The Stag beetle is one of those charismatic species that a lot of people, even not very interested in nature, know. Even though they (including me until now) have never seen the species, they know it from publications. I have to admit, once you have seen a photo of the Stag beetle, you won’t forget it! In early summer the beetles gather around trees, mainly oak treest, that have wounds that provide a constant flow of high-nutrient juice. They feed upon this juice and fight among each other if a female comes near. This photo was taken during an encounter of two males, using a long exposure and a fill flash.

Cheers, Niels

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The past three years I have been trying to photograph a rare dragonfly, which has been listed under the Habitats Directive annex 2. It is the Green snaketail Ophiogomphus cecilia. It lives near lowland rivers with sandy or gravelrich substrates. I tried my luck again this year and discovered three fresh males. While trying to capture one of them I had to do a kind of cliff-hanging over the steep river bank. I hoped for one to perch on Purple loosestrife, what would result in a nice scene…..yes!

Cheers,

Niels

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