Hawker for ID please

[gbvnh1]

Hi All,

Can anyone confirm if this is a Southern or Common Hawker? There were loads of them squabbling over airspace this weekend on the Stour at Bournemouth.



Thanks!

[jerryh]

Originally Posted by gbvnh1

Hi All,

Can anyone confirm if this is a Southern or Common Hawker? There were loads of them squabbling over airspace this weekend on the Stour at Bournemouth.




Thanks!

Hi gbvnh1,

Actually it's neither. This is a male Migrant Hawker - Aeshna mixta.
A female of any of the 3 species would not have any blue, and would have a wider, "chunkier" abdomen.
A male Common Hawker would have obvious bright yellow front edges to the wings (known as the costa) and on a male Southern most of the blue marks on the top of the abdomen would be apple green.

Jerry

[gbvnh1]

Jerry

Even better! Thanks!

Pete

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by jerryh

A female of any of the 3 species would not have any blue

...apart from the blue form female Common Hawkers that are regular in some populations (like parts of Scotland, where they are easily confused with Azure Hawkers)!

Both photos here do show male Migrant Hawkers though.

[jerryh]

Originally Posted by RoyW

...apart from the blue form female Common Hawkers that are regular in some populations (like parts of Scotland, where they are easily confused with Azure Hawkers)!

Both photos here do show male Migrant Hawkers though.

[Dragoner]

Seems to be a good year for Migrant Dragons - they are the dominant species at all the ponds near me