The weather stayed hot and sunny this weekend with a lovely cooling breeze. As a result, the action continued unabated in the garden.
By mid-morning on Friday, both male and female broad-bodied chasers were zooming all around the pond, frequently pausing to perch on the stems of the flowering rush and yellow flag iris.
By mid-morning on Friday, both male and female broad-bodied chasers were zooming all around the pond, frequently pausing to perch on the stems of the flowering rush and yellow flag iris.
Lots of damselflies were on the wing too, flying in tandom, and laying eggs around the edges of the pool and amongst the emergant stems and flowers of the water crowfoot.
That evening, Suesie and I decided to stay out late in the garden enjoying the slowly fading light. Although the damselflies had vanished the pond was still a hive of activity. Frogs occasionally poked their noses up to say hello, and we spotted a little black diving beetle, (another new-comer,) which repeatedly rose to the surface for a gulp of air before plunging back down into the hidden depths. And joy upon joy, we suddenly had a brief glimpse of our first newt! What a wonderful day. For a while longer we lingered, and were treated to the sight of a couple of bats as they fluttered silently overhead, no doubt gourging on the midges which had risen from the pond.
Early Sunday morning, we awoke to discover another dragonfly larvae had crawled out over night, up onto the stems of the bankside sedge. Spellbound, Suesie watched as it split from it's casing and emerged into another beautiful broad-bodied chaser; a female this time. A little later in the morning she was seen once more in the meadow strip, still drying her glistening wings.
Early Sunday morning, we awoke to discover another dragonfly larvae had crawled out over night, up onto the stems of the bankside sedge. Spellbound, Suesie watched as it split from it's casing and emerged into another beautiful broad-bodied chaser; a female this time. A little later in the morning she was seen once more in the meadow strip, still drying her glistening wings.
By 10.30am it had already become hot and we were treated to the wonderful sight of another female chaser laying eggs in the margins. Rhythmically, she dipped her tail just below the surface. Damselflies; mostly blue now, continued to lay all over the pond and at one time I saw eight pairs all at once!
By mid-day, one of our foxgloves was in bloom and just a hint of yellow could be seen at the top of one of the yellow flag irises. What a wonderful weekend!