Flying thing ID?

[markd]

Unforunately I couldn’t get my phone out quick enough for a pic, but we had a large dragonfly type thing flying around our pond the other day and I can’t seem to find out what it was.
Body was about 2.5-3 inches long, thick and fuzzy along the whole length like a bumble bee, mostly black with a few yellow bits. Had wings like a dragonfly (maybe a little shorter) and flew in the same manner as a dragonfly too, quite fast and erratic.

Googled everything i can think of but can’t find anything like it - any ideas? Or useful websites?

Thanks,
Mark

[davelumb]

All British dragonflies here - https://british-dragonflies.org.uk/odon ... ification/

Four Spotted Chaser?

[RayB]

hawk moth.jpg

was it one of these ? Humming bird hawk moth, quite rare to see..

[martin(rockape)]

hawk moth.jpg

was it one of these ? Humming bird hawk moth, quite rare to see..

Had one of these fly into my garden a few years ago, you'd be lucky to get a photo so quick and very maneuverable just like those 2 seater American military helicopters in the way they move around.

Regards

Martin

[RayB]

I have only ever seen one, absolutely mesmerised by it, it flew as of it was mechanical.
Had to Google it to find out what it was..

[Kev Berry]

hawk moth.jpg

was it one of these ? Humming bird hawk moth, quite rare to see..

Saw one of these about 20 years ago.
Thought it was a humming bird at first. Shot off like a bullet when I got too close.
Described it to a local entomologist and he told me what it was. Very rare indeed he said.

[RayB]

That was my thoughts initially Kev, humming bird, until I googled it..

[markd]

Thanks for all the replies! (Thought I’d replied but think I must’ve hit preview or something )

All British dragonflies here - https://british-dragonflies.org.uk/odon ... ification/

Four Spotted Chaser?

Yes, or black tailed skimmer possibly - the colours seem quite variable looking at some of the videos. Hopefully it’ll return or there’ll be another and i’ll get a picture instead of ducking for cover!

[davelumb]

Thanks for all the replies! (Thought I’d replied but think I must’ve hit preview or something )

All British dragonflies here - https://british-dragonflies.org.uk/odon ... ification/

Four Spotted Chaser?

Yes, or black tailed skimmer possibly - the colours seem quite variable looking at some of the videos. Hopefully it’ll return or there’ll be another and i’ll get a picture instead of ducking for cover!

[markd]

hawk moth.jpg

was it one of these ? Humming bird hawk moth, quite rare to see..

Wasn’t one of these but I did see one some years ago near the Botanic Gardens in Cambridge. It was going around a bush in someones front garden, watched it for a minute or so, quite a weird thing to see when you haven’t a clue what it is. I did wonder if the aliens had landed