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.

Down the Lane

Most days we go walkies down to the end of the lane after our tea time meal. Usually this time of year there are several dragonflies darting about. This year they seem quite scarce but yesterday I spotted a movement along the top of the thorn hedge. 

Difficult to get a decent photograph as it was high up. 

 

I think it was a female Common Darter. It didn't stay in view long enough for a good shot. 

 Continuing on to the end of the lane we could see the crop looks to be in decent condition. 

 

Fortunately we haven't had any really heavy rain or strong wind to flatten it, so far.

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

Here Be Dragons

Well, one dragon(fly) anyway.
My first spotting this year.



A Southern Hawker seen dashing around the tall hedge next to the cricket field.
They usually arrive here about this time of year to feed on the small insects.

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.

A UDO and an IFO

First the UDO (unidentified dangling object)



Every now and then when I notice the DVR is recording from one of my cameras all that can be seen gently wafting in the breeze is a perfectly circular object illuminated by the IR lights.  Is it an as yet unidentified species of legless spider or the world's smallest UFO caught in a web? It shouldn't be a water droplet as it hasn't rained since early morning. No mist and too warm then to cause dew to form.

Now the IFO (identified flying object)



A grounded Common Darter Dragonfly. At first I thought it was dead until it flew away when I tried to move closer. The above is a small crop from the only shot I managed. I've seen several different types of dragon flitting about on our mid-afternoon walks but so far this is the only one I've seen settle for a while.

On a different topic. A bit if a quandary when typing the title to this post. Should UDO have a or an in front of it? If one reads just the initial letters - U D O - when spoken we would say "a U ....". If UDO is read aloud as words one would say "an Unidentified ......" English can get very complicated at times.  Where is my old English teacher when I need him?

Hanging Around

Spotted in the garden:



Not sure whether it was a Common or Southern Hawker dragonfly.

A First For My Pond

Pottering round the garden I suddenly noticed a pair of Common Darter Dragonflies. I have often seen them singly but this was the first time of seeing a pair together. Had to dash in to grab the Canon as the pocket Nikon would never have focussed on them:



Not only that but the female kept dipping her 'tail' in the water:



Which I assume meant she was depositing eggs:



I was able to grab a few seconds of video before they moved on:



Here's hoping the pond is now a breeding ground for Dragonflies as well as Damselflies. Not forgetting the frogs and newts which also breed there.

Common Darter Dragonfly

Here is another dragonfly which seemed as though it liked to have its photo taken as it kept returning to the same planter even when I was very close:

Migrant Hawker?

Spotted down the lane on our afternoon walk:



I could only grab a quick photo with the pocket Nikon before it moved on.
The body pattern and size seems to me to suggest it was a Migrant Hawker.
Unusual though is the apparent change in colour, part brown and blue and part black and blue.

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:

Meadow Brown ?? + Broad-bodied Chaser

Walking past a nettle patch on the edge of the cricket field I could see the usual Red Admirals and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies. Flitting among them was one lone large brown coloured flutter which led me a merry dance as I tried to photograph it for later identification. This was the best I could manage:



The best identification I could get from my Guide to Butterflies of Britain was the Meadow Brown. I hope it is as I don't remember seeing, let alone photographing, one before now.

A lovely surprise was a large flash of orange brown fluttering round my garden pond. A Broad-bodied Chaser Dragonfly. It's several years since I last saw one in the garden and those sightings were of males. This time it was a female which made several brief sorties over the pond. Only landing once to give a brief opportunity for a photo.



Unfortunately she wouldn't let me move round to get a better shot. At one time their distribution was listed as being Southern England and Wales but I think they have been spreading further North as average temperatures have risen. When I first saw this one she appeared to be flying up from water level. I do hope they start to breed in my pond as it would be great to have a local colony.

There are a few of the regular Blue Tailed Damselflies around the pond as they do breed there. I was fascinated watching one male chasing a Hoverfly. No matter how the Hoverfly twisted and turned the Damsel followed its flight exactly until it took refuge in some dense vegetation.

First Dragon of the Season

While walking down the lane yesterday I finally got to see the first dragonfly of the season, a Common Hawker which did at least land a couple of times. The first time Penny managed to scare it away but on the second I managed a few shots though lighting conditions didn't help in showing the wing structure.



I am always fascinated by the geometrical regularity and beauty of natures' structures as on this Bull Thistle found at the edge of the cricket field.



Minnie the Minx Windmill is based on the Beano comic character though to be true she should have red and not yellow on her jumper.



I can't work out whether she is commercially made or home made but given a bit of breeze she does work hard and while she's doing that she can't get up to any mischief.

Have a great weekend observing the wildlife around you.

Little Lost Dragon

One minute I am complaining that there haven't been many Dragonflies around the garden this year then one decides to come to visit me. This Common Hawker flew in to the conservatory on Sunday and attached itself to the greenhouse shading I use to cut down the amount of direct sunlight through the roof. As it was hanging upside down I got a view I don't see very often.

A Common Hawker

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.