Dragonfly for ID

[Anzu]

Hiya,

I found this guy clutching to grass in some strong wind, he? was found in Norfolk. I had to crop the photo all the way like that because of the annoying file size limit.

I'm not good with dragonflies so could someone ID him for me?



Thank you!

[timmypreston]

I think its a Broad Bodied Chaser (Male)

[Anzu]

I had a look at the broad bodied chasers but they seem to be flatter and fatter? I read they are meant to have yellow spots or something down the sides of the abdomen too which mine doesn't have.

Here's a side shot.



I also can't find any broad bodied chaser photos with blue eyes,

Thanks.

[Wild-Woman]

Black-tailed Skimmer methinks.

[GuyF]

This is a male Scarce Chaser, nice find!
Guy

[Anzu]

Thank you for the replies!

I looked at some black-tailed skimmer photos but they all appear to have completely clear wings which this guy doesn't have.

The scarce chaser looks good, I found lots of photos of ones with blue-grey eyes like this, and a few threads where they got mixed up with broad-bodied chasers.

Cool, how scarce is scarce?

[Wild-Woman]

That'll teach me to blow up the image!
They are Red Data List species and very localised. So yes- A very nice find!

[GuyF]

Originally Posted by Anzu

Cool, how scarce is scarce?

They're not particularly scarce nowadays, although they are mainly restricted to rivers in the southern half of Britain. Certainly scarcer than the Four-spotted or Broad-bodied Chaser though and always a nice one to come across
Guy

[Anzu]

Lovely,

I enjoyed taking lots of pictures of this chap, some interacting with a Cantharis species of beetle. I tried posting them up but the filesize is too big and I don't want to crop.

Thank you guys

[david156]

Scarce Chaser is one i've yet to see in Norfolk. I've been to a couple of 'reliable' sites this year but no joy so far. Any chance you could PM the location to me,

Cheers David