Blue Damsels.

On Friday I thought it was time that I searched for some more butterflies so I headed over to Bookham Common and walked the numerous tree lined grassy tracks but the only species I found was a Speckled Wood. 

At my favourite woodland glade the ferns were already as tall as me and birch saplings had sprung up invading nearly a third of the previously open area which was also devoid of any flutters. I therefore revised my plan and turned my attention to what was available but waiting for any of the various Blue Damselflies to stop flying around was going to test my  patience!

So here is the selection that made it onto my memory card.

  A male Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella).

 An immature male Azure changing from pale mauve to blue.

The second species noted was the Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans). 

Mature males are fairly easy to identify as they have a metallic-black abdomen with a bright blue spot at the "tail" (segment 8), blue thorax, blue eyes plus the long bicoloured pterostigma on the fore wing which is present on all forms of this species. However on 'teneral' males the thorax and S8 are violet and on immature males the thorax is green but S8 is blue.



If you thought that was confusing then consider the females who can vary with at least 5 different colour forms: [1] rufescens form which emerge with a reddish-pink thorax and after about 8 days changes to yellowish-brown to become the mature version rufescens-obsoleta. [2] violacea form that starts life with a violet thorax but can then mature into either the [a] andromorph with colour and markings very similar to the mature males or into [b] infuscans which can be found with either a green or brownish thorax.  

Based on the pale blueish-mauve colour of the thorax and S8 I initially thought this was a teneral male but in view of the very thin antehumeral line it is more likely to be an immature female Blue-tailed (Ischnura elegans) form violacea. [Many thanks to Noushka  for her assistance with the identification.]

 A typical mature male Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum).

 A female (blue form) Common Blue Damselfly.

A female (drab form) Common Blue Damselfly.

 

And finally the only butterfly on parade ... a Speckled Wood.   FAB.

Linking to  Macro Monday 2 and Nature Notes.

Blue-tailed Damselfly.

I was slow to rise and get going this morning and as a brief dip into my local patch just before midday only produced a single male Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Coot and Grey Heron on the Great Pond I decided to drive down to Riverside Country Park for a wander around the lake.

There were several spots alongside the waters edge where the wild flowers were putting on a good show and amongst the grasses I noticed a few Damselflies flitting hither and thither but rarely stopping to rest. Undeterred I continued my search around a patch of thicker bramble vegetation and found a pair of Blue-tailed Damselflies (Ischnura elegans) in a mating wheel. 

I wasn't overly happy with the results using the 450D plus 70-300 lens handheld so I reverted to my Cannon PowerShot S95 for a more detailed close up view (see below) which clearly shows the two distinctive features that distinguishes this species from the rarer Scare Blue-tailed; the blue at the end of the abdomen is present on both segments 8 and 9 and the male has a long bicoloured pterostigma on its fore wing.

While snapping this co-operative pair I missed a Common Tern fishing right behind me! Other sightings included a nice patch of Marsh Orchids and Hoverflies visiting various nectar sources.

The only dragonfly I found was a large unnamed version where I was able to rest my weary legs. You can view all the Dragons and Damsels I have photographed by clicking this link.  FAB.

 Linking to Nature Notes.

Just a few Damsels.

To keep the blog ticking over while we are away here are a few of the different Damselflies that I have seen during May into early June.

Azure (Coenagrion puella) - a teneral male.

 Common Blue (Enallagma cyathigerum) - Male.

Common Blue (Enallagma cyathigerum) - Male.

Emerald (Lestes sponsa) - Immature female.

Emerald (Lestes sponsa) - Female.

Blue-tailed (Ischnura alegans) - Immature female probably form violacea. 

This form can mature into into either the andromorph with male-like blue colouring or into infuscans-obsoleta with a brownish thorax according to my field guide.

White-legged (Platycnemis pennipes) - immature (f. lactea phase).

Please feel free to correct me if you feel any of the ID's are incorrect.

N.B. This is a scheduled post and I will respond to comments when we return from Cumbria.   FAB.