Beautiful, too! All kinds of colors and patterns, almost as diverse as butterflies.

Yes, amazing how many colors, and not easy to photograph. This was pure happenstance.

They can also fly backwards Bath. The only non insect that can do all these in flight maneuvers is the hummingbird.

They are one of the oldest orders of insects on the plant that have largely remained unchanged for 300 million years. One of the largest fossil specimens came from a coal mine in Bolsever Derbyshire. wing span about 1m ! would hate to be intercepted by that one. they can pre-empt where the prey is going to go and catch it.
we get the common hawkers and blue tipped damselflies over our pond .

This is an article my daughter has written for the welshwildlife trust, to encourage people to look for and marvel at. the broad bellied dragon fly is her photo too. we have 27 species of dragon and damsel flies in the uk and she has now seen 23 of them.

https://www.welshwildlife.org/wtsww-news/celebrating-dragonfly-week/?c_cid=a9e48effa6&mc_eid=bf74acdbaa

lovely photo Bath.

What a fabulous photo Sbg

I didn't know they can fly backwards Loose. Very interesting. Great article SBG and photo. She's very talented.

Beautiful image Bathgate. Thank goodness for happenstance (love that word). Such interesting facts from this thread too.

Great photos! I saw one the other day hovering around a cement pond for cows. I am surprised they are around here - 800 miles from the continent.

all they need is a good water source. Thank you everybody for your comments.

They are wonderful, I can watch them for hours, weirdly I'm not scared of these I think they're beautiful...

They mostly eat midges and mosquitoes. They are welcomed in my garden anytime!