Black-tailed skimmer

Here's a dragonfly I had never seen before - a black-tailed skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum).  It is common in the south of the country and these were at Croome Park in Worcestershire.  The males have a beautiful dusty blue-grey colouring with black tails and dark green eyes.  I read that they typically rest on exposed soil, as these were, which doesn't make for such a great photo.

The females have a yellow/brown/black ladder pattern on the abdomen and also have green eyes.

I also saw several mating pairs.  Both sexes have yellow antenodal cross-veins near the front of their wings.

I don't do lists or ticks but it was a pleasure to find a new species.