Four Spotted Chaser and Downy Emerald

[LindaB]

Finally saw my first DFs today at Thursley Nature Reserve :D

Lots of damsels but I didnt have time to get pics of them today as I wanted to try and get some dragon shots.

Lots of Four Spotted Chasers, got a couple of reasonable pics and just a couple of half decent Downy Emerald pics.

Four Spotted Chaser
http://www.pbase.com/lindabuckell/image/97616036.jpg


These arent brilliant because it is such a difficult dragonfly to take any photo of, they are exceedingly fast, hardly ever perch, but are stunningly beautiful when the sun catches them, particularly the eyes. The only chance I got for a hit or miss shot was when it literally momentarily hovered nearby. Would have loved to get better pics of it, but thats out of my league I think lol.

http://www.pbase.com/lindabuckell/image/97614234.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/lindabuckell/image/97614241.jpg

Linda

[macro junkie]

amazing..do u think i could get shots with this with 60mm :)."yer right" i hear u say :lol: man i need some more lens.

what lens is that your using?200mm macro?

[LindaB]

amazing..do u think i could get shots with this with 60mm :)."yer right" i hear u say :lol: man i need some more lens.

what lens is that your using?200mm macro?

MJ - hey, definitely difficult with the 60mm unless you are right on top of them and the chances of that are slim unless its very early morning and they havent warmed up, or when they have emerged for a while ie they have fed, mated and chilled out lol, they arent quite so skittish. All of these were very lively today so a longer lense is more helpful.

I use my Canon 70-200 F4L USM for DFs, I put the limiter on for the 4ft distance and go for it lol. Its very much luck of the draw with what you get though unless you find the perch and sit there absolutely still and be very very patient - I cant do that though because the places are normally a bit dicey with biting things and I dont risk it. This year is going to be particularly bad for biting flies because even now, wooded areas and water areas are absolutely covered in them - think its because of all the rain last year they have really bred.

Linda

[LordV]

Lovely shots Linda- esp jealous of the DIFs :)
Brian V.

[alliec]

Brilliant DIF shots Linda.

[lcpete]

all great shots Linda
well done on the Downy Emerald not seen one of those before
good idea to use the 70-200 for dragonflies I've got the same lens but I havent tried it for dragonflies yet
Pete

[LindaB]

Lovely shots Linda- esp jealous of the DIFs :)
Brian V.

Thanks Brian - well they arent that good but better than no shots at all.


Brilliant DIF shots Linda.

Too kind Alistair, they really arent that good, but I am consoling myself with the fact that they are comparatively small but extremely fast.


all great shots Linda
well done on the Downy Emerald not seen one of those before
good idea to use the 70-200 for dragonflies I've got the same lens but I havent tried it for dragonflies yet
Pete

Thanks Pete - re the Downy Emerald, well at first I was convinced it was a Hairy DF but wasnt until I viewed them on the pc I realised it was a Downy. It is such a fast DF its very difficult to know for sure, but I will know in future because it holds its abdomen at an angle when hovering, its slightly curved - no others do this except the Emeralds, so keep your eyes peeled, they are fast movers lol.

Def try the 70-200, it makes it a bit easier.

Linda

[dpastern]

Pretty damn good if you ask me Linda - far better than any of my attempts at DIFs...

Dave

[LindaB]

Pretty damn good if you ask me Linda - far better than any of my attempts at DIFs...

Dave


Hi Dave - thats very kind of you, thank you. Glad you liked them :D

By the way, did your website post disappear? I cant find it now, and I did respond - did they move it or delete it?

Linda

[dreamline]

Don't know about being out of your league.

These are lovely shots Linda. That 70-200 is a very versatile lens.

[skylab]

Great shots Linda. Not seen any dragonflies yet, still waiting.

[LindaB]

Don't know about being out of your league.

These are lovely shots Linda. That 70-200 is a very versatile lens.

Aww, thanks dreamline, thats so kind of you. Yes, I agree, the 70-200 is very versatile and everyone should have one. If I go out and I dont know whether Im going to do macro or anything that just comes along, I keep this one on and change lense if I have to.


Great shots Linda. Not seen any dragonflies yet, still waiting.

Thanks Brian - I had to go out and look for these, havent seen any around my town - none yet at the little pond near my work so I had to get my fix somehow lol.

Linda

[dpastern]

Hi Dave - thats very kind of you, thank you. Glad you liked them :D

By the way, did your website post disappear? I cant find it now, and I did respond - did they move it or delete it?

Linda

You're welcome. As to the website post, I'm not sure!

Dave

[red_fan]

Great shots Linda. I love Thursley, and would be there everyday if I could.

Stephen

[LindaB]

Great shots Linda. I love Thursley, and would be there everyday if I could.

Stephen

Hi Stephen

Yes, its a great place to visit. It is absolutely swarming with biting insects already so spray yourself if you go.

Linda

[red_fan]

Probably wont get down there much this year as I am car-less at the moment. Did go down via train a couple of years ago and walked from Milford which is about 5 km away from the moat pond. Was a long but enjoyable day, but not one I would want to repeat.

Cornmill Dragonfly Sanctuary is easier to get to now, so that will be getting a visit in the next few weeks.

Stephen

[johnkermit1]

. great series! cant even begin to try an in flight, :cool:

[LindaB]

. great series! cant even begin to try an in flight, :cool:

Aww, thanks :) In-flights are tricky but sometimes you get lucky, just keep trying and you will get some I promise.

Linda

[macro junkie]

if u wanted to could u off got 100 mm away from the dragonfly?

[Attic]

Nice in-flights Linda. Tricky I would imagine and you done great ;)

[LindaB]

if u wanted to could u off got 100 mm away from the dragonfly?


MJ - I possibly could with the four spotted chasers but probably not with the downy emerald.

It often depends on what sort of dragonfly it is and how skittish they are at the time - unless of course you go very early moring and find them still perched before they have warmed up.

Knowing the different dragonflies and the behaviour of each one, can help with determining how close you might be able to get. The little darters for instance, are quite friendly and you can normally get very close to them - even a 60mm would get great pics you can get that close to them sometimes - these will sometimes land on your hand or your head lol.

Likewise the Skimmers will sometimes allow you to, but not always. Some are far more territorial than others as well, so there are many factors which determine which lense you might get lucky with. Plus of course the location and how easy it is to reach them and not get a bootful :lol:

Some of the Hawkers are very inquisitive and will literally hover right in front of your face if you are in their flying line lol.

I would not reckon your chances with the Downy Emerald though unless you got really lucky.

Linda

[LindaB]

Nice in-flights Linda. Tricky I would imagine and you done great ;)


Aww, thanks Alby - yes, this one certainly is a tricky one to get a pic of but absolutely gorgeous to see, especially when the sun is on them.

Linda