Downy Emerald...?

[Tom]

Hello All

Our first decent bit of warmth and sunshine for ages....

Had a lovely morning walk along the River Rother near Robertsbridge in East Sussex

Many Common Blue, Blue Tailed & Large Red plus a handful of White Legged Damselflies - also several Beautiful Demoiselles and one Banded Demoiselles... Saw my first ever Four Spotted Chaser and what I'm presuming to be Downy Emeralds...

Medium sized, noticeable angle between body and abdomen, fast, low down flying not stopping... the only one I could close to was a presumed female egg laying in a little section of reeds (see pictures)

There must have been approx 5 low down flying plus 2 x pairs in tandem. I also saw one perched on a willow tree but too far to get a photo

Would appreciate comments.... Many Thanks Tom

[harasseddad]

I must confess if I'd seen that in norfolk I'd have gone Norfolk Hawker just on the eye colour. However, given where you are I think you're right on Downy. I assume when you mention egg laying that the female was just dipping her abdomen into the water rather than landing and ovipositing? I have never seen downy but the guides seem to match your description and photos, and I certainly can't think what else it could be -it isn't norfolk or brown hawker and there isn't any other brown bodied dragonfly of that size. I'm surprised it didn't look greener though.