New Sky Watch 6

Taken on a resent walk in Derbyshire

Thank you for your continued support

Peter Parrott

New Sky Watch No.5

Sunset Over Newton

Teasles & Thistles

Summer Views No.2

River Side

Hover Fly

Fishing Fun

Paddling Paws

Summer Views No.1

Greens & Reds

Leaf Cover

Crab Apple

Ladybird Bug

Sky Watch 4

Sunset Red

Water Boatmen

Water Boatman

Water boatmen rest on the surface of the water sensing vibrations. If something is disturbing the water they will dive to investigate. When the boatmen get around one or two inches of their prey they can then track it using their eye sight. They kill the prey by jabbing it with its rostrum (feeding tube) and injecting its toxic saliva. They are very effective predators and can catch and eat tadpoles, small fish and even the fearsome larvae of the diving beetle. They will also eat flying insects that have accidentally fallen onto the surface of the water and can fly between different ponds.

Sky Watch 3

Summer Clouds

Dragonfly Nymph

Dragonfly Nymphs are the adolescent dragonfly, just before it transforms into an adult. They are from the order 'Odonata', from the Greek word, odous, meaning tooth. They can give sharp bite with their teeth (mandibles) if held carelessly.

These nymphs are short and chunky with wing pads and internal gills. The look like something from a nightmare, they have six legs which are located near the head. Nymphs can be seen on plants, among stones, and leaf litter, most of my sightings are in ponds and on the canal.

Dragonfly Nymphs are predators and feed mostly on other insects in the water. They are known cannibals. Some of the larger species feed on small fish and tadpoles. They catch their food with a toothed lower lip (labium) that is usually folded under the head. When prey comes near, the nymph will shoot out its lower lip to grab it, faster than most prey can react. The lip is then pulled back to the waiting mouth and feeding begins.

They breath by sucking water into its abdomen to move water over its internal gills. Once it has absorbed enough oxygen, the nymph squeezes the water out rapidly so it does not have to come up for air like most pond insects. This also helps jet propel them forwards in the water.

Much of a dragonfly's life is spent in the larval stage where it moults six to 15 times. The nymph crawls out of the water and moults one last time, emerging as an adult with functional wings. Dragonflies and damselflies do not go through a pupal stage to become an adult.

Banded Demoiselle

One of the our most striking damselflies is the Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens).. click to enlarge these pictures as the hairy legs are awesome.

Sky Watch Blog 2

MANCHESTER STORM

click to enlarge

I was taking pictures of the mill, when I noticed a storm front moving towards Manchester City Center some 8 miles in the distance. My first thoughts we not 'What good pictures these will make'.. but 'Another Sky Watch post in the bag'.

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As some of you know already I do not have my own PC and Tom hosts this one for me, I do however get the chance now and then to visit your blogs and see your picture... thank you for visiting here and commenting... I appreciate you all putting up with this one sided blog arrangement and thank you all

Peter Parrott

Relaxing

Relaxation at its best

Fledgling

I'm not 100% sure just what these fledglings are apart from beautiful. Beautiful is a word that will be in my mind today as I say a final farewell to a beautiful, fun, filled friend.

Dedicated to Wendy

R.I.P.

Sky Watcher Defor

Defor Dog

June Views

July is turning out to be wet.. so to make up for the rain and drk cloudy skies I show 3 favourites held back from June.

Fun With Foxgloves

Swallow Tales

I had to stop and watch the work of these Swallows, going backwards and forwards with small bits of grass, and mud. The would fly to the mud-hole with the grass, dip it into the waters edge and cover one end with mud then fly off into the distance to add to their nests. Others would just turn up for mud.. very hectic and hard working.