Getting 'That' Norfolk Shot!

Norfolk Hawker

Aeshna isoseles

I have spent the last few weeks after work and weekends really enjoying the Norfolk Hawkers at Westbere Lakes, East Kent. This very rare British dragonfly has recently colonised this part of East Kent and I have seen up to 16 at this site. I have managed many shots of this species from perching in the open, ovipositing and mating but one of my targets was to try to capture a flight shot in good detail that I could be happy with. I have taken hundreds of flight shots recently with most of them being deleted, the odd one turning out alright but I was still missing that shot. Then the other day I returned to the site where it was a little windy which made the Hawkers fly more often as they got blown off the reeds and I seized my opportunity. It was a case of finding an individual that was close enough for a shot which gave me plenty of opportunities as it flew by for a shot. I found a likely individual and started taking a few shots, checking the light every now and then to try to get it right, making sure no reeds were in the way etc. After many shots, I eventually got my chance as one passed by quite close and paused briefly to check me out. The result was one of my favourite shots I have taken and is posted below.

Male Norfolk Hawker

 All the shots taken were worthwhile all of a sudden and it was nice to get 'that' shot. A few more flight shots were taken which were quite pleasing as well. I have also included a few shots taken from Westbere Lakes in the past week or so.

Norfolk Hawker

Marc Heath

More..... Norfolk Hawkers!

Norfolk Hawker

Aeshna isoceles

With a message from a friend informing me that the Norfolk Hawkers were flying at Westbere Lakes in East Kent I made a couple of visits after work this week to see them and try for a few photographs. I arrived at the area where there are some dykes and it wasn't long before I was watching c10 Norfolk Hawkers flying around and coming to rest allowing me to get a number of photos of this nationally rare dragonfly. The hawkers were c5 metres apart and were quite territorial and often chased it other around before returning to their favoured areas. They were slightly too far for the Sigma 150mm but the Canon f4 300mm lens more than made up for it producing a number of pleasing efforts, I know I keep saying it but possibly some of my best yet of this species. I returned the next day and saw c10 Norfolk Hawkers again including a couple of pairs mating, just about grabbing a rushed shot before they flew off together. Today Saturday 14th, I have found another Norfolk Hawker c5 miles away near Reculver. Where has this come from and I wonder if the Westbere colony have been dispersing or is there another small colony nearby, maybe near Chislet? Whatever the answer its great to have this species in Kent and hopefully they will continue to go from strength to strength. No doubt I shall be back for more shots in the next few weeks.

Norfolk Hawker

Marc Heath

A Bit of Norfolk in Kent

Norfolk Hawker

Aeshna isoceles

With news of one of my favourite dragonflies being found a few minutes from where I live, the Norfolk Hawker, I was keen to see this very rare dragonfly again and hopefully be able to get a few images. I associate this dragonfly with water, dykes and ditches so when a friend called to say he had found one in East Blean Woods, I was a little surprised to say the least. My first attempt as seeing it drew a blank, my second visit I was able to get a few minutes as it flew around the car park area and take a few record shots but with patience on my third visit in warm conditions the Norfolk Hawker found me in a clearing where it spent some time flying around but thankfully landing a few times in and around the log piles. I was able to get into a few good positions while the wood ants were biting me and take a number of pleasing shots of this stunning dragonfly. It seems a weird place for a Norfolk Hawker to be, in the middle of a big wood but it seems to be feeding well. Is it a migrant or a breeding one dispersing, I did find one a mile or so away a couple of years ago and Westbere Lakes is only a few miles to the south of the woods. Perhaps it has come from there. Hopefully it will remain for others to visit and admire one of the countries rarest dragonflies.

Female Norfolk Hawker

Marc Heath

July Highlights

Cordulegaster Boltonii  -  Aeshna Isoceles

Golden Ringed Dragonfly  -  Norfolk Hawker

There have been many highlights this July but two species that come to mind have been the Golden ringed Dragonfly and Norfolk Hawker. I had never seen a Golden ringed Dragonfly before and in Kent, England they are very scarce with only a few sites to see them at. I was very lucky therefore to go to a site called Sissinghurst with a friend who after a brief search found 2 males patrolling a small stretch of stream. We spent an hour there watching these magnificent creatures flying past us and they provided many satisfying photo opportunities. Up and till now the first shot is my favourite I have taken so far this year. 

Golden Ringed Dragonfly

Golden Ringed Dragonfly

Golden Ringed Dragonfly

Another outstanding highlight was the confirmation that Norfolk Hawker is now a breeding species in East Kent. I was lucky to find the 3rd record for Kent last year not too far away from Westbere Lakes where they have been this year. This is a very rare Dragonfly in the England with only a couple of sites in the whole country. When news broke that one had been seen I eagerly made a visit and we then found another individual. With lots of eyes visiting there area up to 5 Norfolk Hawkers have been seen including a pair copulating and ovipositing. Thankfully they showed very well early on enabling me to grab a few pleasing images of this species. 

Norfolk Hawker

Norfolk Hawker

Norfolk Hawker

Marc Heath

La reine du Pinail

Voulez-vous mon avis ? Sans conteste, c'est la belle brune aux yeux verts, 

quand elle est mature, bien sûr !

Elle nous a fait courir, celle là, hein, Olivier ? ;-) Mes jambes en short, s'en souviennent, 

de ces courses dans la lande... Mais quel régal, quand on arrive à l'avoir dans l'objectif ! 

Une fois posée, elle est très gentille avec le paparazzi, et se laisse tirer le portrait, 

pour peu qu'on ait réussi l'approche... Merci, l'Aeschne isocèle, Aeshna isoceles

Voici quelques clichés, deux individus différents:

Alain

Coup double !

Aeschne isocèle (Aeshna isoceles) sur Orchis pyramidal (Anacamptis pyramidalis) - Green-Eyed Hawker on Pyramidal Orchid

Encore une libellule sur une orchidée ... le même jour que le Crocothémis écarlate, mais quelques centaines de mètres plus loin ! Et en plus, je fais une nouvelle coche en photographiant cette belle aeschne brun roux aux yeux verts et aux ailes hyalines, avec son triangle jaune sur S2 caractéristique !

Elle est en déclin confirmé dans le Rhône ... donc raison de plus pour apprécier cette rencontre !

Vernaison (Rhône), Ile de la Table ronde, 16 juin 2012

Jean-Michel

La brune aux yeux verts

Aeshna isoceles

Bonjour à tous !
Reprise après un break familial et amical d'un petite quinzaine, et quelques belles sorties à la recherche de nos amies .... Enfin ! Serais je tenté de dire, nos regards s'étaient déjà croisés, et j'étais un peu amoureux d'elle, et voici que la belle brune aux yeux verts a bien voulu poser pour moi, merci belle Aeschne isolcèle !




Alain