Southern Hawker Dragonfly newly emerged at Old Lodge, nature reserve, Ashdown forest, yesterday

 There is something hanging from the bracing strut under the bridge.

 It looks like a newly emerged Southern Hawker Dragonfly, Aeshna cyanea

Southern Hawker Dragonfly, Aeshna cyanea

Southern Hawker Dragonfly, Aeshna cyanea

This was at 13.00hr.

 I went back later at 15.00hr to see how it was getting on.

I had to kneel on the bridge and hold my camera over the water without dropping it.
It was quite dark and the shutter speed was too slow for a sharp image on close-up macro mode.  A flash was used to get these shots.

All photo's are copyright Peter Lovett.

Click the pictures to enlarge them.

Click here for details of my illustrated talk on these fascinating insects.