If you know your dragonflies then you’ll know the Downy Emerald doesn’t pose for the camera; if it settles it does so at the top of a tree. So why was this one sitting on the herbs on the Butterfly Walk? First clue is that it is an immature. You can tell from the shiny wings and the fact that the eyes are brown instead of bright green. The second clue is that it was very windy. So, a guess would be this postponed the maiden flight to the top of the tree.
The first dragonflies of the year at SbtL are usually Hairy Dragonflies and they are on the wing too and even laying eggs already. The first person to see it is usually the kitchen gardener! Dragonflies like a quiet spell away from the water-edge to mature after emerging so the KG might be your best chance of a photo because Hairy Dragonflies are another tricky one to capture on camera.
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There are 5 Damselfly species already on the wing at the end of April including one of our favourites, the Banded Demoiselle. There are a couple of red-eyed damsels out already too, one of our more unusual species, best located on the water lily leaves.