Common Darter
By Ian Bushell
A male Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) resting on the wooden footbridge over the Lambrok tributary. At the pond, there were six male Common Darters protecting their own patches and I was lucky enough to get a picture of this pair mating.
A mating pair of common darters photographed near the pond by Ian Bushell.
Header picture: common darter, by Ian Bushell.
Southwick Country Park Nature Reserve 
Isn’t it a bit late in the year for mating?
Common darters will be around right through the first frosts and into November; I don’t think mating behaviour in September is particularly unusual.