Monday 12 July 2010

Bobbydazzlers


Let's have a break from the interesting but largely small and brown world of mid-July moths. The sun blazed yesterday and the butterflies were out. So was this glittering creature (above) which I tentatively identify as an Emerald Damselfly (No - see comments; it's the even better-sounding Banded Demoiselle). Nearby, a big blue hawker dragonfly was also whirring about, but too skittishly for me to get a picture. This applied generally, I suspect because of the wind, and even the humdrum Meadow Browns were too hard to capture. Every time one finally decided to settle and I crept up with the camera, off it went again. In the process, however, I managed to find these relatively calm visitors below: a Ringlet and a Large Skipper, both with the delicate white fringe which makes recently-hatched butterflies especially lovely. To be fair to the moths, both of these are brown, as indeed is the Meadow Brown (and the female Emerald Damselfly - brownish, anyway). But it will not be long before the Vanessids are here, the glorious Red Admirals, Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells which are all that a butterfly (or moth) should be.


5 comments:

Katie said...

Lovely photos! I think the damselfly is probably a female Banded Demoiselle.

Anonymous said...

Great shot of what Katie rightly says is a female Banded Demoiselle.

MartinWainwright said...

Hi both - and thanks very much. Banded Demoiselle is a much nicer name. Dragonflies have really excellent terminology - hawkers, chasers and young, unmarried women. Who could ask for more?
Warm wishes, Martin

MartinWainwright said...

PS Does either of you know what my mystery moth is in the post below? M

Anonymous said...

Martin, it looks to be quite worn to get a positive id. Sorry.