David Element's Wildlife Web Page Dragonflies and Damselflies 47

David Element

Wildlife Photography and Digital Video Images

____________________________________________________Dragonflies and Damselflies 47 – Brown Hawkers

BROWN HAWKER DRAGONFLY Aeshna grandis (f)

· Male Brown Hawker Dragonflies Aeshna grandis are notoriously difficult subjects to photograph in the experience of the photographer, probably more so than any other dragonfly. When in flight they will patrol for long periods without taking any breaks and hovering only rarely – so if you see a good-quality in-flight photograph then it will have been well earned. If they do stop flying they will roost high up in trees where they cannot easily be spotted and they are also much more easily disturbed if approached than other dragonflies. It has therefore been necessary to take the ‘soft option’ by concentrating on photographing ovipositing females as these must come down to water to lay their eggs. This they will usually do in well-vegetated areas close to the margins of the water-bodies so although it may be possible to approach them much more closely this means that the majority of photographs will turn out to be ‘behavioural’, illustrating these insects in their natural habitat doing things but not always giving unobstructed views. This is what you will be likely to see if you watch them.

· David’s short film of Brown Hawker oviposition may be seen at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v72KZ7RkmlQ&list=PL4AirIEc0NofX43b8X-UMfsrsUry8PzwD&index=3&t=0s.

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