red_fan
5th of June 2009 (Fri), 05:50
You couldnt make it up.
Went down to my local pond yesterday to try and photograph black tailed skimmers that have recently emerged there.
On arrival I noticed that there were some red-eyed damselflies within easy photographing distance so put down my camera bag and went after them - a few minutes later my battery died so I went back toward my bag, and lo and behold sat on my bag was a pristine black tailed skimmer. But no battery left and where were the spares - yes in said bag. Had no choice but to disturb the dragon which promptly flew out of sight.
As I walk further round the pond I see a meadow brown butterfly on the ground in front of me, and as I creep closer I notice what I think is a beetle making its way through the grass. As I look closer I realise it is a dragonfly larva making its way to a suitable place for its final moult. So basically for the next couple of hours I follow the larva and then watch the dragonfly emerge - and it is a black tailed skimmer!
So in the end I got what I went for - but also had the privilege of seeing and photographing my first ever emergence. A wonderful experience.
Stephen
P.S. Must say I was surprised at the numbers of damselflies and dragonflies at Hampton Wick pond - easily 100s of damselflies many in mating wheels - and a lot of emporers and black tailed/keeled skimmers over the water. Significantly more than I have seen over the last couple of years.
Went down to my local pond yesterday to try and photograph black tailed skimmers that have recently emerged there.
On arrival I noticed that there were some red-eyed damselflies within easy photographing distance so put down my camera bag and went after them - a few minutes later my battery died so I went back toward my bag, and lo and behold sat on my bag was a pristine black tailed skimmer. But no battery left and where were the spares - yes in said bag. Had no choice but to disturb the dragon which promptly flew out of sight.
As I walk further round the pond I see a meadow brown butterfly on the ground in front of me, and as I creep closer I notice what I think is a beetle making its way through the grass. As I look closer I realise it is a dragonfly larva making its way to a suitable place for its final moult. So basically for the next couple of hours I follow the larva and then watch the dragonfly emerge - and it is a black tailed skimmer!
So in the end I got what I went for - but also had the privilege of seeing and photographing my first ever emergence. A wonderful experience.
Stephen
P.S. Must say I was surprised at the numbers of damselflies and dragonflies at Hampton Wick pond - easily 100s of damselflies many in mating wheels - and a lot of emporers and black tailed/keeled skimmers over the water. Significantly more than I have seen over the last couple of years.