Sun, Shadows & Reflections

We're having a bit of a heat wave this week - the first so far this summer to be worthy of the name (even by my standards). It's not likely to last much longer though (rain expected over night and a change to cooler weather following tomorrow). 

So I don't like to complain; I'm just stating a fact when I say that hot weather affects my blogging/ computer habits, as it gets too hot to spend much time in my study.

And then when I tried on Friday... It turned out Windows Live Writer had again stopped connecting to Blogger. So I gave up. 

WLW still not working today, so doing this post directly in Blogger. The photos are from Wednesday, which was the first day of the hot weather I think.

I went into town then in the afternoon, and before an errand or two I took a little walk along the river with the camera. And here are some of the things I saw.
 

A girl sitting by the river, reading a book.

Meeting myself in a complex window reflection.

The under-water-world in the river.

 And hello... What's that I spye with my little eye...

A damselfly. Then it really is summer!

Just courting his own shadow, though, it seems.

 

Linking to
Weekend Reflections
Shadow Shot Sunday

More Living Jewels

Last Thursday, while waiting for the King and Queen (she says casually, once more slipping it into conversation as if this was a common occurrence), I was standing on this bridge across the river, the railings covered with flowers ▼

▲ This photo of the bridge is from another day, earlier in August. These flowers were not especially for the royal visit – they’ve been there all summer for us all to enjoy. Anyway, there I stood, waiting for the King and Queen last Thursday, together with a few other people, and the camera of course at hand, when my eye was drawn to this other, comparatively rather insignificant little couple. Very attractive, of course - but very small, I’d say only about 4 cm or so. I’ve seen them along the river before but never managed to catch them with the camera. But now they landed – coupled as they were – on the flowers on the railing just next to where I was standing. Perfect chance of close-ups! ▼

Actually I was just as excited to get these camera shots as any of the others I managed that day (if not more)!

Having spent some time on internet research afterwards, I think I have arrived at the conclusion that they must be Emerald Damselflies  (Swedish: Allmän smaragdflickslända)

In Sweden this is one of the most common damselflies and they fly between July and September.

Lestes sponsa mate in the usual dragonfly manner and will form tandem pairs away from water. Copulation lasts from 30-60 minutes and after mating they stay paired for egg-laying. The female usually lays eggs in submerged vegetation and whilst egg-laying the female can remain submerged for 30 min. The female pierces the tissue of aquatic plants and inserts her eggs. Occasionally females lay their eggs in vegitation above the water surface in places that will become submerged when the water level rises. The eggs start to develop and will continue to develop for the next few weeks. Then due to changing environmental conditions the development of the eggs slows down. In this state of slow development, called diapause the eggs overwinter. [from Wikipedia]

Linking to Midweek Blues