Brown Hawker.

hawthorn · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 9:45 pm Post subject: Brown Hawker.

I was delighted to see this male brown hawker patrolling my garden yesterday and when he landed i was even more delighted that he let me take a picture. what an amazing sight just watching this guy catching flies in mid air, master of the skies.

Sive · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 7:13 am Post subject:

How amazing! I've never heard of such an insect ( will look up my books!).....your photo is fabulous.
Speaking of insects, I had flocks of small tortoiseshell butterflies all over my flower beds on Thursday (the day before The Deluge!) I've no idea where they suddenly came from, as my garden is at a very early stage and surrounded by farmland.
But it was a magical experience and amply repaid my determination to plant nectar-rich plants.

Sive · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 7:15 am Post subject:

I forgot to mention that one of my beautiful butterflies was caught and eaten by......a wagtail! Not a nice sight, but it's the natural food-chain I suppose, though I'd say a butterfly must be the equivalent of a huge steak for the wagtail!

paddy-s · Hazel Tree Joined: 01 Aug 2008 Posts: 26 Location: Sligo

It's a Dragon Fly

janelee · Hazel Tree Joined: 24 Jul 2008 Posts: 38

hawthorn · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 10:43 am Post subject:

yes your right Paddy-s its a dragon fly and my mistake i think its a common Hawker (Aeshna juncea) and not a brown hawker, but dragon fly is a common name used for quite a large range of these insects.

hawthorn · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 10:56 am Post subject:

Thanks sive the photo was taken in a hurry, i was afraid he would take off before i had the picture taken. this guy was out on the same day you saw your tortoiseshell butterflies, i think it was the sun alright that brought them out. thanks janelee but i think its a common hawker.

Guelder · Hazel Tree Joined: 20 Sep 2007 Posts: 14

had a visit into our conservatory by a Brown Hawker a few weeks back. Got a couple of nice photos too. Beautiful creature and seriously big...

Sean Ph'lib · Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 1:10 pm Post subject:

You're right Hawthorn, it's a male Common Hawker - a magnificent creature!