Up close and personal

As the headline in the red tops would no doubt put it - "Phew what a scorcher". It's definitely been warmer today than yesterday, but with a little bit of a breeze.  If you can find a spot with the breeze blowing it's actually really pleasant to be outdoors.  But you definitely need that breeze.

More common darter emergences again today. The main is a close up of the result of one of those emergences.  The dragon had actually gained the power of its wings having had fluttered away from the pond, but then decided that it preferred its original perch on the iris leaves and fluttered back again. Possibly a reaction to the slightly breezy conditions.  

As the dragon  could now fly I didn't feel too bad about sticking the macro lens in its face for this close up.  That sounds awful doesn't it?  I actually approached very slowly and carefully gradually getting as close as the minimum focal distance of the lens allowed.  No flash was required given the light today.  Having got my shot I then gently crept away again.  So I don't think that I've traumatised my subject.

While nymphs were emerging to become dragons (and by my count there were at least 3 more today), there were several visits by mature adult pairs for "recreational" procreational purposes.  It's hard to be sure but there were at least 2 sets ovipositing (one of which is featured as an extra).  There might have been a third set.  

Amazingly the rather dozy male that sees the pond as his spot to guard missed both arrivals as he was away catching insects (or possibly looking for females) at the time.  When he did get back he proceeded to attack the conjoined pairs (both of whom flew off to find a better class of pond), before settling back on his sentry post leaf.