A Little Look in the Garden

By Words | Published May 31, 2009

As expected the damselflies are beginning to populate the garden. Not yet in any great number, but they are around and causing me the usual headache of trying to identify the blue varieties. So I'll start with an easy one…
Large red damselfly

This next one I'm less certain about. The dominance of black suggests a female azure, but that could be way off the mark.

Another easy one… large red 😉

And this one I think has to be a common blue, but then again…

This next creature I can identify (I think)). It's a mullein moth caterpillar and is proving one of the easier small creatures to photograph as it stays firmly on its plant of choice.

And finally, another one where I don't know the exact species, but I do know the general type: spider! We have a small nest of babies outside on the ivy.

And talking of small things, a small fox is always fun 😉


Nature Blog Network
Camera note: all the macros were taken with the Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG macro lens. The first azure was taken with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens (not a good choice).

This entry was posted in caterpillar, damselfly, Spiders and tagged , , .

12 Comments

  1. RobinL June 1, 2009 at 12:05 am #

    Wow, great shots. I've had limited sucess with damsels but they are always an interesting subject. There are just so many of them!

  2. gdare June 1, 2009 at 5:06 am #

    Playful little cub 😀

  3. annoushkiss June 1, 2009 at 9:06 am #

    Nice macros :up: The baby spiders picture is my fav!

  4. SittingFox June 1, 2009 at 9:06 pm #

    That cub video is incredibly cute. I see he's not exactly a fussy eater! 😆

    Wonderful invertebrate pictures :up: Glad the spiders were outside 😉 Much as I like spiders, finding a large house spider with an egg sac in your bathroom is never a happy moment :bug:

  5. Words June 1, 2009 at 10:06 pm #

    Robin, thanks. I haven't really warmed up yet to the damsels. I hope to get better shots over at one of the large ponds I visit.

  6. Words June 1, 2009 at 10:06 pm #

    Anna, thanks. I love the colour of those tiny spiders.

  7. Words June 1, 2009 at 10:06 pm #

    Adele, what cub is fussy? 😉
    We've had them inside as well. Not good. The little things get everwhere. Outside on the ivy is perfect though.

  8. Words June 1, 2009 at 10:06 pm #

    Darko, thanks. I wish I could see more of the cub, but it's nice when it shows up.

  9. Flying Red Fox Blog June 2, 2009 at 1:06 pm #

    Very nice macros! :yes: I saw a few of them yesterday when spotting at Heathrow but inflight they are far too quick 😛

  10. Words June 2, 2009 at 8:06 pm #

    Yes, the damsels are nearly impossible in flight. So small. The only chance is if they are hovering by a stalk. Focus on the stalk and hope that they wander into the frame.

  11. Words June 6, 2009 at 11:06 pm #

    Thanks Neil. I need to spend more time on the damsels and set up properly for them, but so far they've been quite flighty.

  12. Ukwildlife June 6, 2009 at 11:06 pm #

    great set of macros. I love the eyes of large reds 🙂