It’s been a few weeks since I have subjected you, my dear readers, to a dragonfly post. It’s not that I have been ignoring these gorgeous aerial assassins, oh no far from it. I have been clicking away and recording my sightings so that on a wet, windy, Friday I can overload your senses with their varied beauty. Today is that wet, windy, Friday.
And to hold your attention and stop you dozing off, at the end of the post is something a little bit special. No cheating and skipping through the images so you can get on and do your daily chores, I may be asking questions so pay attention at the back!
Right we are nearly at the end so here is the first surprise. Yesterday (5th) I was pond watching when a damselfly landed on a lily pad. First glance and I thought it was a Blue-tailed. Second glance and it was not right as the blue was at the very tip of the abdomen and the eyes seemed reddish in colour. Quickly grabbed the camera and confirmation, a Small Red-eyed Damselfly (Erythromma viridulum). This damsel first colonised the UK in 1999 and have spread to many areas. I remember seeing some of the first and it was quite exciting for dragonfly watchers. They are not that common and I would never have expected one in the garden. This is the 13th species I have recorded at our pond in the year we have lived here.
So we come to the end of the post and the BIG surprise. I know, the photo isn’t great lots of vegetation in the way but this is a bit special. A couple of days ago I was wandering around Winterton Dunes watching the dragonflies in a feeding frenzy and one caught my eye. I couldn’t place it but as it sped around I kept seeing a bright blue band and my mind went into overdrive. It had to be one of two species, both rare vagrants from Southern Europe. Then, by sheer luck, it settled for just a few seconds right close by just enough time for two shots. There we have it a Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope). Only first recorded in the UK in 1996, it has bred but is still a very rare beast. Even better. I returned the next morning and it was still there in the same area only now there was two! This time there was no photo opportunities but you should have seen the size of my smile!
So that’s it class you can all run along now and play nicely. If you wish to see more of these beautiful creatures check out https://blhphotoblog.wordpress.com/british-damsel-dragonflies/
Thank you for sharing these great dragonfly photos!
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My pleasure Hien!
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Excellent shots of damsels and dragons…of course, flies!!😊
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Big thanks Indira!
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Aha, you do have some of the same odes we have — L. dryas is common here, but we call it the Emerald Spreadwing. And wowie, your Lesser Emperor sighting was fantastic — it’s always a a treat to get an Anax perched for a photo, and a rare one is even better!
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Amazing, I never realised that the L. dryas had such a wide range! In the UK it has a very restricted population centred on two areas.
Always difficult to get an Anax sitting still, a bit of cloud cover helps to calm them but as you say to get a rare one…
Thanks for stopping to take a look.
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How cool to record 13 on your own pond!!! How did you ever get into watching dragonflies? What a wealth of knowledge you pass on to those of us that just think it is cool that you can get them to pose for you long enough to capture.
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Always liked watching dragons and just read up lots of books to help me identify them better. It stemmed from summer months when bird watching became quite slow before the migration period.
Thanks for popping over CJ.
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😊
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excellent photos of lovely beasts!
Wished we got them up here.
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Thanks Pete.
It has to be said that there are several species north of the border I would love to see. Maybe one day before we rebuild the wall to keep you lot out 😉
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Wonderful shots, the picture of the dragonfly in full flight is wonderfull.
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Thank you Rudi! That in-flight took some getting, never easy.
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A wonderful lesson and great photos. Thanks Brian! 😊
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Cheers Mike appreciate that but where’s my apple?
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Some really beautiful photos. Congrats one your two rare captures.
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Thanks David it’s been quite a year for photographing new and rare dragonflies.
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How exciting for you, Brian. Since there were two emperors, let’s hope they will multiply (provided the two weren’t of the same gender).
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There is a good chance (50/50) Tanja! Seriously it would be nice if it happened locally but they would still be hard to find!
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Very nice collection, Brian!
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Cheers Steve.
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Seeing all this beautiful Identified Flying Objects must be a happy season for the Dragonfly/Damselfly spotter. Thanks for sharing these captures, loved watching them.
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Thank you Greta. This year has been so good for photographing new dragons and damsels, to find such a rare one is the icing on the cake.
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Maybe the dragonfly also wanted to learn German? Your photos are gorgeous and what a nice variety of dragons and damsels. Interestingly, I’ve seen fewer at my pond this summer and I’m wondering if our horrific February storm put a dent in their overwintering population.
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That would be fun a German speaking dragonfly!
I doubt the storm would have affected the populations unless all ponds froze solid for weeks. There would not be any adults about in winter (maybe in Texas though?) so all the nymphs would have been deep down in the breeding pools keeping warm.
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Oh how I love your dragonflies!! I need to travel somewhere else so I can find some new dragonflies to photograph! I loved this post ❣❣❣
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Thanks Lisa!
Like you I would like to travel to see some new species, Scotland would be my first choice. Maybe if the world can settle down a bit and we can go back to a sort of normal.
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Yes, let’s hope!! Until then, I do enjoy your photos!
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Simply fabulous, Brian. I had never really considered diversity in dragonfly species. It’s good to have one’s ignorance so beautifully rectified.
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Many thanks Tish, sometimes you have to look close to see the variety, not always easy with these hyper creatures!
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When I was scanning one of my Africa landscape photos yesterday, I noticed I’d caught in close-up albeit small-ly a red looking dragonfly right in the corner of the shot. Rather magical.
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Very nice series of images! Enjoyed seeing them!
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Thanks Reed, always nice to see a variety on the wing.
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Gorgeous captures! 😊👍
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Thank you!
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First, I was enthralled at all the wonderful odes!
Then, I started feeling sorry for myself that I haven’t found anything “new”.
Then, I was frustrated with your in-flight Emperor photograph because my similar attempts yesterday were all out-of-focus.
Finally, I sipped more coffee while viewing your spectacular images once again.
All is right with the world.
Thank you for sharing, Brian!
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Thanks for the visit Wally.
I’ve been very fortunate this year with ‘new’ finds but it’s a rare event these days so don’t feel sorry for yourself, your luck will change when least expected.
Out of focus in-flights? Tell me about it! The hit rate is abysmal! Just keep snapping.
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How exciting to have two new and rare ones come to your pond!!!
They’re all beautiful, but my favorite today is that top Emerald. It’s so pretty!
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Thanks Deborah, it’s been a really good year!
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😀
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Now that is some great tins. Your pond is really come along nicely as well! I was actually birding with Ron in Chicago last week and he noted your new post had come through – finally getting to it (connectivity still sucks) and it was worth the wait. Is there a Big Year for dragons?
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I’m sure there are people in the UK who want to see all species available in a year. I know some folks do our 58 butterflies in a year, some try it every year! Need a big cheque book and a forgiving wife for that!
Regards to Ron. You will have to tell him to slow down, the number of posts he has put out recently are difficult to keep up with 🤔🤣🤣🤣😂
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Yep, non-listers never consider the $$$’s it takes to get those numbers up. Note, I startled my wife when I blurted out a laugh reading your last line — too funny.
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Brian, it’s a great pleasure to watch your work and learn from you! Fabulous photography once again.
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Thanks so much Dina, I really appreciate that!
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Impressive images of these beautiful “aviators”!
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Thank you Anita!
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Super closeup photography done with much patience and passion. Also welcocme to visit y travel-lifestyle blog, Thanks 🙂
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Thanks for the nice comment!
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I am amazed at how many dragonfly photos you manage to shoot, Brian. They can be quite a challenge unless you catch them early in the day, so full kudos for these!
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I guess it’s the amount of hours I put in and the willingness to travel that racks up the numbers Pete, oh, also lots of patience and a huge helping of luck!
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Wonderful dragonfly photos.
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Appreciate that many thanks!
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