Tuesday, 25 September 2012

Autumnal Dragons

Male Ruddy Darter

Male Ruddy Darter

Male and female Migrant Hawker (the male is the blue one)

Male and female Migrant Hawker

Male Common Darter

Male Common Darter

Male and female Common Darter
There are still a few dragonflies about, most notably when the sun is shining. As I have said in previous posts the Darters will be about for a couple of months yet,they are pretty hardy and it is lack of food which will kill them rather than the cold weather. I have often seen these buzzing around on sunny days in October/November and I have even seen Migrant Hawkers on warm days in December, although this has been an exception rather than the rule.
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24 comments:

  1. Mike Randall Bird Photography25 September 2012 at 19:55

    Very nice John

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  2. bazza25 September 2012 at 20:48

    Hello John. I was surprised to learn that lack of food will kill off many dragonflies. They can't eat much. What do they live on, aphids and such?
    Click here for Bazza’s Blog ‘To Discover Ice’

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. John25 September 2012 at 21:12

      Hi Bazza,
      They eat small insects, flies etc. The bigger dragons are partial to butterflies, damselflies, as well as flies. The cold weather will kill these smaller insects, meaning the dragons starve rather than freeze.
      J

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  3. Roy25 September 2012 at 23:33

    Great shots John, quite a collection.

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  4. holdingmoments26 September 2012 at 08:13

    Excellent set John.
    Always good to see these flying around.

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    Replies
    1. John26 September 2012 at 20:00

      Thanks Keith,
      Always good to see them, but frustrating if they don't sit still! :)
      J

      Delete
  5. Alan Pavey26 September 2012 at 13:12

    Great pics John :-)

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  6. Gillian Olson26 September 2012 at 17:21

    Great pictures, they are so much fun to watch but move so fast it is hard to get a picture and you have several great ones here.

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    1. John26 September 2012 at 20:01

      Thanks Gillian,
      They are fast movers, which is why I have to wait for them to perch. ;)
      J

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  7. Dominic Gendron26 September 2012 at 19:08

    Great shots, my favorites is the third one ;)

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  8. Bob Bushell26 September 2012 at 20:22

    Loads of dragons you have photographed. Brilliant photos too.

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    Replies
    1. John26 September 2012 at 20:31

      Thanks Bob, yes, there are still a few dragons about, but time is running out.
      J

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  9. eileeninmd26 September 2012 at 21:52

    Love the dragonfly shots, well done!

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  10. Anonymous29 September 2012 at 13:12

    Nice dragons. The darters and not unlike our meadowhawks.

    http://shootingmyuniverse.blogspot.com/search/label/dragonfly

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  11. klahanie30 September 2012 at 03:27

    Hi John,
    Those are amazing photos of the dragonflies. And so much colour. Although we do not see that many around here, I am always fascinated when I actually see one.
    My son, on the other hand, runs for cover :)
    Have a peaceful Sunday, my friend.
    Gary

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    Replies
    1. John30 September 2012 at 10:43

      Thanks Gary,
      They are colourful beasties. There is no need for your son to run for cover, they don't attack unless threatened! ;)
      J

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  12. Anonymous7 October 2012 at 14:58

    Good for you for offering up such nice, sharp photographs of dragonflies. A decade ago I read that dragonflies and damselflies eat other insects, but it took a few years until I finally saw one doing that. Since then I've seen it a few times more and have even managed to photograph it.

    When I was growing up in the suburbs of New York, kids called dragonflies darning needles, but as you pointed out, there's no need for people to be afraid of getting stung by one.

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    1. John7 October 2012 at 17:11

      Thank you, you are too kind. The larger dragonflies are even partial to eating the damselflies, something that I have seen, but not photographed.
      There are still people who insist that they have been bitten or stung by dragonflies and despite any evidence to the contrary, they continue to believe this.
      J

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