Dragonfly - seen on the stem of a faded Gladiolus today.

Yes Shirley I think you are right!. I have just checked & that’s what it would seem to be. I have seen one once before ( not recently though). Beautiful, isn’t it.

Thanks Klahanie ... I had gone out to deadhead faded flowers and stopped in my tracks when I saw it ... went back indoors for my camera and was thrilled to find it still resting there.

Josie, the markings on it are just wonderful. Strange how it was there though as we no longer have the small pond. I guess it was just resting a while.

Fabulous photo Shirley and what a treat to see it having a rest. I think its the blue Emperor Dragonfly, one of the largest of the Hawkers.
I have a couple of dragonflies, I'm not sure which type, that come here every year around now. Whether they're the same pair I'm not sure. I don't know how long they live do you?

Janey, I think you are right with your I.D. I found this information:

The larger dragonflies can live for 4 months in their flying stage. In Britain, lucky Damsel adults seldom manage more than two weeks and Dragons more than two months. Most Damsels rarely go more than a week, and Dragons two or three weeks.

Good gracious, so a very short lifespan. I suppose it's all about eating and multiplying, like most species, including us..:))

Lovely to see the Dragonflies around. We have a few of them visit around here from the river down the road. Definitely a Hawker.

Brilliant capture Shirley … how lucky to have one in your garden 🙂.

Such a lovely photo Shirley. One to be very proud of.

Thanks ladies ... :o)

They are stunning creatures. Presumably there is water near you somewhere. Great photo.

Ange, this is the weird thing, we did have a small pond some years ago but eventually filled it in and as far as I'm aware our close neighbours do not have garden ponds.

Great photo, Shirley! 👏

We went to a coffee shop, a first floor shop with enormous windows, on Wednesday & while we were there I was watching the clouds changing shapes a while & I saw at least 2 or maybe tree dragonflies. One seem to be hovering in front of the windows, as if observing us! 😆 😆 😆

Smashing pic, Shirley. I spotted one exactly like this earlier in the garden. Didn't have the camera, typical! We have a small pond in our back garden. I love to see dragonflies visiting, Eve tries to catch them, but fortunately, fails!

David, how fascinating!

Janey is right in her ID of your Emperor Dragonfly. The Southern Hawker has yellow dots on it as well as blue. It is a bit more green too. Anyway, great photo & beautiful insect.

Thanks Josie, Sussex Wildlife assured me it is a male too.