I decided to spend some time watching the ponds at my local Forestry Commission wood. There are about 30 permanent ponds of various sizes. Sunday was bright and warm and I was rewarded with the standard appearances of the Emperor, the Common, Southern and Migrant hawkers and Common darter.

I have been advised to put a stick at a 45 degree angle at the side ofthe pond. This seemed to work for all the other Dragonfly species, but on this occasion, not the Emperor. It's an excellent tip though if you want to photograph Dragonflies or Damselflies.
 

This next pic is a Southern hawker

 Today there was an abundance of Common darters who appear right into the autumn months. I even managed to get one or two on my fingers. They (the redder males) didn't seem to mind me sticking my finger close to their heads and slowly moving my finger underneath them, they simply climbed on board. Very accommodating. They only flew off when buzzed by another male only to return to the same outstretched finger.

It was fascinating to study this insect close up but I did actually wonder who was studying who. A couple of young kids came to see what I was doing and when I placed the dragonfly on their fingers, their jaws almost dropped to their knees. This kind of thing give me a kick. I felt like the old man of the woods. Well, there's some truth in the old bit I suppose. I persuaded them to move slowly and not talk too loudly. I wonder if this will insipre them to take more interest in the natural world. Wouldn't it be great if, in years to come, one of them said, "It all started many years ago with a man who put a dragonfly on my finger."

Cheers,

 Pablo

www.pablo475.blogspot.com