Brown Hawker - Aeshna grandis
Photos
The Brown Hawker - Aeshna grandis, abundant and easy to spot but seldom settles for long. Here are a few photos of male and females, mostly at Felmersham NR, where they are very common.
Female, well away from water in Kempston
This photo shows the brown tint to the wings well, a distinctive feature that's obvious even when flying
Female, flying in search of suitable site to oviposit at Felmersham NR
Female ovipositing at Felmersham NR. Females make probing movements as they oviposit in to the soft material of decaying logs and plants
In common with other Aeshnidae, Brown Hawkers oviposit alone, without male accompaniment
A resting male, near the Biddenham Country Loop walk
This particular male was unusually camera friendly, and I managed to get some good macro photos
A resting male, near the Biddenham Country Loop walk
This picture shows the enormous eyes, used to great effect in twilight when brown hawkers often hunt
A female near water alone is not a common site, but this particular female seemed quite settled without male attention
Female ovipositing into a submerged branch at Felmersham NR. A male Red-eyed Damselfly - Erythromma najas looks on
Female at Felmersham NR
Felmersham NR is a good place to see Brown Hawkers, especially on warm afternoons.
Main features
Classification:
| Odonata | ||||
 |
Anisoptera | True dragonflies | ||
|
Aeshnidae | Hawkers |
Large dragonfly with a predominantly brown body and a definite brown tint to the wings. Males have blue spots along the side of the abdomen, females pale yellow. Both feature a yellow striped thorax. Not easily confused with anything else that occurs in Bedfordshire.
Habitat
Likes slow rivers and still waters, with logs and roots for ovipositing. Often seen hawking up and down clearings in woods and across meadows. A crepuscular flier, active late in the evening.
Where to see
Common throughout the county, abundant at Felmersham NR, and along the River Great Ouse.
Visible from early June to late October.