Electric blue dragonfly

[Bramble]

While out walkies I spotted a large electric-blue dragonfly Any ideas as to what species? I'm in Dundee and I've never seen one in my life before. Sorry no photo, but I didn't have a camera and it was flying all over the place!

[nightshade]

Azure Hawker,there are a lot of blue dragonflys but this is a scottish one

[harasseddad]

Could have been an Azure Hawker, they are the bluest hawker, but Migrant and Common Hawkers look blue in flight, as do immature Southern Hawkers. I've had a quick look and the only record I can find for a large hawker in the area is a single record of a Common Hawker reported from the southern bank of the river opposite Dundee. However there doesn't appear to be a lot of records for any dragonflies in the area - suggesting a shortage of recorders.

[eeyore]

Above Common hawker by foto griff



Above Migrant hawker by glsammy

We don’t seem to have an azure hawker in the gallery but they can be seen here

http://www.dragonflysoc.org.uk/frame...ae&species&aes

[nightshade]

I thought they only had azure and common hawkers up there the migrant does not go any further than Wicken fen

[aeshna5]

Migrant Hawkers have been extending their range each year + there are certainly Scottish records now + have arrived in Ireland too in last couple of years. Electric blue dragonfly sounds a bit like Emperor, though they have only just colonised Scotland in south + just about over now, though there are odd sightings later.

[DL]

There are Common Hawkwers at Crombie and Monikie also on the burns to the east as far as Cragmill Burn (Carnoustie) and some years the Elliot Burn (Arbroath). I have seen Azure Hawkers on the South Esk from Juanjorge downstream to where the Winter/Farschal burns join.

[derekmc]

Just a thought, but it couldn't be an Emperor could it? I know that they're usually restricted to the south of the country, but it might be possible that one has made its way north -and the males would certainly be that bright shade of blue.

[Bramble]

Thanks for those suggestions, I knew you'd all come up trumps! I'm still none the wiser, but I will be looking out for more of them. The Emperor looks quite like it but who knows. I will need to get a net!

[Dod]

I spotted about a dozen of these electric blue dragonflys in North Berwick. Have not seen these here before, they are about a couple of inches long. Are these common on the east coast

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Dod

I spotted about a dozen of these electric blue dragonflys in North Berwick. Have not seen these here before, they are about a couple of inches long. Are these common on the east coast

Were these dragonflies flying together? If so they are probably Migrant Hawkers which aren't territorial like other hawkers. This species has vastly extended its range in recent years + can occur along the coast in numbers as a migrant as wel as a resident species.

Other dragoflies that could be in your area that might fit your description would be Common Hawker or Emperor which is very distinctive. Check images in the gallery.

[Dod]

Yes, they were flying together. I will take a look at the picture gallery. Many thanks

[leifus]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

Migrant Hawkers have been extending their range each year + there are certainly Scottish records now + have arrived in Ireland too in last couple of years. Electric blue dragonfly sounds a bit like Emperor, though they have only just colonised Scotland in south + just about over now, though there are odd sightings later.

"electric blue" sounds like an emperor to me