Tregeseal Pool

This blog starts with a shot of the peace and tranquil nature of this approximately one acre pool on a quiet summer morning a couple of days ago,

My wife and I had spent the morning photographing the pools abundant species of dragonflies several of which are posted below.

Broad bodied Chaser

Four Spot Chaser

Red Veined Darter

Mating Red Veined Darters

Everything changed when a few hours later a transit and trailer arrived with a group of twenty four children and teachers and a dozen kayaks and body boards intent on turning the pool into a water park

On the day this small pool with its moorhen's and chicks,  A pair of Canada geese,  Egg laying Dragonflies and visiting birds was about to be invaded in the name of outdoor education. Bad Move !

I am all in favour of outdoor eduction for kids But this is totally the wrong location to conduct it!

I expressed my views and concerns to the Man in charge of this group who informed me that they had full permission to use it.

We left at this point before the ' Mayhem '  began.

Dragonflies, Painted ladies & More

It was a lovely warm summer day on the south coast of Cornwall yesterday and dragonflies were out and about breeding on local ponds.

Female Emperor Dragonfly ovipositing her eggs

Male Broad Bodied Chaser.

Black-tailed Skimmer

We had a strong migration of Painted Lady butterflies and would you believe that these 75mm beauties all have flown in on mass from North Africa and they will now migrate on up to and including the north of Scotland and they are the only butterfly that has been recorded as far north as Iceland.

Small Tortoiseshell

And finally a female Peregrine hot from the chase tucks into a luckless Pigeon that has just ended its days

Millpool Wildlife

ON LAND

A chilled out fox cub relaxing in the middle of the lane access to the Millpool and below a fine young buck Roe Deer feeds on grasses as it works its way through local fields looking for female deer.

A resident male Pheasant patrolling his patch in the field adjacent to the pool,

ON AND IN THE WATER

A Water Lilly reflects nicely on the still surface water off the pool.

A two foot long 15 lb + wild common carp cruises between the wed beds with its dorsal fin projecting though the surface water.

An adult Moorhen finds a floating dog biscuit on the surface that has come off our hook when used as bait for Silver fish and Perch bait.

A Female Emperor Dragonfly lays her eggs on surface floating pond weed

AND IN THE AIR.

The male Emperor that the above female has just mated with lands to take a rare break from seeking out females and fighting off rival males,

A pair of mating Broad bodied Chasers hang in the air from a dried reed stem to complete their mating cycle.

A pair of Narrow -winged Damselflies hooked up and mating in the morning sunlight.

And finally a female Broad-winged Damselfly also known as a damoiselle takes a break on a fresh green Hazel leaf.

Early return to windmill farm

I made an early return to Windmill Farm yesterday afternoon looking to pick up on a few subjects that I missed on my previous visit.

First up are the Common Lizard that I failed to catch on the boardwalks running through the bog areas.

I liked the 90 degree body angles demonstrated by the mating Damselflies.

On this second visit the Broad-bodied Chasers were more accommodating in showing off their mating behaviour,

And yes I caught the female Emperor laying her eggs on my last visit but I just love playing around with their reflections from different lighting angles.

And I saw but failed to capture a couple of fast moving Adder in the car parking area so that's another one on my list for next time.

                                   Another very pleasant afternoon at windmill Farm !!

Dragonflies at Windmill Farm

It was a fine day here in Cornwall and after my usual early morning out and about I decided to make an afternoon trip to Windmill Farm on the Lizard Peninsula to see if the warm sunshine had attracted a good variety of Dragonflies to its ponds which have excellent waterside access for Photography,

On arrival at one of the ponds I was pleased to meet Dougy Wright the warden of the reserve who was very enthusiastic about the amount of wildlife attracted to the ponds so far this year,

I soon got busy with my camera and started with this slimline Newt that had come to the surface to breath.

Next up were a pair of coupled Azure Damselfly which were showing in good numbers

I was pleased to see the four spotted Chaser below land on a dead reed stalk that also neatly showed the husk of a Nymph casing still holding its position from when it had crawled up out of the water to turn into a beautiful dragonfly,

Male broad bodied chasers are good to work with as they so regularly return to the same location time after time when not flying which makes it easy to prepare for a portrait shot

I had to wait a lot longer for this Male Emperor to settle down for a portrait, They seem to have an amazing endurance for continuous flight while looking for females and seeing off all rival males.

Finding an opportunity to photograph a mating pair of Emperor Dragonflies is not and everyday occurrence but is much appreciated when it does come along.

Following the mating it is so good to see the Female Emperor laying her eggs and doing her bit for future generations of dragonflies at this fine location.

Windmill Farm, The fine weather and the dragonflies created a splendid way to spend a peaceful and very interesting afternoon shoot,   HAPPY DAYS !!

Dragonfly all sorts

It was good to see the sun again following several overcast wet days,  Several species of dragonfly were showing well on the river Hayle at Townshend bridge and the final two images posted were taken on a brief visit to Millpool ponds,

Male Golden Ringed Dragonfly

Male Broad-bodied Chaser

Female Darter Dragonfly

Female Emperor Dragonfly

Large Red Narrow-wing Damselflies above and below