Canford Magna – White-Legged Damselfly

June 2, 2014 Pete

Returned to Canford Magna on Sunday in attempt to find and photograph the White-Legged Damselfly (Platycnemis pennipes), with there being reports of recent sightings. The weather was much improved on the second visit, sunny and warm. Parked just outside the school, crossed the bridge, and turned left and walked towards Wimbourne, and returned the same way.

The reports were accurate, and I spotted over double figures in total throughout the walk. I did not see any mature males (blue bodies), so not sure if they are still to emerge or similar in colour to the female when immature.

Anyway here are the best shots from the day.

Olympus OM-D EM-5 DSLR & Zuiko Olympus 90mm Macro F2 lens at F4 on Tripod with Ball Head

Olympus OM-D EM-5 DSLR & Zuiko Olympus 90mm Macro F2 lens at F4

Olympus OM-D EM-5 DSLR & Zuiko Olympus 90mm Macro F2 lens at F4

I did shoot some other insects on the walk including my first Scarce Chaser (Libellula fulva) dragonfly.

I failed to get close up to get a better composed image before it flew off.

Olympus OM-D EM-5 DSLR & Zuiko Olympus 90mm Macro F2 lens at F5.6. Image cropped

A male Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens)

Olympus OM-D EM-5 DSLR & Zuiko Olympus 90mm Macro F2 lens at F4.

And an unidentified fly and caterpillar. Update 5th June 2014: Natural History Museum Natureplus identified the caterpillar as another Small Tortoiseshell caterpillar, a different instar to the one in the Langford Lakes nature reserve post published 1st June