November Dragonfly i.d.?

[Words]

I've never seen a dragonfly this late in the year, so am flummoxed as to what it is. I found it struggling to get out of our garden pond at around 11.20pm tonight. It grabbed a stick I put in front of it. It seems to be recovering now it's on dry land. Identification help appreciated!

[thunder]

Looks to me like a Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum). The latest of our dragonflies and will hang around till the frosts zap them. I have seen them well into November in the past. They may even make it into December this year, I guess.

henrya

[aeshna5]

Agree Common Darter- the mild weather helping. Still also Migrant Hawkers reported in the London area + I've also seen reports of Southern Hawker + Black Darter still on the wing elsewhere.

[Words]

Thanks for the confirmation. It was much darker than I expected, but we had lots of common darters in the summer so it makes sense.

[Wild-Woman]

I've seen Migrant Hawkers very recently. Lots of insects seem to be having a prolonged life-span in this mild-for-the-time-of-the-year weather.

[Adam Cheeseman]

I've seen both Common Darters and Migrant Hawkers when out birding over the last month.

Cheers,

Adam

[jerryh]

I saw 2 Common Darters today at Rainham Marshes, and someone else reported a Migrant Hawker.
Jerry