In July last year I was shown the delights of the Canvey Island ditch in south Essex by John Wiltshire. It was a very hot, sunny day and our target, the Southern Migrant Hawker dragonfly, was in no mood to settle to have it’s picture taken! On Friday I decided to treat Mrs H to a day out as things have been somewhat topsy-turvy just lately. It was going to be hot but with some cloud at times so somewhere nice and scenic with a bit of interest for me, where better “To the ditch!” Ok so it’s not that scenic, I may have glossed it up a bit to wangle a day’s dragonfly watching but pack a nice pic-nic and let’s make the most of a glorious summer day. Two hours and a hundred and thirteen miles later and we were ‘darn sarf’.

So a quick recap. The Southern Migrant Hawker is a rare dragonfly in the UK. It only colonised after an influx in 2010 and is mainly found around the Thames Estuary (hence the trip to Canvey) where it was found to have bred. It is medium sized, about 2.5 inches (60mm) long with (the male) striking bright blue eyes and black & blue abdomen. As last year, the males were holding territory along the ditch, patrolling up and down looking for emerged females. On the territory boundary a small clash would ensue if two arrived at the same time. I was hoping if the cloud covered the sun for a while then they might settle, wrong. They went into a feeding frenzy. Nothing for it, I would have to resort to in-flight shots. Now I know some of you have tried this amusing form of wild life photography but for others who have not, this was my approach. Keep on the macro lens (they can come close plus the lens is sharper) set to manual focus, use shutter priority (I set 1/1250th sec), lowest iso you can get away with, in bright sun it was 320 and let the apperture sort itself out. Watch your subject, they tend to have a flight pattern and will hover for a second or two, now is the time to focus and shoot. Easy yes? No! A hit rate of about 1 in 30.

We noticed a pair in tandem where they fly with the male grasping the females neck (who says romance is dead?) and they dropped into the ditch. Tina’s sharp eyes picked them out, they were ovipositing. Most dragons lay eggs directly into the water or submerged water plants, affinis lays in the cracks in mud with the male lowering his mate down. Here the eggs go into diapause (dormant) waiting for the winter rains to fill the ditch or until conditions are right, maybe a year or two, then the life cycle is completed in very quick time.

There were lots of butterflies in the field including a few Marbled Whites which were coming to the end of their flight period. Also hundreds of smaller dragonflies, the darters. Mrs H was sitting in the shade and called me over to see a very friendly female Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum). It was sitting on a grass flower and going into the obelisk position. This was to keep the insect cool by ensuring the minimum amount of sun was on it.

Well not a bad day out but when the herd of cattle moved into the field, complete with calves, it was time to call it a day and head for home.
The first shot is a stunner – one of, if not the best In-Flight shots of a dragonfly I have seen. And I follow an SA dragonfly group on FB.
Superb, MIster B.
Deserves a frame and wall.
Pee Ess.
Thanks for the photography lesson. I hope I can put your advice to good use.
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That is high praise Ark, I like that image but being self critical I wish some parts were better. When we get our new place I have said I will print off some of my favourite shots, it will be nice to decorate some walls with memories.
Have fun if you try in-flights oh and patience….lot’s of it!
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Patience is the key. Your admission regarding the ”hit rate” of capturing that one good shot is probably par for the course for all of us, although it will likely be slightly higher or lower depending on the subject.
All said, that is still a damn good shot.
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Very nice set of images! Enjoyed seeing some of your Countries dragonflies! Well done!
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Cheers Reed.
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No, not a bad outing at all! The Dragonfly and butterfly images are wonderful! I love the one in flight image at the top! Not an easy thing to catch!
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Thanks Deborah. Pleased with that shot, the only one worth sharing. It is so difficult to focus in a split second.
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Not a bad day indeed. Thank you for taking me along with you.
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My pleasure Michael, love sharing my sightings.
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Great tutorial on your Southern Migrant Hawker and incredible photos! You’re correct about how most dragonflies lay their eggs directly in the water, which is fun to watch. Still, it’s nice that this pair does it together. Who says romance is dead? 🙂
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Didn’t look too romantic Tina but a good way of lowering the lady into the cracks!
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Lol
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Wonderful photography, Brian. The top image is pure magic!
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Thanks Pete, got lucky with that shot.
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Wonderful! 🙂
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Thanks my friend!
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What a shot, a dragonfly in flight. Often tried it, never succeeded. So thank you for the instructions! I’ll try this out. Butterfly and Ruddy Darter are great captures too.
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Lots of patience Greta. It’s fun trying and if you get one sharp in focus it’s worth all the many shots that will be deleted. I’m fond of that Ruddy Darter image too.
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Wonderful photos! You catch such amazing photos – the last one is outstanding.
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That’s very kind of you to say so Kim, I appreciate that thanks.
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I always have the upmost respect for you and your photography. Those darn butterflies and dragonflies are fast! To document the colors is wonderful. Thanks for sharing your gift.
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My pleasure to share CJ, so glad you like my offerings.
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Great 👍
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Thanks!
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Very nice in-flight shot, Brian!
A lot of patience required and your photo tips are appreciated. My hit rate is likely much lower! I need to practice more.
Sounds like a great day, despite the bovine interruption.
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It was a lovely day. Tina is not keen on cows, they don’t bother me too much (we used to have one when I was growing up) but with calves you have to be a bit careful, it’s horses I don’t like to be near.
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