Golden Ringed Dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii)

The Golden Ringed Dragonfly

This is undoubtedly one ofthe United Kingdom's most stunning and largest species of dragonfly. It may appear from early to mid June and can be seen through to early September.

It is a species that is found on the streams of both heathland and moorland. It's widely distributed in most the United Kingdom but is absent from large parts of East Anglia and the Midlands.

The abdomen and the thorax of both the male and female are predominently black with vivid golden to yellow rings, set at regular intervals and is from where it gets its very appropriate name.

Both sexes exhibit green eyes when fully mature. The female is slightly larger and has a long ovipositor on the abdomen's tip.

The males are very fond of basking in the sunshine on low lying vegetation, adjacent to streams in which they breed.

A suitable stream can support a healthy population of Golden Ringed Dragonflies. The adult males can command a territory every ten or twenty metres, over which they randomly patrol. So frequent in flight clashes between the males are inevitable.

Quick ID Link

Photographic Overview - The Golden Ringed Dragonfly

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.

The Golden Ringed Dragonfly can be a very obliging subject and really close up images are fairly easy to obtain. On warmer days males can be found perched on low lying accessible streamside vegetation and appear to take no notice of the lens at all. When in this mood take full advantage to obtain some more interesting facial images. On certain days they will literally tolerate the lens no more than a few inches away from their head.

They generally perch in the classic crucifix position with their wings held rigidly outwards from their bodies. Owing to this relatively flat plane to focus on the depth of field is not that crucial and it will be an easy task to get the head, tail and both of the wing tips pin sharp.

However beware of the sun's glare from the wings. This can be eliminated by moving the angle of the shot either slight up, down or to the sides but beware of the wing tips moving out of focus.

If you want to know more about this species, then follow this link - To Narrative

Like to see further images of this dragonfly, 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 my website and that you'll return again soon.

Page Updated 07/11

All of these photographs were taken by and remain the property of Chris Brooks.

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