Male Common Darter - Sympetrum striolatum Pond Sept 10th '08

This male Common Darter dragonfly was sunning itself on the paving by the side of the pond. Every now and then it would fly up to chase off another male that was showing territorial interest in the pond. It was easy to photograph, as it returned again and again to the same basking spot - typical behaviour for the male of this species. Sept 10th 2008.