Wheatear in its summer home

One bird I have caught up with many times this year is the Wheatear. When on holiday in the Scottish Borders we found the wonderful moors around the Lammermuir Hills north of Longformacus which held Red Grouse, Meadow Pipits, Curlew, Stone Chats, Whin Chat and of course the Wheatear.

We spent a couple of days visiting this location and parked up close to where Wheatear dropped  onto a fence post close too. I managed a good number of shots over the two days, overcast at times but the first day had bright periods, I find the second days pictures better with no bright sunlight causing hard reflections.

I have only processed a few pictures so far but despite the slightly dull light I am happy with the results.

Golden Ringed Dragonfly

I took these pictures a week last Sunday in Harwood Dale.  Having just started to walk from the barrier onto the forest track we soon came across certainly 3 maybe 4 of these dragonflies and this one set down for a good while.

The pictures were taken at the long end of my Sigma 50 - 500mm lens, and to be honest I am a tad disappointed certainly with the side views. From behind with the sun light over my shoulder the results are nicer.

I took pictures of this dragonfly a few years ago and perhaps the results using my prime 400mm lens, which supposedly is also macro were better.

These are certainly easily recognisable dragonflys being big (70 - 100mm), the black and yellow body pattern, the eyes just meeting in a point on the head. Apparently the male has an anal triangle at the base of the hindwing and auricles on section 2 but even zooming right in I cannot tell! Perhaps someone can help.

I would ask you to double click these pictures to look at them in a larger size.