Another long-term resident of Pond Number One, this Male of the species always lands on a flat, hard and horizontal surface. Once upon a time Pond Number One used to be full most of the time with no rocks peeking through the surface of the water. I put one there for this Skimmer to land on. The female is spectacular and very different. Females always land low down in dense grass on a vertical stalk. I have a pair mating in the archive and when that happens they adopt the flat hard surface. I also have females in my 'thereabouts' archive.
On an amusing note a group of ladies approached me one day and one of them stepped forward to tell me I was using the wrong lens for birds. It was explained to me that she is a fan of 'Springwatch', a television programme I gather. The correct lens was described to me complete with camouflage. I simply responded by saying I was not shooting birds (none were about). I let the lady ponder the matter until the Dragonfly actually returned. They patrol their own bit of turf on the pond margins and then return to the same rock: June 25th.
A Thereabouts specimen and the spectacular female of the species. Rarely seen like some other female Dragonflies. This one uniquely hides low down in dense grassy areas. By definition this must be at The Pond as the males are there every year. The only Dragonfly I know that seems ultra-sensitive to any movement (female only), so stalking one is a major challenge. As with all Dragonflies, move to high ground like a Raptor and observe. Well worth the wait: June 13th.
A mating pair and not the best of shots but taken a long time ago. However, genuine Goyt Valley and shot at The Pond. I have never seen the female of this species ovipositing. Another localised species rather than being ubiquitous like some: June 30th.
Another specimen from The Pond: June 21st.
Unheard of behaviour at Pond number One, landing on a vertical stalk, in this case a Horsetail, when there are plenty of flat stones about. Never even once before seen a BTS break with the tradition of landing and mating on a flat surface. Early in the season: June 11th.
Another Male exhibiting non-standard behaviour. Indeed it was copying Four-spotted Chasers in all respects in the same small area. This is simply because there was nowhere flat and hard to land such as stones. Mating and ovipositing also like the Four-spotted Chasers, witnessed at the same time (on the wing): July 10th. 2022
Male: July 10th. 2022
Nothing much happening except the abdomen is pulsating and the beast is obviously very much alive before it flies off. Male of the species and they normally only land on hard ground except there is none thereabouts: August 3rd.
