. . . . . It Is Now.
Yip I think it's time to declare the 2013 DragonHunting season over, another week and a half passed by without me getting out anywhere. The only chance I had to get out was last Thursday and lo and behold despite the promised sunshine, the afternoon was cold, wet and windy so I didn't bother.
Too much on at the minute to do a proper season review, but I'll do one as soon as am able. Meantime thanks for looking in and for all the comments over the summer, it's nice to know there are a few like-minded souls out there.
'Til next time . . . . . . .
Dragonflies, one of the oldest inhabitants of this planet. Masters of the air and top insect predator, around 50 species are found in Britain; in County Durham less than 20. Creatures of the summer and best sought on calm sunny days, join me as I hunt them with my camera, trying to get the best pics possible and record all variations and behaviour, and enjoy the birds and wildlife as I seek them out on my local patch and beyond.
- Home
- Gateshead Dragonfly Sites
- Azure Damselfly
- Banded Demoiselle
- Blue-tailed Damselfly
- Common Blue Damselfly
- Emerald Damselfly
- Large Red Damselfly
- Black Darter
- Black-Tailed Skimmer
- Broad-Bodied Chaser
- Common Darter
- Common Hawker
- Emperor Dragonfly
- Four-Spotted Chaser
- Migrant Hawker
- Ruddy Darter
- Southern Hawker
- Other Dragonflies
Tuesday, 12 November 2013
Sunday, 3 November 2013
Scooby Don't . . .
Into November now (on the equivalent Sunday last year I ticked bee-eater and waxwing on the same day, a nice little combo which is unlikely to be repeated I would think) but with the weather and school hols I didn't manage a single outing last week.
Actually I almost got to Far Pasture on Friday, took sprog3 along on his scooter but such is his fear of dogs these days (thanks to the ignorant minority of dog-owners who don't seem to realise that an average-sized dog is like having a horse charging at you to a five-year old) I couldn't even get him 50 yards along the derwent walk as dog-walker after dog-walker came our way, so eventually I gave up and we returned home. Probably of no consequence as the sun disappeared soon after we left the house and it was spitting on to rain anyway.
But there's a bit of sunshine forecast for this week so I'll try and have a look for the last dragons if I get the chance (try to beat my record of Nov 4th for latest sighting) though temperatures are set to plummet as well. Common Darters and Migrant Hawkers were reported at both Far Pasture and Shibdon Pond as recently as Oct 30th so you never know.
Highlight of today was an early afternoon flypast of a dozen fieldfare seen from the front window, first of the autumn.
Anyhow I finished my final ink and watercolour dragonfly for the forthcoming show at Newcastle Central Library, this time a four-spotted chaser :
and as a reminder here are the other three :
Make a nice little set to adorn any wall, A4 size, framed in black. Haven't set a price yet though.
Actually I almost got to Far Pasture on Friday, took sprog3 along on his scooter but such is his fear of dogs these days (thanks to the ignorant minority of dog-owners who don't seem to realise that an average-sized dog is like having a horse charging at you to a five-year old) I couldn't even get him 50 yards along the derwent walk as dog-walker after dog-walker came our way, so eventually I gave up and we returned home. Probably of no consequence as the sun disappeared soon after we left the house and it was spitting on to rain anyway.
But there's a bit of sunshine forecast for this week so I'll try and have a look for the last dragons if I get the chance (try to beat my record of Nov 4th for latest sighting) though temperatures are set to plummet as well. Common Darters and Migrant Hawkers were reported at both Far Pasture and Shibdon Pond as recently as Oct 30th so you never know.
Highlight of today was an early afternoon flypast of a dozen fieldfare seen from the front window, first of the autumn.
Anyhow I finished my final ink and watercolour dragonfly for the forthcoming show at Newcastle Central Library, this time a four-spotted chaser :
 |
| Four-spotted Chaser (m) Ink and watercolour |
and as a reminder here are the other three :
 |
| Broad-bodied Chaser |
 |
| Ruddy Darter |
 |
| Black Darter |
Make a nice little set to adorn any wall, A4 size, framed in black. Haven't set a price yet though.
Friday, 1 November 2013
Halloween Tales and Tittle Tattle . . . .
Obviously this should have been
posted yesterday but being Halloween I got a bit bogged down with zombies
vampires and witches (no names mentioned to protect the guilty)
But as it WAS Halloween last night, I thought it might be interesting to look into the more sinister side in which dragonflies have been regarded over the centuries.
Since the middle-ages, fear and ignorance of their ugly (nah!) bulb-eyed looks and long pointed abdomen resembling a sting, means they have long been associated with the devil, eyed with suspicion, feared to be dangerous and believed to have evil intent. Perfect for Halloween!
It is true that ignorance breeds
fear, and myths about dragonflies were rife in 15th Century Europe, where
people thought they must have been sent from Hell by the devil to cause
mischief on earth, and made up horrible stories to keep their children away
from them.
Both in Europe and America one of their best known folk-names is the Devil’s darning needle, a name thought to have come about through stories used to scare children into behaving well, by telling them that if they misbehaved, the dragonfly would come while they slept and sew up their eyes and mouth. Nice!
In Swedish folklore they were
called ‘Blind Stingers’ and were reputed to have a penchant for poking out human
eyes with their long needle-like abdomen.
Another myth was that they were sent by the devil himself to weigh human souls. So if one was to swarm around your head, rather than just being there to catch the cloud of midges attracted to some sweaty Scandinavian, it would in fact be deemed as the act of weighing your soul for the devil, and if this happened to you it meant great misfortune or injury would soon come your way.
In the same way they were also known as ‘horse-stingers’ because they were often seen swarming around horses which would be jumping around and kicking out as if being bitten, which of course they were, but not by the dragonflies, which were merely feeding on the smaller unseen insects which WERE actually biting the horse.
Another sinister name for the dragonfly was the Snake Doctor, as they were also thought to be in cahoots with snakes which they could bring back to life, as well as sewing them back together if chopped in two (bit of a theme going on here). They’ve also been known as the Water Witch, Hobgoblin Fly, and Devil’s Horse, all no doubt accompanied by charming tales to scare the bairns with.
So next Halloween I’ll be scaring the kids with tales of witches, zombies, vampires . . . . and dragonflies? Don’t think so somehow, but then again if I was a mosquito I’d be shitting meself, Halloween or not ;)
But as it WAS Halloween last night, I thought it might be interesting to look into the more sinister side in which dragonflies have been regarded over the centuries.
Since the middle-ages, fear and ignorance of their ugly (nah!) bulb-eyed looks and long pointed abdomen resembling a sting, means they have long been associated with the devil, eyed with suspicion, feared to be dangerous and believed to have evil intent. Perfect for Halloween!
 |
| The aptly named Halloween Pennant Cracking name for this US species, but having seen one myself they're hardly the scariest dragonfly, in fact the smallest dragon I've seen. But a little beaut! |
Both in Europe and America one of their best known folk-names is the Devil’s darning needle, a name thought to have come about through stories used to scare children into behaving well, by telling them that if they misbehaved, the dragonfly would come while they slept and sew up their eyes and mouth. Nice!
 |
| Common Green Darner Another US species I've seen, many large American dragons have the common name darner.A reference to the devil's darning needle of folklore? |
Another myth was that they were sent by the devil himself to weigh human souls. So if one was to swarm around your head, rather than just being there to catch the cloud of midges attracted to some sweaty Scandinavian, it would in fact be deemed as the act of weighing your soul for the devil, and if this happened to you it meant great misfortune or injury would soon come your way.
In the same way they were also known as ‘horse-stingers’ because they were often seen swarming around horses which would be jumping around and kicking out as if being bitten, which of course they were, but not by the dragonflies, which were merely feeding on the smaller unseen insects which WERE actually biting the horse.
Another sinister name for the dragonfly was the Snake Doctor, as they were also thought to be in cahoots with snakes which they could bring back to life, as well as sewing them back together if chopped in two (bit of a theme going on here). They’ve also been known as the Water Witch, Hobgoblin Fly, and Devil’s Horse, all no doubt accompanied by charming tales to scare the bairns with.
 |
| Western Spectre The only European dragon to have a remotely spooky common name (apart from Eastern Spectre, oh and Cretan Spectre) |
So next Halloween I’ll be scaring the kids with tales of witches, zombies, vampires . . . . and dragonflies? Don’t think so somehow, but then again if I was a mosquito I’d be shitting meself, Halloween or not ;)
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