Sunday 8 May 2016

'Hairy' Moment Pays Off Finally!

I was just about to sit down and watch the television last night about 8pm when I quickly checked the pond to see if anything was happening. One of the Hairy Dragonfly nymphs had started to climb up the reed so I prepared the equipment and settled in for what I thought would be a good few hours. The nymph got into position and spent the next 30 minutes stationary. I took a few photos and hoped as this was a male, that I could capture the whole emergence again but when it started tail thrashing to make sure there was enough room to emerge, he fell off back into the water. I went back inside again and checked a little later to see he had started his climb again. Like before, he prepared himself only to fall back in the water again. With the time getting on, the best I could hope for was an early start and hoped that he would emerge early morning. I was up this morning at 4am and was soon at the pond to reveal that the nymph was still at the base of the reeds. I spent the next 90 minutes sitting outside in the hope that it would happen but alas, no movement from him. A couple of Chaser nymphs however looked like they were getting ready in the shallows and kept me occupied but not even they wanted to emerge. I decided at this point to go out birding for a while to Nethergong and asked my daughter to keep me informed when she got up in case there was any action. It was quite predictable I suppose when at 9am, I received a video call from Jasmine showing me that the Hairy Dragonfly had just emerged, typical! I was soon back in the car and arrived home 10 minutes later where I spent the next 30 minutes at the pond taking a number of pleasing photos of the male Hairy Dragonfly and exuviae. The light was superb, the wind was barely blowing and it was just a privilege to spend time observing and photographing this superb dragonfly. It was already quite warm by 9.30am and after a bit of wing buzzing , he lifted off to hopefully complete his life. I was very pleased I managed to make it for some photos, not quite the full emergence sequence I was after but to capture the dragonfly and exuviae together more than made up for it. Hopefully the Chaser nymphs will be next at some point during the week. I just hope I can photograph them before going to work. 







'Teneral' Hairy Dragonfly (male)

14 comments:

  1. More very special images Marc, one offs I would say, never seen any other shots like these :-)

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    1. Yes. Special shots to me I think. Not that many out there I believe like this. A very happy chappy.

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  2. He was taunting you with those first climbs! A magnificent specimen and your photos leave me speechless.

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    1. Many thanks Wilma for your kind words. Spurs me on to achieve these kind of shots.

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  3. You wouldn't think that climbing a stem of grass would be so perilous! Stunning images Marc. The detail and light are perfect!

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    1. Many thanks Lucy. These were done with no flash and with good light, the results are quite pleasing.

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  4. WOW! a miraculous event and images.

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  5. Those magical moments that makes our hobby so satisfying and enjoyable!!

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    1. Certainly does Bob. Surprised you have not tried to photograph a butterfly emergence?

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  6. It's very rewarding when you capture excellence.
    John.

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  7. Sorry, Marc, but I'm running out of superlatives! Amazing photography of a fabulous species!

    Best wishes - - - - Richard

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    1. Many thanks Richard, just hope you get as much pleasure looking at them as I did in taking them.

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