On 'Red' Alert!

I had a trip over to Nethergong today and whilst there, I thought I would see what dragonflies were flying around the pools. Migrant Hawkers were everywhere and at least 200 were seen, probably a lot more. Blue tailed, Common Blue Damselflies and lots of Common Darter were also still numerous. As I walked through the long grasses, I kept my eyes peeled for Red veined Darters and it wasn't long until I found the first of 3 Red veined Darter seen today, all immature males. I didn't have the Sigma 150mm macro so used the Canon f4 300m lens and with a bit of patience and fieldcraft, I was able to get in quite close for some photos in good light. Most literature suggests that the second generation fly south when they emerge so I wonder when they will be off and where they will end up? A daunting migration across the seas await them. I will have a look in a few days again but what a privilege to have had them on the local patch this year. I hope they return again next year. 

Red veined Darter - immature male

Red Veined Breeding Success!

It was only a few months ago that I first found a few Red veined Darter on one of the pools in the Nethergong area. Despite searching, I couldn't find any females at the time but hoped that there were some around to breed. Jump forward to the weekend where I was out in rather cloudy conditions and checking the grasses around the pools for any dragonflies or damselflies when I suddenly flushed quite a yellow dragonfly in front of me which soon landed. I already had my suspicions and was pleased to see a teneral female Red veined Darter. They had bred! With this find, I then spent the next hour carefully walking through the grasses where I managed to see 7 Red veined Darter, 6 teneral and 1 adult male. Although the light was quite challenging, I managed to take a number of photos of this first for the area. To prove breeding, I then spent some time looking in the vegetation where I manged to find at least 10 Red veined Darter exuviae. I'm sure there are more to emerge and some that I have already missed. Hopefully I can get back in the next few days for another look but what a local result to have these beauties breeding on the patch. I wonder whether they will mature up on site and lay their eggs for next year or leave the site and return south. It's certainly been a treat to have them this year.  

Red veined Darter - teneral female

Red veined Darter - male

Take the Camera Away!

Not the best of weeks in one way with a few days feeling quite ill and I couldn't get out and then the car decided to break down, so that has been taken away to a garage to be looked at Monday. So with no car, I have been very limited where I go. Luckily, I have a few sites close to me that I can cycle too. With this in mind, I have spent yet more hours watching a few Southern Migrant Hawkers on territory at Nethergong where they have been showing well flying up and down the now very dried up ditches. Having spent some time here now, I have become familiar with their flight patterns and they have got used to me, where they now hover quite close to me at times. This has given me a few opportunities to try to capture some pleasing flight shots. In most cases, I have some 'nearly' shots but occasionally, it all comes good and you get the shots you were after. It hopefully proves that if you know your species and study them enough, that anything can be achieved. Having said that, I will still aim higher if I get another chance this season. If not, what a time I had with them. It was a pleasure...slightly frustrating at times!

Southern Migrant Hawker - male

'NEW' Patch Dragonflies

It's seems to have been a good year for a number of species and this continued hot weather has no doubt encouraged more species to travel to our shores from the near continent. Two species that have done well are the Red veined Darter and Lesser Emperor. Both of these species have never been seen on my Nethergong/Chislet Marshes patch in the ten years of watching but with the addition of a reservoir this year, I was keen to monitor to see what species turned up. A few weeks ago I saw my first 5 Red veined Darter on the patch and despite not seeing any females, It would be nice to think that they have egg layed there. A check at the weekend again provided 4 Red veined Darter and 2 Lesser Emperor, a male and a female. Again a new species for the patch. I did take a few record shots but certainly not publishable! As I walked back to the car, I checked a sheltered sunny area and found a few Willow Emerald Damselfly. Despite only having the Canon f4 300 mm lens on, I decided to spend some time trying to capture a few images. It was nice to watch them flying out from the hedges and return with small prey a second later. Just spending time in nature has to be one of the best things ever. There's always something to look at, photograph or just enjoy. With a few weeks off work now, hopefully I can get out a bit to enjoy what nature has to offer.  

Willow Emerald Damselfly - male

Willow Emerald Damselfly - female