Wildlife Photography across the Water: Pond Life pt 1

Monday, 3 May 2010

Pond Life pt 1 - A day late

Mayflies are supposed to turn up on the 1st of May. Well they all popped out in the pond yesterday, 24hours late, which I will put down to the cold weather, so will forgive them.

I first noticed one today beneath the water when I was checking out the tadpoles, and then a few seconds later I saw one on the surface.

While taking the photos, laying down in the wet clover, more and more were coming out. They were either finding their way on to surfaces out of the water or remaining onthe water surface.

I have catalogued them today photographically as another day in the life of the pond.

This was the first hatched Mayfly I saw, climbing up the Flag Iris

This one was skating around on the surface, driven by the wind.

This one had taken refuge on a small piece of decaying log in the pond.

I liked the simplicity of this image

All of these images were taken with the 7D and Canon 180 macro, and used flash as it was so dark out there today. Flash was either the on-board, or the on-board + 580EX that the 7D wirelessly triggered.

I am expecting to get planty more exciting images from the pond this year, so will be titling them Pond Life. In my next installment, I will show the transition of Large Red Damselflies from the naiad or nymph stage through to the ready for take of stage.

Martin

4 comments:

andy page4 May 2010 at 22:15
Hi Martin - have continued to follow your posts with interest. Very much like the latest pond life shots of the Mayflies.

Also noted you went back to using an original 5D and pleased to see you enjoyed it despite its 'lack of features'

Andy Page
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Julian11 May 2010 at 22:59
Agree with you Martin, 2nd and last seem to strike a chord with me - they only live for hours once emerged and these images seem to accentuate their vulnerability - any trout in your pond?
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WPATW12 May 2010 at 09:00
Hi Andy - good to sdee you on here, and at teh Bluebell walk.

Julian - no trout. The pond has become self stocked with whatever is in it now. I wanted a truly wild pond. It now has lots of Smooth Newts, Common frog, Common toad, Large Red Damselflies, Pond Skaters, Water Boatmen, Caddis Flies, Mosquiito, Mayflies and we watched Southern Hawker egg laying last year, oh yes and pond snails too. It is amazing how this has developed in just 18 months

Martin
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Julian19 May 2010 at 23:14
Martin

The trout comment was a bit tongue in cheek - it is evident you have created a wonderfully diverse ecosystem in such a short time - your hard efforts are clearly being rewarded - highly admirable.

KR
Julian
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Bio's

David Courtenay, a self taught wildlife and nature photographer, has been capturing images for over 30 years. He has had a passion for wildlife since early childhood and remembers being glued to the television whenever Survival, Wildlife on One and other natural history documentaries were shown. In the 2006 he swapped his established career for the life of a wildlife photographer, such a move demands a measure of uncompromising passion and commitment.

David has travelled extensively throughout Europe as well as spending more than 7 months in India working with local guides and trackers in search of Bengal Tiger, Asian One horned Rhino and Asian Elephant. He has also photographed Wildlife in Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, Sumatra, Africa, Canada and America. Working closely with Conservation companies he tries to raise funds to help Wildlife that has been put on the endangered list by poaching and habitation loss

Martin Dyer has had a passion for avian wildlife since childhood, particularly raptors. Photography was also another keen interest and it was with the specific availability and control of the whole process that digital offers that Martin was then able to combine the two in 2003. Based in the UK, Martin is a regular visitor to Scotland, specifically the Isle of Mull to watch the Eagles resident there. Other trips to Europe and around the UK are usually part of Martin’s agenda in a typical year.

However, as a firm believer on making the most of the local patch, Martin has spent a lot of time and hard work creating a wildlife garden which is reaping the rewards with many new species and varieties of wildlife. A keen member of a number of wildlife photographic groups, Martin is keen to expand his portfolio into other areas of wildlife, and has already established a wide portfolio of images of fungi.