Hairy Dragonflies emerging

I opted to visit Ditchford this lunchtime and promptly found 6 emerging Hairy Dragonflies, both male and female. They were quite low down, which is typical for this time of year, but it made photography rather difficult. I had to roll my work trouser leg up in order to kneel at the right angle. Within 10mins, I witnessed four of them take their maiden flight.

Female next to her exuvia



Male

Female

Close-up of female showing the hairy thorax