As most of you know, I'm obsessed with Odonates! Dragonflies and damselflies are my driving force for getting out and about in the Summer months.
Today, hot, dry and with enough of a breeze to make walking enjoyable, rather than a burden. So we headed to Sideway, a pair of pools used by Fenton Angling club, and in the shadow of the Britannia Stadium.
It's never been the most prolific site for odonates, but is often interesting, with the chance of a grass snake always keeping you looking.
Dragonflies are lower in number than damsels, but after 2 really wet summers, numbers seem even lower than I recall. I was still able to spot at least 3 brown hawkers, and a solitary female black-tailed skimmer.
Damselflies were, as mentioned, very prolific!
Ishnura elegans mating wheel
Ishnura elegans (male)
Ceonagrion puella
And to put icing on the cake, on leaving the pools, a rabbit ran across our path in full view!