Above and below Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) - also known as the Violet-marked Darter - at Lac de Salagou which we came across by accident but apparently is quite well known. The species is very widespread across Africa and southern Europe. Both males and females seem to rest often with their tail stuck straight in the air, I don't know if this assists a quick hunting vertical take off? Males are purple/violet and females yellow.
female Violet Dropwing
The Small Pincertail was usually present near to quite fast running water along with the Beautiful Demoiselles. Notice how the eyes are completely separate on either side of the head. Small Pincertail is quite a common species in Europe but doesn't occur in the UK.
Pincer tail of the Small Pincertail
shared habitat of Small Pincertail and Beautiful Demoiselle
Beautiful Demoiselle were very numerous. I was very pleased to find good numbers along a remote mountain stream. However, I did then also see them in Céret town centre which has a stream running through it and on one occasion a male flew into Carrefour supermarket and settled on the checkout! The Beautiful Demoiselles seemed far less bothered by by people than Banded Demoiselles and were happy to use my hand as a hunting perch to catch small insects from.
male Beautiful Demoiselle
female Beautiful Demoiselle
I did see bright red Scarlet Darters in the town centre but was never able to get in camera range. Golden Ringed dragonflies, which I am used to seeing up at Fen Bog on the North Yorkshire Moors, were a common sight in the mountains too. Below is a Southern Darter (Sympetrum meridionale). The Southern Darters were also common along mountain paths and seem almost indistinguishable from our own Common Darters (Sympetrum striolatum).
Southern Darter female
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