I went back to the Exeter River at Rowell Road in Brentwood today hoping to find a Rubyspot. A few Fawn Darners were flying up and down the shoreline, most of the time at knee level. Then I spied a Dragonhunter flying and she landed close by and posed for a photo. After taking a couple shots, I checked my focus on the preview screen, looked back and she was gone. I resumed searching for other bugs figuring I wouldn't see her again. About a minute later, a Fawn Darner came upstream toward me and when he was 5 feet away, the Dragonhunter swooped inches past my shoulder like a Peregrine and grabbed the Fawn Darner then flew off (more slowly) with the Darner in his clutches. The Darner was struggling flexing his abdomen vigorously the whole time. I was able to follow their flight for almost 10 seconds. I could not believe the speed and accuracy of the attack, and the strength to haul off prey nearly the same size as the predator! She never lost flight control even the moment after the attack. I now appreciate their name more than ever!

Check out those hind legs - looks like the tail hook on a carrier based fighter!