Uploaded for reference.
I shot the last four minutes and the majority of the footage is them coupled and swaying in the breeze, but I did find this segment quite fascinating.
It's well known that mammals and several other animals experience pleasure during copulation as a means to continue the species. I guess if they didn't they mightn't be bothered.
You have to wonder whether the intense shaking of the males head is a reaction to the task in hand, whether mechanical or cerebral?
Or maybe he's just trying to dislodge a segment of bee from his mandibles...
www.flickr.com/photos/thelizardwizard/9331689531/
Tags: Golden Ringed Dragonfly Cordulegaster boltonii Odonata Anisoptera Dragonflies Nikon D90 Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO Macro DG www.hampshiredragonflies.co.uk Paul Ritchie video
The last minute of their union showing the moment when the female detaches herself and the male literally shakes her off.
Tags: Golden Ringed Dragonfly Cordulegaster boltonii Nikon D90 Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO Macro DG Dragonflies www.hampshiredragonflies.co.uk Paul Ritchie Anisoptera Odonata mating wheel
Best watched full screen.
OK - rough edit. Could do with getting every frame aligned, but you get the idea.
Watching a 'full' emergence is one of those life experiences, and at the time I didn't really appreciate the true gravity of the situation. I had gone along for a third day having promised to 'guide' a fellow photographer, and was more concerned with getting him his shot(s).
Little did I know that what I experienced this day was one of my 'lifers'.The whole process from splitting the shell to virgin flight lasted an hour.This is a sequence of 39 photos taken over a period of 45 minutes balanced over the parapet.
Naturally we were getting some strange looks from the passing boats and dog walkers....
Tags: Common Club-tail Gomphus vulgatissimus Insect Nature Nikon D90 Paul Ritchie dragonflies wwwhampshiredragonfliescouk invertebrates insecta insects bokeh animals yellow sigma70300mmf456apomacrodg
Following yesterday's inclement weather where the light was unsuitable for decent photos. I decided to practice using the video feature of the D90. So here's a short clip of some songbirds feeding at the gatepost.
Turn the sound up on your computer!
Cast of Characters:-
Blue Tits
Robin
Nuthatch
Marsh Tit
Coal Tit (I think)
Can you spot any more?
Tags: Marsh Tit Poecile palustris woodland Robin Erithacus rubecula Nuthatch Sitta Europea Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Paridae wildlife sigma105mmmacro paulritchie nikon newforest nature hampshire birds animals D90!