As you know JJ's Wargames likes to include other interesting things alongside the wargames stuff, so I thought you might like to see these pictures I grabbed last night after getting back from a quick bike ride.
On entering our back garden this amazing creature came swooping past doing circuits of the back lawn seeming to be catching a mass of flying ants that had decided to take to the sultry summer evening air
http://www.british-dragonflies.org.uk/species/common-hawker
Every now and then, as if to catch its breath, the insect would hover as it selected a suitable perch in preparation for another sortie among the myriad of black flying ants that floated over the grass.
Carolyn and I were transfixed watching the amazing flying attributes of this master of winged combat. On one of its final landing stops I managed to get it in the viewfinder of the camera on maximum telephoto as approaching it too closely was impossible, as was trying to capture it in flight.
I know nothing about one dragonfly from another so went to the link above, basing my pictures to be of the most likely suspect, a Common Hawker Dragonfly. It was a real treat to see this fantastic insect showing off its flying skills.
Next up, I'm off to the DWG to run a Chain of Command game on the push in from Omaha Beach and the 3/96e Ligne are done and ready for basing so we will get the third and final tutorial post up plus the history of the 96e Ligne at Talavera.
Great picture, Dragonflies are fascinating and beautiful creatures, I love watching them in the summer time down here in Tasmania.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jacksarge, I wasn't sure how good the picture would be as it was a hand held shot on max telephoto and I was practicing the old firing routine of breathing out before pulling the trigger to avoid any shake.
DeleteI suppose the dragonflies are huge in Tasmania, rather like the spiders!
Very beautiful photos. He or she would be a great addition to a Pulp Adventure game, in giant form, of course.
ReplyDeleteCheers Michael, I was amazed at the clarity when I got the picks up on the computer.
DeleteI couldn't comment on a Pulp Adventure theme as that is well beyond my ken, but it would certainly be fun trying to capture that camouflage scheme.
Jonathan, I appreciate and enjoy seeing some non-wargaming content especially your many travelogues. Nice photo of the dragonfly. Let's see a camo reproduction. I think it would work well in an arid setting.
ReplyDeleteHi Jon, back at you. I too like to see the views and hear about the wildlife in other peoples back yards, and I love the big country in your part of the world.
DeleteThe colours on this amazing creature reminded me of the lozenge multicoloured camo pattern used on the late WWI Fokker DVII. It is very effective at breaking up the shape against almost any background. Perhaps this is the inspiration for the idea.
Cheers
JJ