Southern Hawker (Aeshna Cyanea) Male in Whiteley Woods
The Southern Hawker is a large solitary Dragonfly and is common in lowland England, recently spreading into Scotland. This species is unique in that it will approach anyone entering its territory and hover around to check you out, before returning to its business of looking for food and females to mate with. The females are patterned black & green throughout their length, whereas in the males the last half inch or so changes to black & blue.