Emperor Dragonfly


Last Thursday evening, sitting on a rock near the western end of Lough Gealain, the turlough at the base of Mullagh More hill in the Burren, felt like visiting the garden of Eden. The blazing heat had somewhat subsided, though it was still probably nearly 25 degrees celcius, but a light breeze swished through the rushes. Over the surface of the water, Emperor dragonflies (anax imperator) patrolled (and sometimes clashed over) their territories and hunted for food. However, they too were being hunted. To the north of my position, further across the lake, a kestrel spent an hour plucking dragonflies from the air to eat on nearby rocks.