Gestalt Central Where Eiffel meets XSLT 2.0

Today on "Long Bob" (the largest pond in Hurst Grange Park) there were a lot of clashes between Emperors (I saw at least two males and a female - I got a picture of her laying eggs but it isn't very good), Four Spotted Chasers and a Brown Hawker.

Hot sunny weather in Hurst Grange Park this lunchtime. And it started with me sighting (and photographing) a Brown hawker flying over pool A (the seasonal pool, where dragonflies are almost never seen).

But for over an hour, the fishing pool (B) was the scene of continual (usually three-way) ariel dog fights between an Emperor

I took a two-hour lunch-break to enjoy the sunshine in Hurst Grange park today. Conditions were better than yesterday, although i did not see any Emerald Damselflies (I saw a teneral in pool D yesterday).

Today, on our second wedding anniversary, we visited Mere Sands Wood. Not very much sun, but more than forecast.

But first, I took a brief look at Rufford Meadows fishery to see what was on view at 10:30. I counted 7 male and 6 female Blue-Tailed Damselflies including these three.

Today, with strong winds and no sunshine, it seemed like a poor prospect indeed for dragonflies.

But I thought I'd wander down to the park, as it wasn't actually raining, in the home that Emerald Damselflies might be emerging (they are well overdue).

I have bought a new camera, a Nikon D300, in order to take pictures of flying dragonflies. This will take some practice, but my initial attempts on Friday were encouraging.

All photos were taken using a Sigma EX f/2.8 105mm EX DG Macro lens.

The weather forecast for Windermere was 18C, sunshine/light cloud, but crucuially, very light winds. I decided that this was going to be my only chance this year to see White-Faced Darters (Leucorrhinia Dubia), as my weekend schedule is rather tight at the moment.

Mark Howard, director of software engineering at AXA Rosenberg, says:

"... we came to the conclusion that it was riskier not to use Eiffel than to use it."

See An interview with Mark Howard

Today I headed for Claiffe Heights beyond Windermere in the hopes of seeing Downy Emeralds.

The weather forecast for Windermere was sunny with blue skies all day, maximum temperature 17 degrees, so I put on my Downy-Emerald-coloured tee-shirt and shorts, and set out for Preston train station.

Today, despite the poor (and misleading) weather forecast, I decided to go to Mere Sands Wood, as usual.

I arrived at the Cyril Gibbons hide at 11:00, and started counting exuviae of Large Read Dameslflies - I counted 5. Two of them looked very fresh, and probably represented emergences earlier this morning, except ...

That one just moved!