Paul writes: If I’m in a wetland nature reserve in late summer I always look out for Darters sitting like this on a wooden railing. Darters usually hunt from a perch, where they fly off after a passing insect, before returning to the same place. Handrails must be at just the right height to give the insect a good vantage point because they are a favourite spot. I found this male Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) a couple of weeks ago at Filey Dams in North Yorkshire. The female is about the same size but the abdomen is a murky yellow.
The Common Darter is the most widespread of our Darters and is found in most wetland habitats throughout the UK, apart from several upland areas. It can be seen from the end of May through to October but it is this time of year that I find them most visible.
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