Not Lepidoptera (dragons!)

[Susie]

I'm slightly nuts about dragonflies, I love 'em!

[eccles]

Nice one Susie. A teneral male scarce chaser!

[Polly]

Is this one of this year's already Susie or one from last year at your local site?

[Susie]

This one was so local it was taken by my pond. lol. (there's a story to that).

And yes, he is one of this year's brood. I saw three on Thursday, I expect the numbers to explode over the next couple of weeks.

[eccles]

I think this is generally thought of as a river species. Is there a river nearby?

[Susie]

Yes. He climbed onto my finger and as I had left my camera at home I walked home with him, took some photos and then took him the five minute walk back to the river again.

[Susie]

Male banded demoiselle on columbine.

[sandraandkevin]

Sandra and I went to Goring on the Thames yesterday and saw at least 10 Club Tailed Dragonflies.

We also went to the Wake Valley Pond in Epping Forest last Sunday and saw 7 Downy Emeralds emerging.


Kevin

[IAC]

Hi Susie,
That Banded Demoiselle photo is nothing short of stunning. I have never seen one on my patch...sadly. We have Large Red, Common Blues, Azures, Blue Tail, Emerald, and Common Darter. Though I have heard there are Emperors breeding locally for the first time in the region for decades. Today I found this Large Red resting....good year for them so far, as I found a new site that held well in excess of 100 individuals...real plague proportions. Cheers IAC.

[eccles]

I agree with IAC; very nice shot, Susie. Banded demoiselles occur in large numbers along the Avon near me and sometimes venture up the stream to my local patch where they meet and tussle with beautiful demoiselles. Both are stunning insects.

My local patch is usually good for large reds but they're either late in emerging or the last two summers have hit the nymphs hard. I have only seen two males so far this year. This one was snapped on Saturday with the A700 and the old beercan zoom.

[xmilehigh]

Hi,

Very nice demoiselle photo.

[romansnumber7]

Hi Susie,

Terrific shot, super detail and the composition is spot on. Love the inclusion of the Columbine flowers.

Regards Paul

[Susie]

Thank you to everyone for your kind comments.

Thank you, Paul, coming from you that is a compliment indeed.

I love the shots of the large red damsels, they are both great! Keep 'em coming.

I've seen quite a few large reds locally and have had home grown ones from the pond.

Today I found my first adult dragonfly bred in my wildlife pond I dug in 2007. Even though she is damaged I am just so chuffed there aren't words to express it.

[hammer]

Went to Woodwalton fen on sunday, hoping to see scarce dragonflies, weather was lousy, but did manage to see 12, the commonest dragonfly there.

Colin

[eccles]

Another nice one, Suzie, a broad bodied chaser. I hope she's not too damaged to mate and produce young.

Scarce chasers have expanded their range substantially in the last few years to the point that the name 'scarce' is hardly true any more. But they're nice to see. Yours is another teneral male, Colin. After a few days, males acquire a pruinescence on their abdomens that turns them pale blue.

[Susie]

Yeah, they turn pink before they turn blue; tis FAB!

Great photo, btw.

[Susie]

A scarce chaser flew into my garden this afternoon. I never thought I would see that. And I got to take photos.

And two broad bodied chasers emerged from my pond.

I'm so happy I could squeeeezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

[eccles]

A visit to Shapwick Heath today turned up loads of azure damsels, banded demoiselles, fleeting glimpses of downy emerald, and one or two four spot chasers. The target species was hairy dragonfly but it was nowhere to be seen. Calling at Priddy Mineries on the way back to Bristol turned up a recently emerged downy emerald. It hadn't acquired its bright green eyes yet but was still a stunning insect. I think it's a male but cannot be sure as I'm not all that familiar with this species. Any ideas anyone?

[Padfield]

The abdominal proportions look like a female. Also, my book notes:

'Abdomen with large yellow (also whitish in female) markings beneath...'

A female is illustrated side on, showing whitish spots on the abdominal underside after the first segment with the yellow spots. Yours shows a white spot. So I go for female.

As you know, I've only been doing dragons a few years so this is just book work.

Guy

[xmilehigh]

Nice Emerald pic Eccles.

Four-spotted Chaser taken @ Shapwick Heath yesterday.

ISO 200 1/250s f8 70-400mm @ 400mm (monopod)