Dragonflies all at sea

[dp_paul_dp]

I'm presently working on a oil platform off the coast of Norway and I have seen several dragonflies darting about the platform. My question is a) are they migrating or b) are they a species of marine dragonflies We are well away from shore around 90 miles or so.

[Dogghound]

These will be migrating. They could potentially be any species although its more common in darters and hawkers what do they look like? can you get a photo? You will probably find moths, butterflies and birds (none sea) around too.

We dont get true marine dragonflies that breed in the sea although some species of dragon and damselfly will breed in fairly saline habitats like saltmarsh or estuary.

[dp_paul_dp]

They are quite large insects and I'll try to get a photo but health and safety on board won't look to kindly at some one running about the deck jumping up and down like a mad man trying to capture a dragonfly . you even get reported out here for going up and down stairs without having one hand on the stair rail

[aeshna5]

It would be great if you could get a photo so we could identify these. Quite a few species are active migrants. As Dogghound says many darters + some hawkers are regular migrants.

There was a discovery recently of regular inter-continental migrations of Globe Skimmer, Pantala flavescens, between Africa + Asia following monsoon patterns + utilising temporary pools for breeding in their wake.