The dragon with the golden rings

03 Saturday Jun 2023

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British dragonflies, Cordulegaster boltonii, dragonfly, Golden-ringed dragonfly, Parc Penallta

The dragon with the golden rings – that sounds like something out of The Lord of the Rings; reminds me of the dragon sleeping on its huge horde of gold under the mountain. But no, this particular dragon is a dragonfly, and the golden rings are the marks that encircle its body. Hence its name, the Golden-ringed dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii). This is not a dragonfly I see locally but was a stunning surprise during a recent visit to Parc Penallta, a park on a former coal tip in the Welsh Valleys.

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Golden-ringed dragon

10 Saturday Jul 2021

Posted by sconzani in insects

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British dragonflies, British odonata, Cordulegaster boltonii, Golden-ringed dragonfly

It may have been only my second ever sighting of this gorgeous dragonfly species but, with its distinctive markings perfectly matching its name, I was certain of my ID – this is a Golden-ringed dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii). These beauties can be found in upland areas, heathlands and woodlands that have the flowing water they favour for breeding. The Golden-ringed I saw was close to a small river in a woodland setting, no more than 100 metres from where I spotted the White-letter hairstreak I posted about yesterday. That was a memorable walk indeed!

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