Storks, dragonflies, damselflies

This video is a short film on dragonflies and damselflies, showing the entire life-cycle.

24 June 2008, to the white stork nest near the nature reserve. On the nest, one adult and one black-billed juvenile standing; two juveniles sitting. On the meadow below, a grey heron.

At the small pond in the reserve, I meet a dragonfly photographer. A female black-tailed skimmer and a Norfolk hawker fly past.

Also a butterfly: a dingy skipper. And a hoverfly species, looking like a bumblebee: Volucella bombylans.

We talk about green woodpeckers, said to have two nesting couples in this reserve this year. A bit further along the path, a robin; then, a song thrush.

In the castle pond, most damselflies may look like blue-tailed damselflies; however, not all of them are. The ones with red eyes which like to sit on water-lily leaves, are red-eyed damselflies. The blue-eyed ones which prefer to sit on bank plants are blue-tailed damselflies.

Also, a large red damselfly.

A blackcap sings. Blackcap photo: here.

Norfolk hawkers fly around; sometimes quarreling about territory; offering many photo opportunities.

From a branch hanging over the water, a spotted flycatcher hunts for insects. I had not seen this species here for years.

Two adult coots with still very young chicks.

On pebbles near a bench, a male black-tailed skimmer sits down. In the meadow, a northern lapwing and a black-tailed godwit. Later, an Egyptian goose flying. Still later, a black-tailed godwit, standing on a pole.