Catching lunch.

Watching Dragonflies today reminded me of the 1969 film The Battle of Britain with those airmen engaged in aerial combat in the blue sky over Southern England. There were no Spitfire flights over the Solent today. In flight, combat was taking place, an “Emperor Dragonfly” was on the hunt on the wing chasing and then catching a smaller dragonfly a “Common Darter”. Taking it to a nearby perching stick first killing it by removing its head then eating the contents of the darter’s insides Nature is both cruel and fascinating at the same time. I have witnessed this hunting and killing before of wasps and bees but this was the first dragonfly catching another dragonfly observation for me.

Forest stream.

Another hot weather walk in the New Forest this morning found us following a small stream on the flat which helped us keep cool. There were many Dragonflies – Emperor Dragonflies were “dipping”. An action where they lay their eggs.

Another Dragonfly that was about in good numbers was the Golden-ringed Dragonfly.

A few bird spots.

Nuthatch.

Blue Tit.

A lucky spot walking back to the van was a young Grass Snake.

Bolderwood.

We went looking for deer in the New Forest today but were not very lucky only distant Fallow Deer. However, on a small pond, several dragonflies were buzzing overhead.

A female Stonechat.

Bee Hives are out in the Forest – As the Heather comes into flower Bee Hives are placed to take advantage of these nectar-rich flowers.

A lone Fallow Deer.

Dragons in the sky.

Yesterday we spent time at Titchfield Haven around one of the small ponds looking for Damselflies and Dragonflies.

With a warm morning, there were many to see.

Four-spotted chaser dragonflies out in large numbers.

 

Female blue form Emperor dragonfly “tail dipping” – egg laying.

Azure damselfly mating.

Close encounter.

A freshly emerged male Golden-ringed Dragonfly in the New Forest today, her wings have unfolded but not yet dropped into the open flight position so it will be an hour or so before he will fly.

I put my hand down to pick up an empty dragonfly nymph exoskeleton which was on the ground and the dragonfly walked onto my finger.

A damselfly empty nymph exoskeleton.