Garden Dragon

As we went out for our morning walk a dragonfly landed nearby.
I only had one chance to take a photo as it soon flew away.



Pretty sure it is a Common Darter.

Last night was the first time there was a decent Sunset for ages.



Too good to miss.

Common Darter

I can't remember a time when I have seen so many dragonflies. These past few days there have been dozens about. Hawkers down the end of the lane and Darters around my garden. There may well have been a lot but finding one still long enough to photograph was a different matter. This Common Darter was the only co-operative one I found.





These were crops from the original photos taken in RAW with the Canon M5.

As it was resting on a cut log at ground level I was on hands and knees trying to stealthily move round to get a head on view but it wasn't having any of that and flew away.

Common Darter Dragonfly

First one obliged by allowing me to get within about four feet to photograph it while it rested in the garden.







Then I found another when we went walkabout down the lane



Both times they co-operated long enough to obtain some video



A bit wobbly as all were taken hand held.
All taken with the M5 and 18-150mm lens.

Eyeing Up the Next Meal?

A Common Darter dragonfly seems to have its eyes on the green bottle fly.



A hurried shot with the Nikon Coolpix S9050

Darting About

Rarely seen any dragonflies stay still this year. In fact I've only seen a few in flight so I was pleased to see this one settle in my garden long enough to photo.



It looks to me to be a female Common Darter.

The Pond Dragon

Mid August is usually the time when a few Dragonflies visit the garden pond. Not to breed like the Damselflies, I think they come just to feed as there is plenty of small insect life. Today it was the turn of two male Common Darters. One had chosen a particular vantage point on the old branches I set up in the forlorn hope a Kingfisher may use them one day:







As usual its head was in almost constant movement as those large eyes sought out the next meal. Nor did it stay still for very long, constantly taking off for a short flight and always returning to the same spot. I tried to get a flight shot but this was the nearest. I caught it just as it was landing.



All were taken with the Canon 70D fitted with a 100-400mm zoom lens used at maximum zoom. As the minimum focal distance is around 6m I was usually about 20ft away which meant Mr Dragon didn't bother about me taking his likeness and the background was well out of focus. All photos are crops.

First Dragon of the Year

Saturday saw the arrival of the first visiting dragonfly to my garden pond this year.
Looks to me like a female Common Darter.
It spent time making sorties round the pond, always returning to the same place.

 

 

At one point it appeared to be chasing this pair of damsels but gave up when they landed:

 

Returning to its vantage point where it rested watching them:








She stayed a couple of hours before moving on.

Darting About

I think I have seen more dragonflies this year than ever before but most of the time they have been on the move. Finally yesterday I managed to see a couple resting and soaking up the Sunshine.

I think these are both Common Darters, the first two of a female and the final two of a male.





The male amused me. The closer I got the camera the more it arched its body and spread its wings as though to make itself look larger in the presence of danger:

Friday at the Flicks - Dragonfly - Juvenile Goldfinch

A bit of video of the female Common Darter. A bit wobbly as I was balancing one leg of the tripod on the window ledge:



These past few days the level in the nyger feeders has been going down at an alarming rate. All of a sudden I get about a dozen Goldfinches visiting every day. Even when they are not all on the feeders I can hear them twittering to each other in nearby bushes. This video is of one the the juveniles having a good wash in the bird bath:




Have a great weekend observing the wildlife around you wherever you are.

A Dragon at Last

Recently there have been a few dragonflies visiting the garden. A male Common Darter and a Male Southern Hawker made a couple of visits but wouldn't stay in one place long enough to focus on them. Yesterday a female Common Darter did decide to take a rest several times in the same place giving me a photo opportunity at last.





It would be lovely if they would pair up and use the garden pond.