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There was a lot of action on my garden pond today! I've never seen so many damselflies in one place and they were all competing for a spot on the Lilly pads. Now, if I could divert a river and get Demoiselles in the garden then I'd be super happy!
Another fun few hours spent capturing the bees in my garden, so many different types too! I love the way this one is peeking out from the shadow of the catmint.
With the weather taking a turn for the worse here in Sussex I doubt I'll see my new friends again for a while, but when the sun shines they are frequent visitors to my garden. The bokeh was light hitting globe thistles in the background.
This is quite a small post but I've had up to 3 starlings land on it fighting for the best view in the house! These two youngsters managed to share without squabbling though.
As the sun was setting the starlings were still hunting for that late night snack!
Taken in my garden :o)
I'm having so much fun capturing this little fella. It's so sunny and hot, perfect dragonfly weather, that I'm getting plenty of opportunities to catch this darter in flight. This is either just leaving or just coming into his perch and I was set up on a tripod today so I could use my phone app to trigger the camera and not be out in the blazing sun. I positioned the camera to get my hedge, which is in the shade, as a background and under exposed by about 3 stops. Their wings sparkle like spun gold!
It's been dreadful few days of wind, rain and dismal greyness so I thought I would brighten the day with a blast from the past. My favourite summer activity was catching the bees in takeoff and there is no better backdrop than the cheery Helenium!
It was fascinating to watch this common darter cleaning his eyes, using the top pair of legs like windscreen wipers.
Garden pond update...
Two more common darters emerged from their nymph stage today, but sadly only one made it as yet again one failed to master flying quickly enough and landed right back in the pond. I managed to lift it out of the water but there was too much damage to its wings for it to fly again.
One of the many starling fledglings to visit my garden, and they certainly know how to shout for food!
A newly emerged common dater dragonfly in my garden still dripping as it stiffens ready to fly for the first time.
Our new pond is already paying dividends with regular visits from common darters. Todays visit was rather exciting though with this mating pair hanging around just long enough to get a few shots and then depositing the next generation right there in the water.
Garden pond update...
Two more common darters emerged from their nymph stage today, but sadly only one made it as yet again one failed to master flying quickly enough and landed right back in the pond. I managed to lift it out of the water but there was too much damage to its wings for it to fly again.
I have really enjoyed this last few weeks of summer sun as the dragonflies have been so active in my garden giving me lots of opportunities to catch these guys in flight. So be warned, there will be a few more to come!
Sorry guys, I can't make my mind up so here is a series of dragonfly images I took in my garden. As you can see, it is the same common darter on a garden sculpture but turning just a couple of inches one way or another gave me these different backgrounds.
This year saw our first dragonflies emerge from the pond, at least 7 or 8 common darters at the last count, and I was able to watch 4 of them as they dried their wings ready for take-off! Sadly not all of them made it further than the pond, two ditching in the water and damaging their wings beyond repair, but today a darter was feeding at the pond and I like to think it is one of this years brood but who knows. They are great fun to watch and quite chilled about the camera, taking off to catch their prey and landing all in a fraction of a second.
After another deluge this afternoon I couldn't believe the sun would come out again today but as soon as it did the insects were back out in force!
This little guy is doing a fab job bringing up his family and really appreciates a helping hand from the Susie Supermarket!
All the food I put out gets instantly mobbed by the larger birds so I have to stay put whist this Dad does the meal run!
Sorry for another image dump guys but I want to populate a new album of insects for 2020, please feel free to browse if you want or just ignore.
Sorry for another image dump guys but I want to populate a new album of insects for 2020, please feel free to browse if you want or just ignore.
A few more starling youngsters playing in my garden.
All taken using pro-capture, allowing you to take the image after the action has happened!
A few more starling youngsters playing in my garden.
All taken using pro-capture, allowing you to take the image after the action has happened!
We have been very lucky this year to witness 12 new darters emerge from my pond, sadly this one is unlikely to make it as the weather has made a change for the worse with cold and wet weather due for a few days.
Garden pond update...
Two more common darters emerged from their nymph stage today, but sadly only one made it as yet again one failed to master flying quickly enough and landed right back in the pond. I managed to lift it out of the water but there was too much damage to its wings for it to fly again.