As a break from my continuing account of our May visit to the Outer Hebrides, I'm offering a short post on a more recent excursion.
Since finding my first White-legged Damselflies on the Ashby Canal in 2014, I have made a point of going to check them out annually. This is an entirely pleasant task as the Ashby Canal is a tranquil place - except on the occasions that a narrow-boat chugs by - and the White-legged Damselfly is, in my opinion, the most handsome of the damselflies to be found in UK.
My favourite location on the Ashby Canal to look for this species is the section of the canal that is nearest to my home. My visit, on this occasion, was a brief one of only an hour's duration. I was not over-hopeful of results as, although warm and partly sunny, there was a stiff breeze.
Not more than 5 metres from where I accessed the canal tow-path, I found my first specimen - a male. As it was out over the water, I could not get a close shot, but it was a start!
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White-legged Damselfly (Platycnemis pennipes) (male) - Ashby Canal, near Snarestone
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The next one found was another male, this time favouring settling on the tow-path itself, possibly because it was more stable than the foliage which was blowing around. This did not make for a favourable backgrond.
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| White-legged Damselfly (Platycnemis pennipes) (male) - Ashby Canal, near Snarestone |
By the time that I'd reached a point where I thought that it was time to head back again, allowing for the fact that some of the specimens that I'd seen might have flown ahead of me, I can confidently say that I'd seen around 7 male and 1 female White-legged damselfly.I was also extremely surprised that this was the only odonata species that I'd seen!
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| White-legged Damselfly (Platycnemis pennipes) (male) - Ashby Canal, near Snarestone |
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| White-legged Damselfly (Platycnemis pennipes) (female) - Ashby Canal, near Snarestone |
On the return leg, I found another female White-legged Danselfly and was pleased also to see 2 male and 1 female Banded Demoiselle (although I only managed a very distant shot of the female), and a Blue-tailed Damselfly.
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| White-legged Damselfly (Platycnemis pennipes) (female) - Ashby Canal, near Snarestone |
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| Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens) (female) - Ashby Canal, near Snarestone |
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| Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans) (male) - Ashby Canal, near Snarestone |
I did also photograph some butterflies during this visit. Here are a few.
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| Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) - Ashby Canal, near Snarestone |
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| Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) (male) - Ashby Canal, near Snarestone |
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| Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus) (male) - Ashby Canal, near Snarestone |
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Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris) (female) - Ashby Canal, near Snarestone
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It had been a very satisfying short excursion, and my first for a while. I hope to be getting out more during the coming weeks.
Thank you for your visit.
I expect that my next blog post will be returning to my account of our Outer Hebrides adventures. In the meantime, take good care of yourselves and Nature - - - Richard
A short session with white-legged damsels..... I could have fun with that, Richard, but I had probably better not! Wouldn't want to impair my aura of gravitas and seriousness! What a great session you had, and so close to home too. Your eye treatment seems to be keeping you up to the tasks of photography. I will look forward to more! Best wishes to you and Lindsay - David
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not, when I came up with that post title, I did wonder what comment I might get from you, David!
DeleteThe photos are taking me a lot longer to process than they used to, and I'm taking more photos too in the hope of getting some acceptable ones. Fortunately, I seem to be getting a few that I'm happy with - it's now mainly time that I'm short of.
Best wishes to you both - - - Richard
Hi Richard! Awesome photos.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Anne, I'm pleased that you liked them
DeleteA superb little Damselfly made all the better by your excellent captures of this species. Love the male colouring. Take care.
ReplyDeleteThose males really are a beautiful shade of blue, Marc, and I love the black markings on the abdomen too. The orange pterostigma, plus the twin lines on the side of the thorax just complete the perfection !
DeleteBest wishes - stay safe - - - - Richard
Hi Richard I was just popping in to give you some news, but then I discovered some fabulous new photos. I have seen very few damsels this year and I have walked down by the river so..... Love the butterflies and the skipper as well.
ReplyDeleteThis evening around 8pm I went out to water the garden, hose pipe in hand rather than the camera! I was just watering the lavender under our big Acer tree when the Little Owl 'yelled' at me right over my head. It was a strange call, but I wonder if it was a warning, maybe the youngster was around, I jumped out of my skin. It did not fly away but a photo would have been impossible as too many leaves. Only 10 minutes later I had moved down to water the potatoes and the hoopoe arrived on the lawn very close by. I ignored it and it ignored me for about a minute, guess it had a juicy worm that was more interesting. The most exciting watering evening I have ever had.
Hope that you are both feeling better and that your eye is improving. Take care, Diane.
Now that would have been a lifetime experience for me too - but also an extremely frustrating one ! Note to self - always have a camera to hand when gardening.
DeleteAt the risk of being over-optimistic, I think that I'm already experiencing a little improvement in my right eye. Lindsay continues to soldier on in her adversity.
Best wishes to you and Nigel. Take good care - - - Richard
Fingers crossed re the improvement. D
DeleteThank you, Diane!
DeleteLovely to see the White-legged Damsels-one we've virtually lost in the London area-such a shame!
ReplyDeleteAs someone who spent the first ten years of my life on the more rural northern edge of Ruislip, I often wonder what wildlife I would find around me if I returned. Not been there for about 20 years, however, and that was only a brief visit to look at the old house..
DeleteHello Richard, a great post with these Damsels. I find it still very difficult to remember the names of these insects. I most of the time are mistaken. So I hope for some help from you when I am wrong with naming. The photos you took look wonderful and give a good impression of these delicate cratures.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Roos
Thank you, Roos. I'm always happy to help when I can, but I'm not an expert at much! I'm delighted that you enjoyed my photos.
DeleteStay safe - - - Richard
By way of a change from my Golden- ringed Dragonflies. My turn to wear the sickly green hat with your White-legged Damselfly Richard. A smart little critter too!
ReplyDeleteKind Regards....Pete.
They are a rather special species, aren't they!
DeleteStay safe - - - Richard
Hello Richard, Apologies for my late arrival, but it just hasn't been possible until now. The White-legged Damsels are exquisitely beautiful. I have always preferred the damselflies to the Dragonflies, but this year did not go in search for them. Your shots are remarkably good, which is a good sign that the injection in your eye is doing you good.Lovely shots of the butterflies as well as the Damselflies.
ReplyDeleteAll the best.
Dear Sonjia - no apologies needed and this was only posted two days ago anyway! Any visit from yourself is always a pleasure. I have to admit that, unlike you, I prefer the dragonflies to damselflies - but that is probably because they are easier to spot when they are flying around!
DeleteI hope that things are improving with you after your accident. Take good care and stay safe - - - Richard
Hello Richard
ReplyDeleteI think I've written you this several times, I'm always fascinated by your dragonfly photos, beautiful creatures, thanks for showing
Greetings Frank
Dragonflies and damselflies are always a delight to observe, Frank, but taking photos that fully capture their magic is a challenge. Maybe I should try taking video instead of still photos?
DeleteBest wishes from UK, where we now have cool weather after a short period of record-breaking heat. Sadly, though, no rain. Stay safe - - - Richard