Common Whitetail

Took this picture at the Brick Works a few days ago. I noticed that this dragonfly was flying around in a big circle over the pond but always coming back to rest at the same place on a log near the pond's edge. So I settled in and took a few pictures. This is the best picture, taken from about 50 cm away. I looked up the species and it is called common whitetail (Libellula lydia). This is a male. Females have a darker coloured tail.

Further reading indicates that the naiad or larval stage feeds on mosquito larva and the adult flying version feeds on mosquitoes. The prevalence of dragonflies in the quarry ponds could be one reason I don't get bitten very often when I visit.