Tuesday 28 April 2020

The Season Awakes

With a good number of dragonflies and damselflies being reported now around the country, I was keen to get out to try to find them so yesterday I took my exercise and cycled down to Shuart, just east of Reculver where I spent some time walking through the long grasses to see what could be found. In some nice sunny weather it was pleasing to see 6 Hairy Dragonfly but most eluded the camera and only one photo was taken as it rested low down in the grasses. Still, always a pleasure to be able to study quite close. There were a few damselflies on the wing which included my first Variable Damselflies in the Reculver area. There were at least 3 of them resting in the grasses and I was able to take a few images of them to show off some of their features. The broken ante-humeral stripes, bar between the eyes, the 'U' shaped black marking which is joined on segment 2, and shape of the pronotum were all noted and can be seen quite well in the photos. I suspect if I had kept looking that I would have found more but that will be a job for another day. Also noted were a few Blue tailed Damselfly and Azure Damselfly and 1 Broad bodied Chaser too. In these times of not being able to spend ages out and about, it was very refreshing indeed to be able to see a few new species. Hopefully, a few more trips out and about soon to see what other species can be found and photographed.
 
Hairy Dragonfly (Brachytron pratense) - male
 

Variable Damselfly (Coenagrion pulchellum) - immature male 

Variable Damselfly (Coenagrion pulchellum) - male
 


8 comments:

  1. How wonderful to find those Variable Damselflies, Marc. Your superb photography is a delight, and those immature males are a fabulous colour. I can remember my excitement in finding my first ever of this species less than two years ago, and was looking forward to returning to that place in Norfolk this summer. Oh well - maybe next year?! Just keeping my fingers crossed that things ease up in time to look for Willow Emeralds, but I suspect that will not happen either.

    Take great care. With my best wishes to you and yours - - - Richard

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    1. Many thanks Richard. Like you, I'm really hoping I can get to visit Nethergong in July to see the Willow Emerald Damselflies. Also Norfolk Hawkers in June. Thankfully I can get to a site for these. Fingers crossed for you that you are able to get out soon to see some dragons. Take care and stay safe.

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  2. The Variable Damselfly is quite uncommon, but, you can make them so vivid. And, the Hairy Dragonfly, I love it.

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    1. Cheers Bob. Nice to be able to see them all again. Its feels like a long time. Hopefully we can travel further afield soon so I can get to see a few more species. In the mean time, I'm lucky where I live as there are a few nice species to be seen.

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  3. A most wonderful series again Marc, indeed the season has started. Looking forward to what more is emerging in the coming weeks.
    Regards,
    Roos

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    1. Cheers Roos. To think I was going to bin the Hairy Dragonfly photo but glad I kept it. Not the greatest shot but I'll take it at the moment.

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  4. So your seasons up and running Marc. Good luck and stay safe. Mike.

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    1. Yes it is Mike. Not as much time and visits as I would like but it's a start. Just nice to be out and about taking in the natural world.

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