Sunday 17 July 2016

Willow Emerald Damselflies Emerge

As mentioned in yesterday post, I made a visit mid morning to the stream at Marshside where the Willow Emerald Damselfly can be seen. I had made a few visits in the past week or so to search for them without success so it was very rewarding to find 7 teneral Willow Emerald Damselfly, most having just emerged I suspect that morning and making their maiden flights. It was interesting that 6 of them were female and only 1 male were noted as I thought the males would emerge slightly earlier? As most were resting up preparing to fly off to the hedges on the other side of the road, this made photography a little bit easier and I was able to get a number of pleasing images of them. I just love the freshness of the wings and the rainbow effect that can sometimes be seen as the light catches the wings. They can be a tricky subject to photograph I find, trying to get the whole damselfly in focus with such a long abdomen can be a challenge at times. Most of them moved off to the tall hedges where they will mature up which gave me a chance to look in the reeds where I saw them come from and was pleased to find 2 Willow Emerald exuviae which I carefully removed for some photos at home. Hopefully the next few weeks will see a good emergence of them here and in other local sites around the area and no doubt, I will be paying visits every now and then to monitor their numbers and to improve on the photos. 





Teneral female Willow Emerald Damselfly

With some time on my hands this morning, I spent a while going through some more of yesterdays dewy Banded Demoiselle shots and found a few more pleasing efforts.




'Dewy' male Banded Demoiselle

Still unfinished business I think with these and i'm sure I can make some slight improvements on them but for a first attempt with them, I must say, I am pretty pleased. With some nice warm weather predicted for the week ahead, maybe a visit after work during the week to see whats about on the odonata front.

9 comments:

  1. Marc,
    Did you get the E-Mail that I sent you regarding the sale of land at Reculver.

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    1. Sorry Derek I did. Apologies for not replying. Yes that patch of land is literaly just south of the Oyster Farm inbetween the towers and Brook windmill. Another patch of land to be banished from then with a good variety of wildlife. Not sure whats intended for the land. Have you got and spare cash around you could buy it with. You retired gents have a bit i'm sure!!

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  2. Well I do have a few bob and would dearly love to live at Reculver but can't stump up that much plus build a house. Been asking my wildfowler chum if the KWCA would be interested but as well as being expensive, doesn't quite fit their agenda. The base of the sea wall just past the oyster farm had a nice array of wild flowers a couple of weeks ago, especially the sweet peas.

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  3. Oh yes, the Willow Emerald Damselfly, what a shot, always brilliant.

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  4. Great to see the Willows are back out. I must try to get up during their flight season, unless some appear around here of course.

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    1. They are spreading well and I would not be surprised if they didn't turn up locally to you. Get checking.

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  5. Delightful images of the Willow Emerald, Marc - another species that is on my wish list!

    Best wishes - - - Richard

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    1. Many thanks Richard. You will have to makw a journey south to see them maybe!

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