Dragonfly in Scotland? Never seen this before...

[Amoeba]

Yesterday I spotted two dragonflies. Normally I'd see damselflies but never before have I seen dragonflies. They were quite probably the biggest insects I've ever seen in Scotland. I'd say about two and a half inches in length with a three inch wingspan, and they were dark in colour with flashes of orange. They were probably orange all over but I'm not sure. Their mid-section was large and bulky with a very thin, long abdomen. They were found on an open wasteland that is frequently waterlogged.

Anybody have any idea as to what type it might have been? Sorry I have no pics, I didn't have a camera and if I did I doubt I'd have got a decent picture anyway. They were so quick I barely had a chance to see them.

[earthdragon64]

Have you had a look in the Gallery for Dragonfly pictures, you may see a picture of them there. Alternatively have a look at the species list on the British Dragonfly Society website.

[Dogghound]

Possibly a species of Hawker? or Golden ringed dragonfly. Not sure about the orange colour though.

[earthdragon64]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Possibly a species of Hawker? or Golden ringed dragonfly. Not sure about the orange colour though.

Yes, the orange threw me a bit, I suppose a Common Darter could look a bit orangey in the right light. As could the yellow of a fresh Black Darter.

[Dogghound]

I ruled darters out in respect to the size 2.5 inches. Will be interesting to find out.

[Amoeba]

Thanks for the suggestions. I tried using the British Dragonfly Society website and found only a couple it could possibly have been, but there are aspects that make me question whether it was these or not.

It is unlikely to be a brown hawker because they're absent from Scotland, though colour and size would be close (maybe a bit bigger, but only by millimetres).

Vagrant emperor is another suspect, but again it's not found in Scotland.

Then there are a few darters such as common darter, highland darter and red-veined darter but these are all too small.

I guess this will have to remain a mystery. Ah well, I'm just glad I got to see them at all. Dragonflies really are a rarity.

[earthdragon64]

I wouldn't rule anything out by size alone. Size is one of those things that can be very difficult to judge accurately.

[Amoeba]

Originally Posted by earthdragon64

I wouldn't rule anything out by size alone. Size is one of those things that can be very difficult to judge accurately.

I understand that, but I was judging by the coke can one of them landed on. Its body length was about two thirds the coke can length. I assume that's roughly two and a half inches, though I don't have a soft-drink can at home to measure by so if anyone else has a can handy maybe they could correct me.

[earthdragon64]

Originally Posted by Amoeba

I understand that, but I was judging by the coke can one of them landed on. Its body length was about two thirds the coke can length. I assume that's roughly two and a half inches, though I don't have a soft-drink can at home to measure by so if anyone else has a can handy maybe they could correct me.

Sorry, I don't drink soft drinks, only wine........and Whisky.

[Dogghound]

Nor judge general location, species like dragonflies can quickly colonize new areas they are strong in flight and can travel large distances. Insects are often affected by the wind and can turn up where you least expect them. Brown hawker, BUT its best to think of the obvious first. Can you think of anything else? Where in Scotland did you see them? The habitat actually doesnt sound bad for Brown hawker but as has been said they are rare in Scotland although not absent.