After yesterdays awful weather, today dawned quite nice and around 9am, I went out into the garden in the sunshine to see what was happening around the pond. After having a scan of the vegetation, I could see a few Large Red Damselfly nymphs just below the surface and one nymph that was partially out of the water on a stem. I managed to coax it onto on of my potted up stems and then left it for a while to get into position prior to it hopefully emerging. With much lighter winds today and warmer temperatures in the garden, it felt good for an emergence. I stayed back until the nymph had gone through its pre emergence procedure of making sure there was enough room to emerge. This normally involves some thrashing around of the abdomen. I then slowly moved in and moved the pot slightly to the side to get a more clutter free view of the nymph. It was then a case of lay and wait. I had the camera set up on the tripod to make my job easier and after a short wait, I could see the back of the thorax starting to split which was my cue to start firing off shots every now and then. I've seen many emerging and you always hope for the perfect emergence as sometimes, it does go wrong. Sometimes the exuviae falls into the water or swings around the stem which makes emerging awkward and not easy for photos. Sometimes a sudden gust of wind can end it all or the nymph is not completely released during emergence. Thankfully on this occasion, all went well and I was able to lay in the sunny quite warm garden for an hour or so and take a number of photos of this beautiful damselfly emerging. I still find it amazing that an hour before emerging, the nymph was in the water swimming around. Nature sure is amazing. By mid morning, I had my photos and had witnessed another successful emergence and left the damselfly to mature up in the comfort of the vegetation. I'm hopeful that a few more will emerge during the next week as it looks like the temperatures are forecast to slowly rise throughout the week. Whilst this lockdown lark is inevitable, I sure am thankful and appreciative of the wildlife that is to be found in and around the garden.
Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula)
Absolutely stunning stuff mate! Stay safe and keep blogging - Dyl
ReplyDeleteMuch appreciated Dyl. I never tire of seeing this miracle in front of my eyes. I'm loving being in the garden more every day.
DeleteA season of Dragonflies, great. Patience is your game Marc.
ReplyDeletePatience is certainly key in this game. Many hours watching and studying what's going on in the water. If you keep looking, I'm a great believer in that you will get your rewards.
DeleteMany thanks Agnieszka for your visit and comment. Much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteI will have to hope a Large Red flutters over from next doors pond soon!!
ReplyDeleteGood to see the action has started for you Marc.
If I were you, I would be trying to get permission to look at their pond. In these trying times, I'm very thankful of my pond. I've also got a few Hairy Dragonfly nymphs in there. Fingers crossed that I can see them emerge.
DeletePerfection Marc! I wish I could get infra-red pictures to that perfection. Stay clean. Mike.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks Mike. This lockdown has worked out well so far giving me the time to be around to capture this and appreciate the garden more. Normally I would have been at work and missed most. With warmer temps on the way, I'm hopeful one of the Hairy Dragonflies may emerge in the next few weeks.
DeleteWonderful images of, as you mention Marc, one of the wonders of nature, and one that never fails to excite. And it doesn't get much cushier than to witness it while lying down in the sunshine in your own garden - probably being sustained by the odd cold beer? I hope you're not going to be too soft for the real stuff, after this is all over ;-}.
ReplyDeleteTake great care, and keep safe and well - - - Richard
Many thanks Richard. Much appreciated. It certainly was a great feeling laying at the pond capturing this. Thankfulmy if we can't go to nature, then it will have to come to me. Hopeful of a Hairy Dragonfly Emerging of which I have 2 in the pond. Will have to start searching nightly soon for signs of them. Take care Richard through these uncertain times.
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