It came in the wide open door and crashed around at the window, then it thought it was stuck (the window was just open a fraction) and stayed still for me to take a photo.
It went in a hurry when I opened the window fully.
They really are strange creatures. Years ago when I worked in Stowmarket old library we used to get them coming in all the time in summer. The library was surrounded by trees, cool and shaded in summer. Sometimes people in the library were terrified, no idea why as they aren't dangerous all we could do was to open all the windows and hope the dragonflies would find their way out.
Did you know there are around 3,000 species, most live in tropical regions with 36 species in the UK. Such an ancient creature that their ancestors were around even earlier than the dinosaurs. Some are incredibly colourful - all that beauty for a lifespan of 7 - 56 days.
I think this one is quite common - Ophiogomphus cecilia or green snake-tail (once I started looking at all the dragonfly pictures on different websites, things got very confusing). If I've identified correctly it says the species is viable and stable - there is no concern for population decrease. Although apparently in the last 60 years two other species have vanished from the UK.
More Info HERE on one of the many websites I looked at.
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My favourite is the beautiful demoiselle, quite small but such a beautiful blue.
ReplyDeleteThey are my favourite too.
DeleteI had a similar one in the garden here in the week. I have a BIG pond, which is an attraction for them.
ReplyDeleteWe've occasionally had a large dragonfly in the garden, doing a grid like search pattern from side to side across the grass. When it perches on a bush, the wings seem to disappear against the leaves.
ReplyDeleteSo utterly beautiful
ReplyDeleteA large hawker flew into our sitting room a few days ago. It's unusual for that to happen. It soon flew out again.
ReplyDeleteI love dragonflies, and we have many species where I live. They're great for keeping down mosquitoes, of which we also have many.
ReplyDeleteSuch interesting creatures
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
They are beautiful, but I have to admit to being very wary of them flying in my direction. We get a lot of them along the towpath, but luckily they don't seem to fly towards our house.
ReplyDeleteI also love the blue demoiselle and just looking it up it is a damselfly. They are very pretty when flying over the river but too fast to catch with the camera.
ReplyDeleteI love those delicate wings.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Love your new header!
DeleteAwwwww....I love dragonflies. I'm glad yours lived to see another day. Dragonflies are a very popular subject for tattoos. Love, Andrea xoxo
ReplyDeleteDragonflies and damselflies (I don't really know the difference) are just beautiful. I like your new sky header pic.
ReplyDeleteDifferent sub species. Damselflies are much smaller and close their wings when not flying.
DeleteOur dragonflies seem to be yellow instead of green. I do not remember the last time I saw a dragonfly. They have a short lifespan and that surprised me.
ReplyDeleteThank you everyone for comments.
ReplyDeleteThe new header was one early morning last week with those interesting clouds - taken from my patio doors at the back of the bungalow.
Coincidence….had to capture a dragon fly that had flown into the kitchen this morning.
ReplyDeleteScreens! Here some are quite large, big as palm of your hand? I love them outside but wouldn't want one in my house.
ReplyDeleteDid you know dragonflies migrate? At least the ones here in the US do---to perhaps Mexico. We get swarms of them late August and September. I believe scientists track the paths, attaching miniature sensors, tho maybe that is an urban myth.
ReplyDeleteOurs in our yard are mostly orange but we have seen ones with different hues of blue - even lavender. I find them personable and curious. We co- habitat nicely. They like to drink from the pond or the hummingbird feeders. Too bad they live such short lived but to them, it’s full.
ReplyDeleteI really like seeing all the different dragonflies in our yard. Some are very large and some quite tiny. I have found if I sit very still they will land on my legs or arm.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Beautiful dragonfly!!
ReplyDeleteI pictured this:
the library in the trees, I imagine it's wonderful!!
Lovely! You need to send some our way as I’ve only seen one in the garden just lately… it was a huge one! It flew into the greenhouse and exited too quickly for me to take a photo.
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm glad you let it outside. Dragonflies are our friends! I think some people are scared of them because of the unfortunate name. (And they can be quite large!)
ReplyDeleteThat is a lovely shot of the dragonfly. Isn't it beautiful. My father-in-law was scared of them because he thought they would sting. I think it was a throwback from his time spent in Burma during the war.
ReplyDeleteAngie