The continuing hunt for the Common Blue
As you are no doubt aware, I have been photographing the Dragonflies and Damselflies in Alexandra Park, Hastings, this has turned out to be a very good site for these, between 8-10 different species being seen with some regularity.
However, after going through my photos over the years it became apparent that all the 'blue' Damselfly shots I have were not of Common Blue as I had suspected but of Azure Damselflies. So this year I have made a special effort to get down there more frequently and see if I can once and for all capture a shot of a Common Blue, after all they're called common so they should be numerous, but it does appear as if Azure is the commonest species on site.
![An Azure Damselfly](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1f3f56_8d45a9f031f24a2b9f7d27dec636467e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_566,h_754,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/1f3f56_8d45a9f031f24a2b9f7d27dec636467e~mv2.jpg)
So what 'blue' Damselflies have I managed to find over the past few weeks....
![Red-eyed Damselfly](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1f3f56_9b9411b42dfb4c6f80ed973603adb5f2~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_566,h_378,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/1f3f56_9b9411b42dfb4c6f80ed973603adb5f2~mv2.jpg)
![Red eyed Damselfly](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1f3f56_76b8f964ce624a9183acc2ea97b238fd~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_566,h_425,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/1f3f56_76b8f964ce624a9183acc2ea97b238fd~mv2.jpg)
The Red-eyed Damselfly has quite a restricted distribution in Southern England, being a more European species we are on the edge of it's range, so a really good find (and a lot rarer than Common Blues!)
![Blue-tailed Damselfly](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1f3f56_0d74606eaa37495e9c3606167aaf3f08~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_640,h_960,al_c,q_85,enc_avif,quality_auto/1f3f56_0d74606eaa37495e9c3606167aaf3f08~mv2.jpg)
Although not hugely blue it does have some blue on it so just about counts for this feature, the Blue-tailed is probably the most adventurous of the Damselflies, it will very often be the first species to colonise a new pond.
![an extremely well marked Azure](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1f3f56_1364b6daec144f369b490c50c7236d6f~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_640,h_960,al_c,q_85,enc_avif,quality_auto/1f3f56_1364b6daec144f369b490c50c7236d6f~mv2.jpg)
That was promising for a moment, obviously different but some Azures are darker than others..
![Variable Damselfly](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1f3f56_880e99ea81fa4ff4929d5bd77f7166e9~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_654,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/1f3f56_880e99ea81fa4ff4929d5bd77f7166e9~mv2.jpg)
When I found this one I was a bit excited, but then noticed the large amount of black on the lower segments, this is a Variable Damselfly, another of very restricted range and a great find (although still not a Common Blue), it seems strange to feel disappointed after finding species such as Red-eyed and Variable that I hadn't found probably the commonest species!
![wait a minute....](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1f3f56_ebfcd6bcac8444a1aaf157c5dbfdaa6d~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_654,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/1f3f56_ebfcd6bcac8444a1aaf157c5dbfdaa6d~mv2.jpg)
![oh yes it is](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1f3f56_eb69c43ae2c746719cd2e0dad69013c3~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_654,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/1f3f56_eb69c43ae2c746719cd2e0dad69013c3~mv2.jpg)
Finally a Common Blue, the hunt is over now ready for the next challenge!