Damsel Not In Distress

It's worth seeing it larger.

I had my blip early today, and am delighted with it - I've so wanted to blip a decent shot of a dragonfly. This is a damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum) , the next best thing (and the most common type of damselfly), but it'll do for me!

Despite only having had about 6 hours sleep (could've done with about 8), I woke at 7:50. By 8:15 I realised that I wsn't going to get back to sleep despite still feeling tired, so I got up. After a leisurely cuppa I went out to feed Tom. With over an hour to spare before the start of the Olympics dressage coverage I took my camera out with me in the hope of perhaps blipping a Comma butterfly, having seen one around the bramble bush on Sunday. Lo and behold there was one - but it sat sunning itself high and towards the centre of the bramble - too high and far back for me to get to - and despite utmost patience on my part as I sought other possible blip subjects on the bush, whilst keeping an eye on it, it just wouldn't come further down. It moved to 2 or 3 different places, but always at the same height and near the centre of the bush. I begged it to come further down towards the front, but it just wouldn't - I'd swear that thing was smirking at me! lol

I did manage to get another shot of a female Gatekeeper - I think this one has to be my best one of them yet.

I was pleased with this shot of a Hoverfly, Scaeva pyrastri.

Eventually I gave up on the Comma, and decided to go to a large area of thistles in the top corner of the paddock. It was quite windy there, but I'm glad I did! Soon after I arrived there this beautiful blue damselfly appeared and settled on a thistle flower. When I approached slowly it took no notice and stayed there, posing quite happily as I took shots of it whenever the wind eased right down. I must have spent a half-hour or so just concentrating on that one insect, determined to get at least one blippable shot. A couple of times it moved to another plant, I just followed it each time, and it continued to pose, quite unperturbed by myself or my camera. As 10 o clock approached I decided I'd better leave it and head indoors for the dressage, and quickly checked my shots. I was well happy to find I had 3 which were blippable (though I confess to a quick sharpen to enhance it). It more than makes up for missing out on that Comma. I'll get that damned thing yet though! If you wait long enough for something and try hard enough it usually pays off ..... lol

EDIT: OMG - GB now Olympic as well as European team dressage champions! I can't believe what I've just watched. Carl H 80.54%, Laura B 77.794%, Charlotte D 83.286%. We won by a mile! Never thought I'd see this in my lifetime! Roll on Thursday, it'll be such a long day but I can't wait! I may just have to finish that bottle of wine tonight! Wooohoooooooooooo!