Maximum temperature today 28C, minimum 13C. Dry; 9 km/h North winds with up to 29 km/h gusts.
I have tried my best with the identification of the following, if I am wrong please let me know. I am finding the ID very difficult as these insects are mostly new to me and my camera!
Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius)
As above.
Beautiful demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo) I think - female
As above.
Variable Bluet (Coenagrion pulchellum) I think - male.
As below (I think), both male and female.
Blue Featherleg or White-legged Damselfly (Platycnemis pennipes) having an orgy - one pair I suspect is gay!
Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans).
Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea). Thanks to Richard for ID
Again I am not sure, but suspect this is a female Emporer Dragonfly (Anax imperator).
Eurasian jay (Garrulus glandarius). A first for me. I see them regularly, but I have never managed a photo of one before. I got some better shots later in the week although not so close. Watch this space!
A hopper of some kind!
A web-spinning spider.
Last but not least a common wall lizard on a rocky outcrop.
N.B. My bird blog is updated HERE
Part 16 of the birds seen in Africa.
Great series, Diane; a veritable natural history lesson.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind comment David, I just hope my ID is not far out! Enjoy your weekend Diane
DeleteWow, my kind of post! I love butterflies and dragonflies. I especially like that Emperor Dragonfly, how delicate and exquisite. Thanks for sharing all this beauty!
ReplyDeleteMany thanks Geraldine for the very kind comment, so glad that you enjoyed this post. Have a great weekend Diane
DeleteWow, Diane, your photos are always amazing, just as these are! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Sally, so pleased that you enjoy the insects and other creatures. Happy Weekend. Diane
DeleteBeautiful images Diane.
ReplyDeleteThanks Penny, hope you have a fabulous weekend Diane
DeleteBeautiful photos. Love the close-ups of the creatures which as so easy to overlook.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks Marie, I agree many are so easy to miss. Happy weekend Diane
DeleteWhat exquisite detail you've captured in these shots.
ReplyDeleteThank you Monica, it was a fun week in a totally different envirnment to what I have at home for photos. Cheers Diane
DeleteStill gawking over that magnificent blue insect.
DeleteBeautiful critters! Great photos with such great details! Have a wonderful day!
ReplyDeleteThanks Nancy glad that you like these shots. Happy weekend Diane
DeleteO what a nice photos. I love the Common Darter. Echt genoten van je prachtige serie. Ik denk dat je een goed fototoestel hebt. Geweldig Diane! Ik geniet er elke keer van.
ReplyDeleteIk heb een Nikon 3200 en ik ben er dol op. Goed weekend Diane (Hope the transaltion is correct !!)
DeleteThe sheerness of those wings is indescribably beautiful. The orgy was a great opportunity for a photographer. So many wonderful pictures.
ReplyDeleteThanks Enma, I was surprised when I discovered the orgy, if I had of had the wide angle lens on you would have understood just how many there were! Take care Diane
DeleteI love seeing the dragonfly wings so clearly.
ReplyDeleteThanks Pam, their wings are a work of nature and magic, so beautiful. Take care Diane
DeleteFANTASTIC pics! I have taken so many pics the past week and all with the cell camera. Thought I would miss my big one but I did not.
ReplyDeleteI know the feeling well I will be over to have a look at your blog as soon as I have a bit of time. Hope you are well Diane.
DeleteYou never cease to amaze me with your macro shots.
ReplyDeleteAs you do me with your sky shots. Wish I could take photos like you, but you also have a better place to take them than I do :-) Take careDiane
DeleteAnother series of amazing images Diane, photo number 10 is exquisite 💙 Hope you are having a lovely weekend ✨
ReplyDeleteHi Grace, I also loved that shot. We have had a quiet weekend other than a late night last night celebrating Bastille day :-) Keep well Diane
DeleteYour photos of nature all always amazing but your being able to identify them is even more so.
ReplyDeleteKaren it is a struggle, but Richard below generally puts me straight thankgoodness :-)
DeleteWhat a fabulous post, Diane! I wish I'd been there! Some issues with your IDs - I am relatively confident that your Azure Damselflies in this post aren't. I can't tell you what the first two are but the markings on the abdomen seem totally wrong. I'm quite confident that the 'orgy' scene is of a different species and is White-legged Damselfly (Platycnemis pennipes) because of the distinctive markings on the side of the thorax. Your 'Common Darter' is, I believe, a Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) - I'd give my right arm to see one! Correct with the female Emperor.
ReplyDeleteMy very best wishes - - - Richard
I am not all surprised as my book only has a few dragonflies in it and I am taking too much time trying to find any ID on the net. I am very grateful for your input and I will change what I can now. I am surprised I was right with the female emperor, total luck!! I also wish you had been there, it would have made my life very much easier!!
DeleteThanks so much and best wishes to you also. Diane