![Male beautiful demoiselle, Stratford Brook, Wkyen](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSI4MDAiIGhlaWdodD0iNjAwIiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgODAwIDYwMCI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=)
On the same stretch of water as the mayfly in yesterday’s post, half a dozen male beautiful demoiselle damselflies. They would select a piece of vegetation in sunlight and overhanging the water as their spot to pose on trying to attract a female. Frequently, another male would fly too close, so the incumbent would take off. There would be a brief flurry of combat, sometimes three- or four-sided. After a few seconds the victor would go to the place in the sun, with the losers retreating to gather their strength for a fresh challenge.
Some yards further upstream, too far for my lens, one of the males did manage to get the attentions of a female.