Common Darters mating and egg laying
This last Wednesday was lovely and warm in the New Forest and there was so many common darters around the woodland edges and streams. This stream seems to have no name on my OS map but one section of it is alive with common darters and the odd Southern Hawker.
On one sunny spot I must have seen about 20 darters about and many in the throws of mating and egg laying. With the sun shining and many of the trees still green and full of leaves......it was like a summers day and not autumn. I'm sure that will change soon.
Managed to take a few flight shots of the mated pairs. I think I'm correct in saying they stay joined like this for the egg laying stage mainly because the males wants to make sure the female lays his fertilized eggs.
I noticed a number of pairs having to stop and rest while they recover from what must be quite an exhausting exercise flying in tandem. The male still keeps a firm hold on the female to assure she lays only his fertilized eggs.
Common Darters mating and egg laying
This last Wednesday was lovely and warm in the New Forest and there was so many common darters around the woodland edges and streams. This stream seems to have no name on my OS map but one section of it is alive with common darters and the odd Southern Hawker.
On one sunny spot I must have seen about 20 darters about and many in the throws of mating and egg laying. With the sun shining and many of the trees still green and full of leaves......it was like a summers day and not autumn. I'm sure that will change soon.
Managed to take a few flight shots of the mated pairs. I think I'm correct in saying they stay joined like this for the egg laying stage mainly because the males wants to make sure the female lays his fertilized eggs.
I noticed a number of pairs having to stop and rest while they recover from what must be quite an exhausting exercise flying in tandem. The male still keeps a firm hold on the female to assure she lays only his fertilized eggs.