Nervous
It wasn’t me that was nervous, I should stress – I’m no reptile expert, but I recognised this as a Grass Snake, and even if I hadn’t, I was standing on a wooden platform at least a foot above the … Continued
Praenubila
This morning the Orchard Pond at Cleeve Prior Community Orchard was being ruled by a pair of Four-spotted Chasers. They were, of course, chasing each other, but they also set on any other large insects they noticed trying to access … Continued
Water Shrew
When I arrived home this afternoon and told R that I’d just spent forty five minutes trying to photograph something that wasn’t a dragonfly, he looked understandably bemused and asked me what it was. “I don’t actually know,” I said. … Continued
Blue Chaser
Wait – what? Blue, you say? But… he’s red…? Well, yes, at the moment he’s red – or reddish, at any rate. But as he matures his thorax will darken through brown to black, his abdomen will acquire a coating … Continued
Substitute
I woke at 7.30am to a bright and sunny morning, and R, who’d already been up for some while, said, “I wondered whether I should wake you, so you could go out and look for dragons.” I said – and … Continued
Unexpected
This was a surprise. With L and H both due home for a quick visit I knew I wouldn’t have much time for photography today, so I went out early to my neighbours’ orchard pond, and found both yesterday’s fresh … Continued
Guard duty
Male Four-spotted Chasers don’t hover much – they tend to spend their time alternately chasing about after females and rivals, and perching on favoured stems or leaves from which they can keep watch for females or rivals entering their territory. … Continued