village pond – Jill Orme Photography

16 Jun 2026

Blue

by JDO | posted in: Dragonflies, Invertebrates, Odonata, Worcestershire | 0

R and I had a crazily busy day today. After breakfast we began by setting up and loading an Aura frame that’s going to be given as a gift to a family member – a task which is remarkably unintuitive, … Continued

13 Jun 2026

Say it with flowers

by JDO | posted in: Dragonflies, Invertebrates, Odonata, Worcestershire | 0

I love a Four-spotted Chaser – they’re such neat and energetic little dragons (Norbert dragons, the Boy Wonder would probably say). This particular male was top dog at the village pond this afternoon, repeatedly besting a second male who was … Continued

28 May 2026

Chasing around

by JDO | posted in: Butterflies, Dragonflies, Invertebrates, Odonata, Worcestershire | 0

I think it’s possible that the Four-spotted Chaser might be my favourite British species of dragon – though that ranking is subject to daily challenge, and if I ever get unfettered access to Norfolk or Southern Migrant Hawkers, the Chaser … Continued

13 Aug 2025

Watchful

by JDO | posted in: Dragonflies, Invertebrates, Odonata, Worcestershire | 0

Today was R’s Big Birthday, and after he’d opened his cards and presents from the family we spent a happy day together. We had lunch at Loxleys in Stratford, and decided to share a Chateaubriand – for the admittedly not … Continued

10 Aug 2025

Willowy

by JDO | posted in: Damselflies, Invertebrates, Moths, My garden, Odonata, Worcestershire | 0

I spent the morning and early afternoon trying to catch up on domestic tasks, and feeling as if I was running to stand still. Then, after we’d had a simple meal from the freezer, I went off around the village … Continued

21 Jul 2025

Mum and Dad

by JDO | posted in: Dragonflies, Invertebrates, Odonata, Worcestershire | 0

I walked round to the old village pond this morning, to see if anyone was about – meaning dragons, of course – and immediately spotted this male Emperor on patrol. He was behaving a little strangely though – pausing and … Continued

22 Jun 2025

Dull

by JDO | posted in: Dragonflies, Invertebrates, Odonata, Worcestershire | 0

It was a deeply dull morning, and it was blowing a hoolie, and everywhere I looked foliage was whipping around, with one or two insects grimly clinging on through the rollercoaster ride, and macro photography became an increasingly ridiculous and frustrating … Continued

16 Jun 2024

Broad

by JDO | posted in: Dragonflies, Invertebrates, Odonata, Worcestershire | 0

This is the first Broad-bodied Chaser I’ve seen this year, and I think he’s the first I’ve ever recorded in the village (though a couple of summers ago I was pretty sure I saw one pay a flying visit to … Continued

18 Sep 2021

Fierce

by JDO | posted in: Dragonflies, Invertebrates, Odonata, Worcestershire | 0

I wasn’t feeling up to much today, but towards lunchtime I wandered round to the village pond… Sorry – say what again? The village pond that’s probably been there for centuries, but which I only discovered a week ago, did … Continued

12 Sep 2021

Dragonfly yoga

by JDO | posted in: Dragonflies, Fruit and vegetables, Invertebrates, Odonata, Worcestershire | 0

This morning I took both cameras and long and short lenses, and went to stake out the pond I discovered yesterday. I couldn’t believe my luck when this male Common Darter settled on the blackberries – I couldn’t reach him … Continued