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Dragonflies & Damselflies Page 26

Image Taken on 21 Aug 2022 at 17:36    Image of day on 30 Sep 2022

These two male Migrant Hawker Dragon flies are NOT a montage. We watched one of these land to hang in the hedge, and the camera found two almost perfectly aligned as you see here. The cameraman really did think he was getting some sort of double image, but quickly realised not, to get this pic. Trying to get a better angle induced one to take off. The other either took off unseen or just used it's camouflage to stay hidden.


Ref: 20220930_df3_20220821_1736_175 2 migrant hawker dragonfly males hanging from hedge branch (crop)(r+mb id@1024).jpg


Image Taken on 11 Sep 2015 at 14:56    Image of day on 05 Nov 2015

A Migrant Hawker Dragonfly insect catch in a last moment sweep upwards with legs formed into the 'net' they employ.
We started out assuming that the prey was fairly stationary in the air, and intending to montage as 3 images with separating bars, but it turned out that the wind was blowing them both along, so this is an accurate montage.


Ref: 20151105_df3_20150911_1456_504-406 migrant hawker dragonfly veering upwards to catch insect 1-3 of 3 (accurate montage at 7fps)(r+mb id@768).jpg


Image Taken on 23 Aug 2021 at 12:40    Image of day on 05 Oct 2021

There are perhaps a dozen Migrant Hawker Dragonflies around the house and Meadow. This one stopped on this twig just long enough to get this pic.


Ref: 20211005_d73_20210823_1240_017 migrant hawker male hanging from twig(r+mb id@768).jpg


Image Taken on 01 Aug 2022 at 15:14    Image of day on 15 Sep 2022

Here are the same pair more as human brains re-construct the images it gets from the eyes flitting between the two and re-focussing without you noticing. So this is a montage of camera frames focussed on each insect in turn. Hope that you will enjoy this 'impression'.


Ref: 20220915_d72_20220801_1514_030+033 2 migrant hawkers in hedge at blocked gate (female over male) 9 of 9 (accurate montage for focus)(r+mb id@768).jpg


Image Taken on 01 Aug 2022 at 15:14    Image of day on 15 Sep 2022

A 'pair' (one female and the other male - but they don't pair up for more than mating) of Migrant Hawkers were warming themselves in a well chosen sunny spot at the corner of a hedge. Here the male is in the foreground with the blurred female behind and left. The insects are only about 10cm apart, but close-up focus is very sensitive to distance.


Ref: 20220915_d72_20220801_1514_021 2 migrant hawkers perched in hedge tree at blocked gate 5 of 9 (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg


Image Taken on 03 Jun 2010 at 12:45    Image of day on 13 Jul 2010

But mating is a dangerous time where the insects are more intent on what they are doing than looking out for danger. Sad for the insect, but this sort of thing goes unseen all summer long.



Ref: 20100713_dc1_20100603_1245_067+070+095 moorhen adult catching mating azure damselflies & feeding to chick 01+04+29 of 30 (montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg


Image Taken on 08 Jun 2008 at 13:58    Image of day on 17 Jun 2008

This is two pairs of Azure damselflies laying eggs in 'Duck' pond among the miniature water lilies and duckweed. The female on the right has her ovipositor under the water.


Ref: 20080617_dc1_20080608_1358_039 2 pairs of azure damselflies laying in duck pond (web crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 13 Jun 2010 at 09:52    Image of day on 17 Jul 2010

9 days later we spotted this female Red-eyed damselfly this time with - wait for it - Red eyes - in a weedy patch 100m from any pond.


Ref: 20100717_df1_20100613_0952_055 red-eyed damselfly female (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 22 May 2009 at 13:34    Image of day on 16 Jun 2009

A Red-Eyed damselfly with wonderful bronze and bright yellow-green body, and of course red eyes. This is a female not yet ready to breed.


Ref: 20090616_d01_20090522_1334_192+1123_029 ft1 red-eyed damselfly imm female in flight with blackthorn (montage)(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 22 May 2009 at 13:40    Image of day on 16 Jun 2009




Ref: 20090616_d01_20090522_1340_214 ft1 red-eyed damselfly imm female on blackthorn leaf side view (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 04 Jun 2010 at 16:07    Image of day on 17 Jul 2010

A red-eyed damselfly without red eyes!
Many damselflies and dragonflies change colour hugely during their lives and this the form of the immature male - yet to develop red eyes and blue colouration on the last 2 tail segments. Thanks to Alan Nelson of the BDS for the ID.


Ref: 20100717_da1_20100604_1607_359+20100606_1040_001_ft1 red-eyed damselfly imm male in flight with hop sedge (carex pseudocyperus) (montage 1)(r+mb id@1024).jpg


Image Taken on 24 Aug 2007 at 15:57    Image of day on 16 Sep 2007

The dragonflies are now zooming around like fighter pilots. When they stop for a moment you can get a pic.


Ref: 20070916_d01_20070824_1557_327 ruddy darter dragonfly (web crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 21 Jul 2021 at 11:04    Image of day on 28 Aug 2021

Our first Darter Dragonfly ID of the year (21 July 2021). This is a female Ruddy Darter managing to partly obscure herself on the other side of a very chewed up Iris frond in the middle of the main pond.


Ref: 20210828_d73_20210721_1104_114 ruddy darter dragonfly female on partly eaten iris frond(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 07 Oct 2022 at 12:37    Image of day on 13 Nov 2022

50 metres away we find this female Ruddy Darter Dragonfly on the sun-warned armrest an old bench seat.


Ref: 20221113_df3_20221007_1237_079 ruddy darter dragonfly female on warm arm of wooden bench(r+mb id@1024).jpg


Image Taken on 25 Aug 2024 at 10:20    Image of day on 11 Oct 2024

A male Ruddy Darter Dragonfly.


Ref: 20241011_d72_20240825_1020_273 ruddy darter dragonfly male(r+mb id@768).jpg


Image Taken on 23 Aug 2024 at 12:54    Image of day on 10 Oct 2024

A male Ruddy Darter Dragonfly perched on the top of a seed head, ready to dart out and grab some passing midge.


Ref: 20241010_d72_20240823_1254_178 ruddy darter dragonfly male(r+mb id@1024).jpg


Image Taken on 23 Aug 2019 at 12:44    Image of day on 23 Oct 2019

A male Ruddy Darter Dragonfly perched on bent over Iris leaf.
This is how they hunt - perch over the water and dash out when they see something to catch.


Ref: 20191023_df3_20190823_1244_444 ruddy darter dragonfly male(r+mb id@768).jpg


Image Taken on 05 Aug 2019 at 13:01    Image of day on 19 Sep 2019

A few days later a male Ruddy Darter Dragonfly again shows his rich red colouration.


Ref: 20190919_df3_20190805_1301_013 ruddy darter dragonfly male(r+mb id@768).jpg


Image Taken on 21 Aug 2018 at 15:54    Image of day on 13 Oct 2018

This mature male Ruddy Darter Dragonfly's wings are still mostly intact, but the trailing edges are showing signs of wear - mostly likely dragged over the thorns on a few Blackberry stems.


Ref: 20181013_df3_20180821_1554_037 ruddy darter dragonfly male (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg


Image Taken on 21 Aug 2018 at 15:55    Image of day on 13 Oct 2018

This mature male Ruddy Darter Dragonfly's worn wings not as obvious here, and you get a proper view of the body.


Ref: 20181013_df3_20180821_1555_042 ruddy darter dragonfly male (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg


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