Hairy Dragonfly

The Hairy Dragonfly (Brachytron pratense) is usually the first species of dragonfly to be seen on the wing each Spring and they are now approaching their population peak on Pevensey Levels.

Hairy Dragonfly (Brachytron pratense)

Freshly emerged female

A basking female

Freshly emerged male on the point of taking its first flight

Variable Damselfly (Coenagrion pulchellum) (mating)

Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus) (female ab.supracaerulea)

This all-blue aberration of the female icarus was once a rare find but in recent years it has become much more regular in its occurrence. In my youth back in the 1960's, the most common form of the female icarus was brown with variable amounts of blue pigment only in the basal area of the wings, a form that is much more noteworthy nowadays. I presume the cause of such a change is environmental, perhaps due to a warming and drying climate?