The Last Hawker
A dragonfly flew through the garden a few days ago but much too fast to be identified from the window. Then yesterday, two Southern Hawkers jousting with hornets from a nearby nest (it was a draw).
I have a feeling this might be my last dragonfly of the season.
Southern Hawker, Aeshna cyanea. Nikon D5200 Tamron 150-600mm f6.3 460mm 1/250 ISO 640
Four-spotted Chaser
In theory chasers are among the easier dragonflies to photograph as they tend to return regularly to a favoured perch. Just focus on the perch and wait. Unfortunately this guy had other ideas – he was all over the place. It was a windy day (lots of those this summer) and the perch was further away over the water than I would have liked, so for a 600mm hand-held shot I’m reasonably pleased with this.
Four-spotted Chaser, Libellula quadrimaculata. Nikon D5200 Tamron 150-600mm f8 600mm 1/125 ISO 200
Common
Common Blue Damselflies, Enallagma cyathigerum. Nikon D5200 Tamron 150-600mm f11 260mm 1/350 ISO 400
Migrant Hawker
Migrant Hawker, Aeshna mixta. Nikon D5200 Tokina 100mm f16 1/45 ISO 200
My 2015 list (as of 25.08.15):
Azure Damselfly
Banded Demoiselle
Black-tailed Skimmer
Blue-tailed Damselfly
Broad-bodied Chaser
Brown Hawker
Common Blue Damselfly
Common Darter
Emerald Damselfly
Emperor Dragonfly
Four-spotted Chaser
Large Red Damselfly
Migrant Hawker
Ruddy Darter
Southern Hawker
Variable Damselfly
Emerald Damselfly
Emerald Damselfly, Lestes sponsa. Seven image focus stack. Nikon D5200 Tokina 100mm f22 1/180 ISO 400
It’s not often damselflies will stay still long enough for a close range focus stack but this male Emerald Damselfly was very obliging, giving a nice depth of focus. He looks like a happy chappie but I think the smile is deceptive.
The Emperor Returns
Emperor Dragonfly, Anax imperator. Nikon D5200 Tamron 150-600mm f8 320mm 1/750 ISO 800
A somewhat more co-operative specimen, much better light = a slight improvement on my previous effort.
Dragonfly Week, Day 5: Older Than The Dinosaurs
Southern Hawker, Aeshna cyanea. Nikon D5200 Tokina 100mm f8 1/60 ISO 200
Nearly there now folks, only one more day to go. Marvel at this magnificent beast – older than the dinosaurs and outlived them in style.
Dragonfly Week, Day 4: It’s all downhill now
Ruddy Darter, Sympetrum sanguineum. Nikon D5200 Tokina 100mm f11 1/125 ISO 200
The Darters have emerged. For the rest of the season until the hard frosts come it’ll be Common Darters all the way now. But look closer. That’s not so bad 🙂
Dragonfly Week, Day 3: The Hairy Hawker
Brown Hawker, Aeshna grandis. Nikon D5200 Tokina 100mm f11 1/180 ISO 200
Not as I first thought a Hairy Dragonfly (the season is already over for them), but a Brown Hawker. Still got a hairy thorax in this macro shot.
AJC Photography 