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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

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  1. Farnboro John

    2019 Dragonfly Season

    Gripping! Interesting to see pretty much absence of saddle - no wonder I couldn't see it on the flying Longham dragon. I noted from the Portland Obs blog that it was available for an hour - nice! John
  2. Farnboro John

    2019 Dragonfly Season

    With a good weather forecast and time for dragonflies definitely running out I decided to take a half day and have another go at the Vagrant Emperor(s) at Longham Lakes on Tuesday afternoon. I arrived at about 1230 to find almost still air and bright sunshine though with a threat of cloud...
  3. Farnboro John

    2019 Dragonfly Season

    Good luck! Hopefully you will have a good chance over there. John
  4. Farnboro John

    2019 Dragonfly Season

    I didn't think I'd be adding more to this thread, but it was a nice day yesterday in Southern England, and out I went. Clare and I travelled down to Longham Lakes so that I could photograph the American Black Tern. She'd already done it while I was on Shetland, but came along for the added...
  5. Farnboro John

    2019 Dragonfly Season

    What's the deal with these Vagrant Emperors at Carlton Marshes? Are they available? I seem to remember a message about "area with no general access" a week or two ago. I do want that no. 40..... Cheers John
  6. Farnboro John

    2019 Dragonfly Season

    Aha, you are right - it does appear to be a Migrant Hawker also! Luckily the not-so-good picture is clearly a Common Hawker. Well spotted, and thank you. I should have paid more attention to my own words "with one exception..." not an unusually confiding Moorland but a normally confiding...
  7. Farnboro John

    2019 Dragonfly Season

    A long day out yesterday - what we call "a total naturalist day" - birds, mammals, butterflies, moths and dragonflies all featuring and with species in several groups deliberately targeted. For me the key species for the outing was Common Hawker, which I'm more than half inclined to start...
  8. Farnboro John

    2019 Dragonfly Season

    There have been reports through the summer but always well in retrospect. Now, here I am on 38 for the year, only Common Hawker still to do down here. I'd like to finish on 40 if I can: what are the odds on any of the Scottish beasties still being out? Cheers John
  9. Farnboro John

    2019 Dragonfly Season

    I had a go at a Southern Emerald Damselfly site earlier in the season and struck out, probably because there was a gale blowing and cloud cover though intermittent was more cloud than blue. Today I had another go since there have been a couple on show at Winterton for several days so the season...
  10. Farnboro John

    2019 Dragonfly Season

    Or where to park? I've driven past there many times but never thought of stopping. John
  11. Farnboro John

    2019 Dragonfly Season

    I've also failed at Thursley this year - which would have been my local suggestion... and although the New Forest is an hour away it is SOOOO easy along Latchmore Brook, literally can't miss if the weather is right. Hopefully somebody will come up with another suggestion, but you really can't...
  12. Farnboro John

    2019 Dragonfly Season

    Cracking Migrant Hawker shots! John
  13. Farnboro John

    2019 Dragonfly Season

    Thanks Paul! Now, if I can get Southern Emerald Damselfly at Beaconsfield and the Vagrant Emperors in Suffolk, that leaves Common Hawker to make a round 40 without going all the way to Scotland.... Watson, the game is afoot! Graham: next year you must try to get up to Longham Lakes at the...
  14. Farnboro John

    2019 Dragonfly Season

    3 August Steve, Clare and I went to Kent in the hope of photographing Scarce Migrant Hawkers at Oare Marshes (tick for Steve) as well as knocking off the returning Bonaparte’s Gull. The SMH were fantastic, we saw loads and not only got good flight shots but had a male hanging up and a pair in...
  15. Farnboro John

    2019 Dragonfly Season

    A half day the following week, on 23 July, took me to Cliffe after Southern Emerald Damselfly, unsuccessfully. That seems to have become my real miss of the year. I did see a female Southern Migrant Hawker, more Ruddy Darters, and my first Migrant Hawker of the year, an emergent that I got a...
  16. Farnboro John

    2019 Dragonfly Season

    On the 16th I took a day’s leave and travelled to Canvey Island to try and get the out-of-area trips back on track. I parked at RSPB West Canvey Marsh and walked miles along footpaths, sea wall and then lost across fields intersected with unjumpable ditches and filled with herds of fortunately...
  17. Farnboro John

    2019 Dragonfly Season

    American Independence Day and I had the car back, so a trip to nearby Thursley Common was a bit of a test drive and happily got me both Black Darter and Brilliant Emerald, which I had to be careful about identifying given that Downies were also still patrolling The Moat. 6 July I took Steve...
  18. Farnboro John

    2019 Dragonfly Season

    On 27 June I was back at Latchmore Brook and filled in some gaps in the photo-list, but the top Odonate of the day was a brief view of a Southern Damselfly – it flew off before I could photograph it. Another work in progress…. Once more unto the breach (or as we say, Fittleworth) and hurrah! I...
  19. Farnboro John

    2019 Dragonfly Season

    22 June and a butterfly expedition to East Blean Woods with Steve and Barry for Heath Fritillary – another species not yet digitally photographed – to find the reserve had numerous Norfolk Hawkers patrolling and hanging up for photos! What is this? I thought they were range restricted in Britain...
  20. Farnboro John

    2019 Dragonfly Season

    6 June and I was back, but the persistent wind took the heat away and suppressed damselfly action considerably! I did find a Small Red Damselfly sheltering on the lee side of a gorse bush, but no Scarce Bluetails at all. Walking back along the brook towards the car park I fell over a Nightjar...
  21. Farnboro John

    2019 Dragonfly Season

    First of June and a trip up to Paxton Pits, perhaps one of the closest sites to me for Norfolk Hawker and therefore worth it for a species that might otherwise occasion a trip to East Norfolk. I saw a couple quite easily but photos were elusive until I had a chat with a couple of locals who...
  22. Farnboro John

    2019 Dragonfly Season

    Back at Claycart the next day trying to photograph Hairies I found the first of the season’s Red-eyed Damselflies along the canal, thereby adding another dependable animal to the list. Another local site that often turns up trumps is Bramshill and that received attention on 23rd, yielding...
  23. Farnboro John

    2019 Dragonfly Season

    This is an account of the whole season to this point - not least because I seem to be stalled now, but more of that later. I'll break the text up with photos, which will likely seem out of order because I didn't always photograph the one I year-ticked, or even manage it on the same day. The...
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