Inbetween Showers!

With my wife taking my eldest daughter to karate in Essex today with friends I was at home with the younger daughter and hadn't planned on going out at all. However after dropping her off at Dance at 12.15pm I had just over an hour to fill so decided on a quick trip to Westbere Lakes. The weather was quite changeable with a strong breeze and sunshine followed by some showers but it was worth a go. Rather than walk up to the river I walked west along the path which is more of a meadow habitat with the lake on one side and trees on the other. Walking through the long grass there were hundreds of Common, Variable and Azure Damseflies with good number of mature Red eyed Damselflies also noted. There were many pairs of damselflies mating so this provided a brief challenge of them in the 'wheel' position.

Mating Blue tailed Damselflies

Moving on I found 5 Scarce Chaser including 3 mature males and 3 Hairy Dragonflies posed for a few shots. As I walked back I saw 1 Banded Demoiselle and again hundreds of damselflies were rising from the grass as I passed through. The other highlight today was when the postman delivered the new 'Atlas of Dragonflies in Britain and Ireland'. That will produce some nice reading for later I hope, certainly looks the part with some excellent shots in from what I have seen so far.

Male Hairy Dragonfly

Hopefully weather permitting tomorrow afternoon, I shall make my annual pilgrimage to Pittswood to catch up with Warren Baker to see Beautiful Demoiselle and White legged Damselfly on his patch, both species that do not occur in my neck of the woods. Hopefully he has them staked out and photography perches placed and ready to go! Fingers crossed for some nice weather tomorrow and hopefully a shot or two for the site.

Female Hairy Dragonfly