Welcome to Dragonflies and Damselflies of the New Forest, a site dedicated to the enormously rewarding pastime of tracking, identifying and photographing these most beautiful of insects. The New Forest on the South Coast of England offers one of the most diverse array of species in the UK, and has become a popular holiday destination for Dragonfly enthusiasts.

My name is Doug Overton and I started filming and photographing Dragonflies in 2003. Throughout the past 8 years I have developed a number of techniques for filming and photographing dragonflies, and have identified a multitude of ideal spotter locations in the New Forest. Few hobbies are as rewarding as those which combine the tranquility of relaxing by sun blazend forest ponds, the excitement and anticipation of seeing a rare species, and the joy and fulfillment of capturing it on camera.

I am not a scientist, nor entomologist, and as such please don't expect to be blinded by science and jargon, or to be overwhelmed with ecological information or migration patterns! There are many more valuable sites of this nature on the web for those who are interested. This site sets out to share my photography and video footage, along with the associated techniques with fellow enthusiasts. To accompany the media I have included references to flight times, behaviors and locations that have all been derived through my own personal experience.

Many of the photographs included are a result of many patient hours spent sat in mud, poised with a camera waiting for an opportune moment to take the perfect shot. I do hope you enjoy the site and all of its features. I am always delighted to hear feedback from visitors, and welcome contributions from fellow enthusiasts to the discussion forums.