Emerging Downy Emerald

With my main targets last weekend at Thursley Common to see and photograph a Downy Emerald and find an exuviae which were all nicely accomplished, I thought I might have an outside chance of finding and photographing part of or all of an emergence of this species. I must have timed my visit quite nicely as throughout the session, I found 5 Downy Emerald emerging and probably missed quite a few others I suspect as most were well hidden. Whilst some were in rather precarious positions, I was able to get myself into an area where one was emerging and although not the best angle for photos, I was quite pleased with the results. I annoyingly missed the start but was then able to sit or balance for a while as I watched my first ever emergence of a Downy Emerald. Their choice of emergence sites was sometimes puzzling as it seemed they didn't have enough room to emerge in but somehow with their long spider like legs, the ones I saw managed to successfully emerge. After spending some times resting up, most then flew up into the nearby trees and a couple flew into the nearby long grasses. As ever, a real privilege to witness this and always nice to personally see something I have not seen before. With all the action now coming thick and fast and with my first Banded Demoiselles and Scarce Chasers seen and photographed yesterday at Westbere Lakes, it wont be too long until the next post arrives to showcase these beautiful insects.

 

Emerging Downy Emerald