FIRST Large Red Damselfly of the Year

I made a visit to Reculver this morning about 10am to see if any migrants were to be seen and although I didn't see that much, it was pleasing to see 1 Swallow and 1 Wheatear, both my first of the year. With clouds rolling in at Reculver which seems to have its own weather forecast, I returned home about 12.30pm where the sun was shining. As is often typical, I have been checking my tanks a lot for any damselflies to emerge and when I checked early afternoon, there was a Large Red Damselfly looking at me, having already emerged a while earlier. Quite excited as you can imagine, I set about getting the camera and taking a number of photos using both AV mode and manual mode with in camera flash. Although quite bright, it took me a while to get the settings right but despite the damselfly having a long abdomen which can be a challenge to get it all in focus, I ended up with a few pleasing shots.

Large Red Damselfly (female)

I did spend some time however just studying the details on the damselfly and thinking of the journey it has made from egg to adult, a true nature miracle and one that I never tire of witnessing. Although reared indoors where I have tried to replicate the correct water temperature etc, this will not count as the first official Large Red Damselfly of the year but having looked at my pond today, I have a few nymphs in the shallows where I suspect any day now they will emerge. After drying out, the Large Red Damselfly was put on the stems at the pond where hopefully she will be joined by a few more soon. Hopefully I can photograph the whole emergence soon again and it also won't be long I doubt until the Hairy Dragonfly emerges. She is on her fourth day of resting up still with the back of her head out of the water. This is one challenge that I am really excited about seeing and photographing but its going to be a very early start I suspect if I am to succeed. 

Large Red Damselfly (female)