Blue Tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans)
Photography by Chris Brooks
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The Blue Tailed Damselfly
This is perhaps one of my favourite species of damselfly. It is daintier and smaller than the other blue species but can vary in size considerably.
It can be seen on the wing from late April or early May, through to mid / late August.
They can be abundant across the whole of the United Kingdom, and can be found in a wide variety of sites from streams, rivers and ditches to large and small still waters alike. It can often be seen in the company of other blue species of damselfly and in fairly large numbers.
Relating to the male, the bright blue tail makes this damselfly readily identifiable. It is smaller than the Red Eyed Damselfly, shares the blue tail but lacks the red eye colour of its larger relative.
It could be confused with the Scarce Blue Tailed Damselfly but close examination of the blue segments on the abdomens tip will reveal a very subtle difference.
The female can come in four colours. Their thoracic regions can be either violet, rose pink, a dull green or blue. The blue variety will closely resemble the male and is the most common of the colour forms.
(Click on thumbnails to enlarge the images)
Photographic Overview - The Blue Tailed Damselfly
All of my images are taken in handheld mode without the use of any camera support and this overview is written with that in mind. In addition my primary aim is to achieve the whole of the subject in focus.
The Blue Tailed damselfly is a very obliging subject and always sits up well on its perch, making this a fairly easy species to photograph. It can be found resting in emergent vegetation and in particular areas of long grass. A calm day is best as swaying tall stems make taking sharp images almost impossible. This damselfly is very tolerent of being approached and some really close up macro shots are possible.
There are no compositional issues and a medium depth of field setting is adequate to capture this species as it rests with its wings closed parallel to its body.
If you want to know more about this species, then follow this link - To Narrative
Like to see further images of this damselfly, then follow this link - To Further Images
If you want to see the best of these images, then follow this link - To Slide Show
These images were obtained by stealth and patience alone, no other non photographic techniques were used. I hope you have enjoyed browsing and that you'll return again soon.
All of these photographs were taken by and remain the property of Chris Brooks
Page Updated 05/10
Chris Brooks Photography
(www.dragonfly-images.co.uk)
