White-faced Darter

This is a very rare type of dragonfly that has become extinct in most parts of England due to agricultural reclamation and the extraction of peat and sphagnum moss.  Breeding sites are confined to acid bog pools that support floating and submerged sphagnum moss.  Fortunately a breeding population has been established at Foulshaw Moss within the protected nature reserve.  I have tried on repeated previous visits to find and to photograph them but with no luck until today.  The first extra is an immature specimen that I think had only just emerged as its wings appeared to grow as I watched it warming in the sunlight.

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