
About: Golden-ringed dragonflies are widespread in the west of Great Britain but more locally distributed in the east. They generally favour acidic running waters for breeding, seeking out, in particular, calmer stretches where a sandy, silty, or peaty sediment offers protection for their larvae.
Date range for adult records: 28 May to 8 July
♂ Golden-ringed dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii)
Where and when encountered: Milton Loch on 22 June 2024
About: Golden-ringed dragonflies are widespread in the west of Great Britain but more locally distributed in the east. They generally favour acidic running waters for breeding, seeking out, in particular, calmer stretches where a sandy, silty, or peaty sediment offers protection for their larvae.
Date range for adult records: 28 May to 8 July
♀♂ Common blue damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum)
Where and when encountered: Boat of Garten on 27 August 2021
About: Common blue damselflies are more common and more widely distributed than any other species of damselfly or dragonfly in Great Britain. Being content with either still or flowing water, they breed in a broad range of aquatic habitats and only really shun small ponds.
Editor's note: Eggs are laid in shallow water while the male and female are 'in tandem' (as in the photograph).
Date range for adult records: 14 May to 4 September
♀ Common blue damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum)
Where and when encountered: Craigellachie NNR on 23 May 2025
About: Common blue damselflies are more common and more widely distributed than any other species of damselfly or dragonfly in Great Britain. Being content with either still or flowing water, they breed in a broad range of aquatic habitats and only really shun small ponds.
Date range for adult records: 14 May to 4 September
♂ Common blue damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum)
Where and when encountered: Craigellachie NNR on 23 May 2025
About: Common blue damselflies are more common and more widely distributed than any other species of damselfly or dragonfly in Great Britain. Being content with either still or flowing water, they breed in a broad range of aquatic habitats and only really shun small ponds.
Date range for adult records: 14 May to 4 September
♀ Blue-tailed damselfly (Ischnura elegans)
Where and when encountered: Craigellachie NNR on 23 May 2025
About: Blue-tailed damselflies can be found from the far north to the far south of Great Britain. They breed in a broad range of aquatic habitats, including brackish and polluted water.
Date range for adult records: 23 May to 24 June
♂ Blue-tailed damselfly (Ischnura elegans)
Where and when encountered: Craigellachie NNR on 23 May 2025
About: Blue-tailed damselflies can be found from the far north to the far south of Great Britain. They breed in a broad range of aquatic habitats, including brackish and polluted water.
Date range for adult records: 23 May to 24 June
♀♂ Emerald damselfly (Lestes sponsa)
Where and when encountered: Nethy Bridge on 30 August 2024
About: Damselflies in the species Lestes sponsa breed in shallow, well-vegetated water bodies in both the uplands and the lowlands of Great Britain. Several other species of emerald damselfly occur in Great Britain, but they, for now at least, are restricted to the south. All of these species have a habit that is characteristic among Great Britain's damselflies of resting with their wings well-spread.
Date range for adult records: 16 to 30 August
♂ Emerald damselfly (Lestes sponsa)
Where and when encountered: Boat of Garten on 27 August 2021
About: Damselflies in the species Lestes sponsa breed in shallow, well-vegetated water bodies in both the uplands and the lowlands of Great Britain. Several other species of emerald damselfly occur in Great Britain, but they, for now at least, are restricted to the south. All of these species have a habit that is characteristic among Great Britain's damselflies of resting with their wings well-spread.
Date range for adult records: 16 to 30 August
♂ White-faced darter (Leucorrhinia dubia)
Where and when encountered: Abernethy Forest on 13 June 2025
About: White-faced darters breed in nutrient-poor, fish-free, acidic bog pools that have rafts of Sphagnum moss at their edges. Nearby scrub or woodland – providing a site for roosting and feeding – is also important for these dragonflies. The species has declined significantly in England in recent decades but is still faring reasonably well in the Scottish Highlands.
Date range for adult records: 8 to 13 June
♂ Four-spotted chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata)
Where and when encountered: Rothiemurchus Estate on 19 May 2025
About: Four-spotted chasers can be found in most parts of Great Britain. Acidic heathland pools are a preferred habitat, but they breed in a wide range of other water bodies.
Date range for adult records: 12 May to 27 June
♀♂ Large red damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula)
Where and when encountered: Rothiemurchus Estate on 20 May 2024
About: Large red damselflies emerge earlier in the spring than any other species of damselfly or dragonfly in Great Britain. Being able to breed in a broad range of aquatic habitats, avoiding only fast-flowing water, they are common and widespread.
Date range for adult records: 24 April to 27 June
♀ Large red damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula)
Where and when encountered: Abernethy Forest on 16 May 2025
About: Large red damselflies emerge earlier in the spring than any other species of damselfly or dragonfly in Great Britain. Being able to breed in a broad range of aquatic habitats, avoiding only fast-flowing water, they are common and widespread.
Date range for adult records: 24 April to 27 June
♂ Large red damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula)
Where and when encountered: Abernethy Forest on 12 June 2022
About: Large red damselflies emerge earlier in the spring than any other species of damselfly or dragonfly in Great Britain. Being able to breed in a broad range of aquatic habitats, avoiding only fast-flowing water, they are common and widespread.
Date range for adult records: 24 April to 27 June
♀♂ Black darter (Sympetrum danae)
Where and when encountered: Abernethy Forest on 16 August 2021
About: Black darters are Great Britain's smallest dragonflies. They have a restricted distribution in the lowlands but are widespread across the uplands. They peak in abundance during late summer.
Editor's note: Mature males (right) are mainly black in colour, while females (left) are mostly yellow along their upper abdomens.
Date range for adult records: 16 August to 13 September
♀ Black darter (Sympetrum danae)
Where and when encountered: Nethy Bridge on 30 August 2024
About: Black darters are Great Britain's smallest dragonflies. They have a restricted distribution in the lowlands but are widespread across the uplands. They peak in abundance during late summer.
Date range for adult records: 16 August to 13 September
♂ Black darter (Sympetrum danae)
Where and when encountered: Nethy Bridge on 27 August 2022
About: Black darters are Great Britain's smallest dragonflies. They have a restricted distribution in the lowlands but are widespread across the uplands. They peak in abundance during late summer.
Editor's note: Mature males (like the individual photographed) are mainly black in colour, while females are mostly yellow along their upper abdomens.
Date range for adult records: 16 August to 13 September
♀ Common darter (Sympetrum striolatum)
Where and when encountered: Glenmore Forest Park on 28 July 2023
About: Common darters breed in ponds and other still waters. They are widespread in Great Britain although generally less abundant in the uplands.
Date range for adult records: 28 July to 13 September
♂ Common darter (Sympetrum striolatum)
Where and when encountered: Rothiemurchus Estate on 13 September 2022
About: Common darters breed in ponds and other still waters. They are widespread in Great Britain although generally less abundant in the uplands.
Date range for adult records: 28 July to 13 September
Selected galleries
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