No.050 · Butterflies, moths and other insects · Rare
Norfolk hawker
Aeshna isosceles
A green-eyed, brown dragonfly with a yellow triangle at the top of the abdomen, a speciality of the Broads.
When to see a Norfolk hawker
June to August, mostly by day.
- J
- F
- M
- A
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Time of day
- Dawn
- Day
- Dusk
- Night
Where to see a Norfolk hawker in the UK
- The Norfolk Broads. Dykes around Hickling.
Norfolk hawker facts at a glance
- Best time
- Warm sunny days, June–early July; it flies May–August, and is most numerous in June and July.
- Where in the game
- the Norfolk Broads (fen and grazing marsh)
- Size
- Length about 67 mm (British Dragonfly Society)
- Population
- Historically confined to the Norfolk Broads and north-east Suffolk; it has spread in recent decades to Kent, Cambridgeshire, Dorset, Devon and beyond (British Dragonfly Society)
- Status
- Endangered (Odonata Red List, 2008)
Diet
Flying insects caught on the wing
Habitat
Grazing-marsh dykes with water soldier
Breeding
Larvae live in the dykes, closely tied to water soldier; larvae are 38–44 mm (British Dragonfly Society).
Field signs
- Yellow triangle near the top of the abdomen
- Green eyes and a brown body
- Clear wings; patrols dykes and rests on reeds
Did you know?
- Adults emerge in grazing-marsh dykes, particularly where water soldier grows (British Dragonfly Society).
- Males have a narrower, 'wasted' abdomen than the bulkier females (British Dragonfly Society).
- It has spread beyond the Broads to counties such as Kent and Cambridgeshire (British Dragonfly Society).
Moments worth waiting for
- Perching
A male settles on reed. - Emerging
A new dragonfly hangs on a water soldier leaf.
Photo tip
Wait for it to settle; use a macro.
Be a good naturalist
Do not net; stay off dykes.
The law
Fully protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
