Monday, 19 August 2019

A Taste of the South!

After finishing birding at Reculver yesterday (Sunday), I made an hours visit to Nethergong where the sun was shining quite nicely and there was only a slight breeze. Arriving at 9am which is still quite early to find most of the odonata, I spent my time on the eastern side of the site where most of the sun was and managed to find 74 Willow Emerald Damselfly with a few posing nicely for photos which I duly obliged.
 

Willow Emerald Damselfly (Chalcolestes viridis) - male 



Willow Emerald Damselfly (Chalcolestes viridis) - female
 
1 Southern Hawker was also flushed but landed again shortly and after creeping up slowly, I was in a position to rattle off a few shots and spend some time studying the quite superb colours on this species.
 

Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) - male
 
One day I will find this species without all the clutter of the background and take a few desirable photos as I seem too with this species. Also seen were 5 Migrant Hawker and a few Ruddy Darter before I left for home at around 10am. I'm hoping for a later visit at some point this week if the weather allows and I can get out at the right time to once again, have a count of the Willow Emerald Damselfly and see if I can maybe get a photo or two of them in tandem or mating... or just a pleasing photo of them will do nicely. Fingers crossed for blue skies and light winds.
 


Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) - male
 


8 comments:

  1. green dragonfly looks so beautiful..
    Great shots

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    1. Many thanks Tanza. Up close, the colours really are a sight to see.

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  2. Oh my, the Willow Emerald Damselfly is beautiful Marc, and the Southern Hawker is brilliant, so close.

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    1. Many thanks Bob. The Hawker let me get quite close which was nice. Great to be able to study all the details at close range.

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  3. Good stuff once again Marc. I'm still struggling to find subjects to photograph. I think I will take up photographing lorries they outnumber birds 1000-1 around in Sussex.

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    1. Many thanks Mike. I look forward to seeing you lorry shots. Shouldn't be able to miss that with the camera.

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  4. Wonderful, Marc - I particularly love No.3! Best wishes - - - Richard

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    1. Many thanks Richard. Lots more to hopefully come of these species in the next week or so... if they play ball!

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