Damselfly emergence, a risky business.

Emergence is the most dangerous step for a Damselfly or Dragonfly. The fully formed adult is inside the cuticle of this final larval stage and will force its way out of a split at the rear. The larva will climb up plant stems over the water or climb the bank and walk sometimes metres to emerge on another support.
Most emerge vertically but a few species emerge horizontally on rocks protruding from the water or on aquatic plants. Once the support has been chosen it makes sure it has a secure grip by flexing its legs then violently flicking the abdomen. This helps make sure there are no obstructions that may stop the wings from expanding.

The ghostly shapes of exoskeletons. The empty larval cases of already emerged damselflies.

Some species emerge overnight but the majority prefer early morning as warmer temperatures allow faster completion of the process, lessening the chance of predation by birds, ants, slugs and spiders. So when i found the specimen in the third image below at 5.10p.m. i knew there had been some sort of problem.

No hope for this individual i'm afraid.

This poor soul had somehow ended up the wrong way around and was unfortunately severely deformed with no chance of the wings expanding. Quite a few apparently end up with deformed bodies due to the cuticle not splitting fully or end up with damaged wings because of obstructions while opening them. The newly emerged adults head immediately away from the water and during the immature stage actively avoid it. The area over water is a place for sexually active and aggressive males so the soft bodied tenerals, as they are called, prefer treetops or long grasses where they can feed until they become mature.

Longhorn.......beetle not cattle.

View macro images and text here at UP CLOSE

Alternative blog, macro images.

I've decided to start a second blog concentrating mainly on images captured on my macro lens. During the summer months the birding can get quiet so when i'm out i like to chase about after Dragons, Damsels, Butterflies and other insects that i can catch up with. Any flowers i manage to capture in detail will also be included especially wild Orchids.
I have put my first post up today and here is the link. UP CLOSE
I was at Weetslade this morning with Mr. Cheviot who wardens there and we found the hoped for Dragonflies. Only the one species, that being Four-spot Chaser but i had around a dozen sightings. I also managed to view some Common-blue and Blue-tailed Damselflies but no images of these species were managed.

Another Red-spotted Bluethroat.........

...........image from Hartlepool Headland last Friday.

Teesmouth Friday........continued.

Having left the big lens brigade at Hartlepool i called off at Seaton Common with thoughts of a wander around the site. The skies blackened however and i thought better of it. Driving away the heavens did indeed open.

Meadow Pipit watching the rain edge closer.  WHERE'S Y BROLLY !!

An intended visit to the Saline Lagoon was aborted and i continued on to Dormans Pool. Driving through clouds of Swifts criss crossing the road between the pools just outside Saltholme the rain had stopped as i arrived at Dormans.A slow drive along the track to the top car park brought me song of Willow Warbler, Chiff chaff, Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting and Black cap but not the hoped for Cettis. Dropped back to park at Saltholme, not to visit the reserve, but to have a look at the 2 male Garganey on the Fire Station Floods which i did, if distantly. Leaving the screen and joining the main path a Fox trotted towards me. It stopped in its tracks as did i, we made eye contact and it happily trotted past no more than a metre away with the evening meal in its mouth.

Keep your eyes off me tea.

I'm away off for it now.

Called into the Phil Stead hide for 15 minutes as another heavy shower passed overhead and had views of nesting Little Grebe and a Little Egret which had been getting grief from a Grey Heron i was informed.
Cowpen Bewley was the obvious stop off on the return journey although time was limited. The Nightingale chose not to sing in the short time i was there but a Cuckoo did make its presence known but the calls came from 2 different locations then stopped so it seemed like it was passing through.

Red-spotted Bluethroat, Hartlepool Headland.

How many images can you take of a bird? No matter how stonking it is.
I don't know how many i took but there were guys shooting away as i arrived and some were still at it when i left and i had spent some time with a pair of Linnets and Wheatears down by the Battery and had me bait during one of the numerous heavy showers.
I've just picked one out as it'll take me 'till next week to scrutinise them.

BOBBY DAZZLER

It went missing a few times but always returned to it's favourite spot at number 15.