Sunday 13 July 2008

Safari Sunday.....

I could have posted plenty today as the weather has warmed up.......rabbits, birds, bees and bugs..........but I managed to get some photographs of this lovely dragonfly.
Although this image is a little blurry I wanted you to see the sun on its wings......Isn't she beautiful.....
I have looked in my books, and I will be honest I find these lovely creatures so difficult to identify.........
I thought maybe it was the Black-lined orthetrum........
whatever this delightful dragonfly is I was thrilled she was in my garden. She sat on the hypericum flower for quite a while enjoying the sunshine. By the way the hypericum often gets a bad press but I have found since planting many shrubs last year........it has attracted numerous insects.....from bees to hoverflies and this lovely dragonfly. If you are trying to help wildlife, I would suggest one of these shrubs, they produce blooms in abundance, they are easy to manage as they can be pruned hard, they are cheerful and more importantly you will be supporting our wildlife.........I would also like to tell you about another blog I visit....Go Wild in Kent is a wonderful blog.....full of facts, this man knows what he is talking about, the photography is beautiful, just go to my sidebar and click on....you won't be disappointed. I hope you are all enjoying the sunshine and having a wonderful weekend.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dragonflies are beautiful! I've recently been in the park and saw so many of them..
This one is like a small bit of sunshine.. lovely!

Cheryl said...

Hi Aluajala.......she is a little bit of sunshine....she made my day.....

Goosey said...

Great pictures with such alot of detail. Like you I love to see Dragonflies and damselflies but I'm not too good at identifying them!

Rose said...

It doesn't matter if you can properly identify the dragonfly or not, it's a lovely one and quite different. I'm just happy I can now tell the difference between a dragonfly and a damselfly:) I've seen so many dragonflies around here this year; I don't know if they've increased in number or it's just that I'm more aware of them.
Enjoyed your Sunday "safari!"

Cheryl said...

Hi Goosey....they are so difficult to identify, I really try and then become confused.....

Cheryl said...

Hi Rose....you are right, it is just good to have them in the garden....they are such beautiful creatures.....

ChrisND said...

Hi Cheryl...a great dragonfly! I like its gold color. It's so hard to capture all the nice aspects of seeing them (like the sun on the wings). I think you gave us a nice moment with it. Oh, and thanks for the pointer to another great blog.

Cheryl said...

Hi Chris....I really loved this dragonfly...I haveseen many inthis garden over the years but I think this is my favourite.....

Steve said...

Hi....I am pretty certain this is a female Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum) Told from the similar female Common Darter principally through the all black legs.....superb pictures!

Baker Watson said...

Wow Cheryl - Great cptures on that dragonfly.

You are so right about some of them being so hard to identify. The males and females often differ significantly and the juveniles can be even different still. And for some the specific identification is dependent up some features that aren't evident in a photograph except from the right angle. I'm slowly trying to build up a personal catalog of the ones I shoot locally but it will take a long time I'm sure.

And thanks for all the visits and kind comments.

Cheryl said...

Thank you Steve....that is so helpful....I don't think I will ever be able to identify these magnificent creatures.....

Cheryl said...

Hi Baker thank you for that information....I love to hear about these and other creatures....I am grateful to you....

Q said...

Dear Cheryl,
She is gorgeous!!! I also find them hard to id. I just bought another book on Dragonflies and hope to learn more.
I am "studying" bees in 2008. 2009 is the Year of the Dragonfly!
I am getting ready too.
Happy bug hunting.
Always fun to be out in the wild with you.
Sherry

Dawny P said...

How beautiful she is Cheryl. I love the way you managed to capture the sun on her wings - stunning pictures, as always. I went to the blog you recommended - just managed a quick look cos I am on my whirlwind blog hop, but I will be back to see more. The first picture I saw was the rows and rows of beautiful lavender. I never told you this but I LOVE the stuff. I have it all over the place in our garden. I dry it and put it into little dishes all over the house because of the wonderful calmness it brings. Hope you have had a nice weekend and that everyone is fine, happy and well xx

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Beatiful dragonfly Cheryl. I really don't care what their names are. I just love to see them zooming around the garden.

Susie said...

Cheryl, I don't know the difference between male/female dragonflies. I just think they are beautiful little creatures.

Wendy said...

Isn't she beautiful - with her gauzy wings, she looks like a faerie! It's so nice when the sun comes back out - like a long lost friend.

Mary said...

I still have your previous post on my mind. It was so thoughtful and beautifully written.

I love the dragonflies, too. I see so many large ones but they are too fast for my camera :o)

Cheryl said...

Hello Sherry....this is a wonderful thing to do....learn more about our little creatures each year....I may follow your lead....

I went to bed last night early and you had not posted ......will be popping over later.....

Cheryl said...

Hi Dawny.....I have lavender everywhere to....it is my favourite....I love the smell, the colour.....and the bees love it too!!
We are well......hope you and yours are smiling to.....

Cheryl said...

Lisa and Susie....I agree as long as they are there and fluttering around I am happy......it I can capture their beauty I am even happier.....

Jackie said...

The yellows on the dragonfly are intensified by the yellows in that flower. Dragonflies are some of the prettiest insects. With all the things growing in your garden, they probably find all sorts of tasty insects to eat.