As big as a jumbo jet

OK not quite that big but it was a monster.

I think its a male Brown Hawker dragonfly and I assume that the other Brown Hawker flying with it was a female but never got a clear look at that one.

They were crashing into each other occasionally with a crackling noise.

This was a great consolation as it appears all our local Swallows have gone - only House Martins seen in the last 48 hours.