Deep blue damselflies

In this season, these critters can be seen flying above small streams in the East of The Netherlands. We saw these the other day over the river Dinkel:

^{Olympus Stylus 1s, 300mm, ISO200, f5.6, 1/500s}

From a distance, they look like butterflies, and they fly a bit like butterflies frolicking about, but then, butterflies don't hunt mosquitos over the water (I wish they did, I hate mosquitos).

These are in fact damselflies called banded demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens), weidebeekjuffer in Dutch.

The males are a beautiful deep blue with a metallic shine and copper detailing:

^{Olympus Stylus 1s, 135mm, ISO200, f5.6, 1/100s}

They usually sit over the water on vegetation, so they are difficult to approach. They are also easily disturbed and will then fly away; not the easiest of photo models among damselflies.

This one actually posed willingly, so I took many photos, here's a second one:

^{Olympus Stylus 1s, 135mm, ISO200, f5.6, 1/80s}

You can have a look at what the females look like in this post about the first time I saw them this year. Spoiler: they are green.

Thanks for watching!