Red Damselfly.

[JohnP]

I think this is a female Large Red Damselfly, I had to do quite a crop to remove stuff on the right of shot... plus a bit of cloning.

 

 

Canon EOS 60D, Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Sigma Ringflash, 1/160s f/22.0 at 100.0mm iso400

[NannyFerret]

I would love to see a red one.
You were lucky to get this as I have never seen one that colour at all before.

Are there many of them where you got this shot?

[JohnP]

I would love to see a red one.

You were lucky to get this as I have never seen one that colour at all before.

Are there many of them where you got this shot?

 

It's quite strange how things work out sometimes, until yesterday I hadn't seen a single damsel of any kind so far this year. I was driving along in my car with every intention of going to Cannop Ponds in the Forest of Dean where I took lots of Damsel shots last year. Then I kept thinking about the Pearl-bordered Fritillary butterflies that I posted shots of on Sunday and how I wanted to get some better images. As I approached a crossroads where I would go straight over to get to the Forest of Dean something made me turn right instead and I went back to Haugh Wood to seek butterflies. There is a small pond in the wood and I was sitting on a bench having a sandwich when I suddenly spotted a damsel, I went down to the waters edge and there were lots of reds about, I only saw a handful of blues and they were more active so no shots of them. I only saw a few tatty Fritillaries so I didn't bother shooting them.

[NannyFerret]

I never knew that a nice wild life pond had been made in our nearest decent park.
If I can make it up with my knee I will try and get up there on a nice day and see what is there.
It's up a steep hill so will have to see if the legs up to it, as it's only been five weeks so far. 

I am missing going out with my camera  but still have to be careful about how much extra weight i can carry.
It has kept me interested by coming on here and seeing everyones lovely shots, even though I haven't had much to post recently.

[bugmeister]

It is indeed a female large red, they are one of the first to emerge each year.