<< Previous Next >>

Migrant Hawker Female


Migrant Hawker Female
Photo Information
Copyright: Thijs van Balen jr (Pentaxfriend) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 514 W: 24 N: 1888] (8048)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2010-07-28
Categories: Insects
Camera: Pentax K20D, Tamron SP 90mm F/2.8 Macro 1:1, Digital ISO 400
Exposure: f/10.0, 1/160 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2010-09-18 6:51
Viewed: 3003
Points: 18
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Thanks Maurizio(maurydv) for correcting ID from Southern Hawker to Migrant hawker

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Suborder: Anisoptera
Family: Aeshnidae
Genus: Aeshna
Species: A. mixta
Binomial name: Aeshna mixta

The Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) is one of the smaller species of hawker dragonflies. It can be found away from water but for breeding it prefers still or slow-flowing water and can tolerate brackish sites. The flight period is from July to the end of October. A. mixta occurs in North Africa, southern and central Europe to the Baltic region

Identification:
A. mixta is a small aeshna which appears dark in flight. It is similar in appearance to other aeshnas but has a characteristic "golf-tee" shaped mark on the second segment of the abdommen (S2) which is diagnostic. The main identification problem in the field is distinguishing this species from A. affinis where the two species fly together. The markings on the side of the thorax are different in A. affinis and A. mixta. In A. affinis the sides of the thorax are greeny yellow with fine black lines along the sutures. In A. mixta the sides of the thorax are similar in colour but the yellow is separated by dark brown areas so it gives the appearance of having two broad yellow stripes.

Distribution and habitat:
A. mixta is found throughout central and southern Europe, north Africa, the Middle East and across Asia to China and Japan. As it is a migratory species it can occur outside its normal range and in recent years it has been spreading northwards. For example in the United Kingdom this insect was rare until the 1940s when it began migrating from the continent in large numbers. It continues to do so and is now a resident breeding species throughout England and Wales. It reached the Isle of Man in 1998 and Ireland in 2000. It breeds in lakes and ponds and is tolerant of brackish water. It is also found away from water hawking high amongst trees and bushes, but often resting low on vegetation.


More info.
maurydv, boreocypriensis, haraprasan, marius-secan, Miss_Piggy has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Thijsmarius-secan 1 09-18 22:32
To maurydv: IDPentaxfriend 1 09-18 07:58
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Hallo Thijs,
today we are neighbours; this Hawker is not Aeshna cyanea, but a female Aeshna mixta; a very beaautiful macro shot, very good sharpness and splendid natural colours, excellent POV and composition
TFS
Have a good Sunday
Ciao Maurizio

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2010-09-18 7:13]

Hallo Thijs,
Mooie foto in uitstekende scherpte en natuurlijke kleuren. Erg goede diepte in de foto. Prachtige compositie met vage achtergrond.
Groet,
Peter

Hi Thijs,

An excellent close-up of a female Aeshna, with pin sharpness to show all of the minute details on its body. Good chois of a DOF providing good separation. Wonderful diagonal composition and vertical framing too.
TFS and have a nice Saturday evening!
Cheers,

Bayram

hallo Thijs
super opname met veel scherpte en goed licht
leuke pose zo van de zijkant
groetjes lou

Hi Thijs,
A lovely capture of this beautiful migrant hawker female. Good sharp details and a lovely composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 967 W: 26 N: 3888] (16941)
  • [2010-09-18 11:12]

Hello Thijs
Excellent details
Well done!
Regards
Razvan

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659] (65489)
  • [2010-09-18 15:56]

Hi Thijs,the next time we must change the pic or the name..i post yesterday a cyanea like a mixta,and today you make the same..eheh...Beautiful pic whit a perfect focus along all the hawker,excellent sharpness,colors and perspective.Thanks for share,have a nice Sunday,Luciano

Hello Thijs,
Excellent capture with razor sharp details and spendid natural colours.
Very nice composition and perfect focus.
Congratulation!
Marius.

Hallo Thijs
Outstanding shot of this beautiful dragonfly species. Great point of view to portray it. The patterns and colours on the body is so interesting, and I think it is a first for me to see one of these. Very neat and sharp image with lovely colours. I very much like its slender built. Very nice composition. Thanks for sharing a great macro. Best regards.
Anna

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2158 W: 224 N: 4749] (16656)
  • [2010-09-19 9:13]

Hi Thijs

A really great capture of this Migrant Hawker you got here!
The details are terrific and the DOF you managed is spot-on - keeping the dragonfly in such a good focus while clearing it from the BG.
The natural light worked very well, too - adding a nice, warm feel to the photo.

Bravo and TFS
Horia

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF