Psilos Bird Journal
Friday September 8th 2006
     
"One hour wonders"
     
Black darter
     
Inspired by increasing numbers of dragonflies I decided it was time to visit my favourite dragonfly pool up on the moors around Bolton. A sheltered pool where you can find the rarely seen Black darter it is only worth a visit for a few short weeks in the autumn. The last two weeks had been very quiet with hardly any birds seen so as I drove out of Bolton I was ill prepared for the bird I was about to encounter. Indeed if it had not been for my son Ben I would have missed it altogether and what a loss that would have been!
     

     
Flying low over the reservoir and towards the road I notice a big bird head on and in silouette. The only big birds around here are Grey herons and so in that split second my brain filed it and closed the drawer. The bird was moving quickly and I was still concentrating on the road but then my brain registered this bird was something different. Moving closer to the road the bird began to rapidly flap its wings and banked so I could see long thin enormous wings. Definatly not a heron! Stopping at this point was impossible and gritting my teeth in frustration I had to drive a half mile up the road before I could turn around and drive back. Reaching the point where the bird had been seen I see it on the opposite side of the road circling low over a field. Excited I pull over and see that the bird is already climbing high in the sky, up and away. By the time I get my camera to it it is so high in the sky I have trouble finding it. In the end the bird climbed so high that I lost it from view and I never saw it again. This is my first Osprey seen outside Scotland and although my views are limited at best I feel totally awestruck by the whole experience.
     

     
Walking on air after the sighting of the Osprey I galloped with great optimism up the steep path towards the dragonfly pool. Last year this pool was heaving with darters, hawkers and damselflies and I am hoping for more of the same. Sadly first views were disappointing and apart from a pair of migrant hawkers there appeared little to see. Closer inspection of the water in fact produced a good number of Emerald Damselflies. The photo below shows a mature male.
     

 
Whilst sat near the water a golden bug leapt across my front. Lit up by the sun he was too interesting to pass by.
 
     
Gradually my eyes became adjusted to the wildlife that was around and Black darters slowly began to appear. Getting photographs of them however was proving very difficult as they were flighty and wouldnt stay still. The ground was also very wet and so by getting down low I was going to get very damp!
     

     
Taking a quick walk around it was evident that the darters flew a fair distance from the pool and where dirt had been piled years ago to create the pool there was dry ground. My plan was therefore simplea nd is one I often resort too. Instead of chasing insects that often produces nothing I sat down and waited for them to come to me.
     

     

....and very quickly come they did. Interestingly this little beetle also put in an appearance. For a minute or more I watched the beetle and the dragonfly play chicken as the beetle crept up closer and closer. Eventually the beetle won and the dragonfly flew on his way.
 

 
That afternoon I had very little time to spare and all too quickly I would have to leave. Before I did though I was to have one more close encounter. Having disturbed a black darter up from a stone he flew towards me and landed on my arm. From there he made many sorties out and often came back munching on prey. Trying to hold my arm out as straight as possible to get the distance I needed for my lens to focus as well as photographing single handed is no easy task! Such a beautiful creature and to have it so close was amazing. Two wonderful encounters in less than two hours. How lucky is that!
 
 
     
BACK TO JOURNAL INDEX OR NEXT ENTRY