Photos

Emperor Dragonflies - Anax imperator, rarely seem to settle long enough to get a good photo!

The in flight photos in particular show just how big and powerful the abdomen is, Emperors are easy to identify even from a distance.

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  Male, hawking along the waters edge at Felmersham NR
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  Female ovipositing at Felmersham NR
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  Male, near the Biddenham Country Walk. Despite its tattered wings this particular Emperor was a great flier.
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  Male, near Biddenham Country Walk.
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  Male, Marston Vale Millennium Country Park
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  Male, River Great Ouse, Roxton.
  Large dragonflies often sustain wing damage foraging for food amongst vegetation, or in territorial battles with other dragonflies.
  This male has a large section of wing missing, but was still able to fly without much hindrance.
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  Male at Marston Thrift

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  Female ovipositing at Marston Thrift
  Although eggs are often laid in submerged vegetation, this isn't always the case, as in this example. When the eggs hatch, the larvae will drop down to the water.
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  Female ovipositing at Marston Thrift
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  Male, Marston Thrift
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  Female ovipositing at Marston Thrift, with a male Common Blue damselfly investigating.
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  Female ovipositing at Marston Thrift
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  Male,at Marston Thrift
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  Male, Marston Thrift
  This photo illustrates well how dragonflies tuck up their legs in flight for aerodynamic advantage, the fore legs behind their head, the others beneath the abdomen.

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Main features.

Classification:

Odonata
	Anisoptera			True dragonflies
		Aeshnidae		Hawkers

The region's largest dragonfly, tireless flier high over the water and along the water's edge.

Males have a blue abdomen with a black longitudinal stripes and a green thorax, females have a green abdomen.

Very territorial, will chase off other odonates.

Habitat

Lakes, large ponds, and slow rivers with with lots of vegetation.

Where to see

Quite common along the River Great Ouse, Felmersham NR, Warren Villas.