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Dragonflies & Damselflies

22/6/2018

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I remember the first time I saw a dragon fly over a lake in a woods when I was about 8 or 9. It's size, beauty and the way it flew made a big impression on me. Now I am able to see them everyday if I take the trouble to ealk over to the pond. Its shallow water, water lilies and sedges, iris's and reeds growing around the edge make it an ideal environment for them. During the middle of the day when the sun is out and its not too windy, they scoot across the pond in a never ending search for small insects. I learnt from the secret world of dragon flies film that they fly at 50km per hour so its not suprising that I had trouble filming them, but I tried. I also learnt that although they live for about 3 years they spend most of this time underwater as nymphs before climbing the stalk of a reed and in the space of 12 hours, metamorphose into a dragonfly in order to reproduce.  

​We have at least three varieties of dragonfly - broad bodied Chasers with bright blue tails, blue and green Emporer's and a copper coloured Common Darter. The habbits of the chasers are different to the emperor. They inhabit a particular part of the bank and the bright blue males pose for the females on a reed or a rock. Females that are attracted fly close and the male the couples with them in mid air and off they fly to procreate. I haven't managed to watch an emperor dragon fly mate but today I managed to film one laying her eggs in the water.

We also have beautiful blue, green and red damselflies with males and females staying connected tandem style to aid the reproductive process. 

Its possible that different species appear at diferent times so I shall keep watching.
Surrey dragonflies 
Picture
Dragonflies in my pond
Damsel flies in my pond
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    Garden & Beyond Notes
    My garden keeps me busy and gives me the exercise I need to keep fit, although it does damage me from time to time. But more than anything else it gives me pleasure, happiness and a sense of belonging and of doing something useful and worthwhile. It enables me to express myself creatively and draws my attention to the beauty and ecology of life. In this blog  I am telling the story of my garden and my involvement and experiences in it through my writing and the photos, movies, music, paintings and other artefacts - it inspires me to create. I have become more conscious of the UNs Sustainable Development Goals and our important role in enabling their achievement my experiments and projects in the natural world show how I respect and try to understand nature and try to enable life to flourish. I know that one day I will not be the custodian of this beautiful landscape we call our home. I must make the most of it now and preserve its presence in my memory knowing that it will carry on long after I am gone and that someone else will care for it and call it their home.
    In March 2022 I joined a group of environmental activists in my village and so I have decided to expand my blog to take in the natural environment of which my garden is a part.

    Picture
    Useful Links
    RE Betchworth
    Wildlife Garden Forum
    Surrey Wildlife Trust 
    Habitat Network
    Plant Identification UK
    ​GAIA
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    GOOGLE EARTH
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