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ENCOUNTER WITH A DAMSELFLY

ENCOUNTER WITH A DAMSELFLY

 

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

30/I/2023

 

A person who loves photography faces many dilemmas. It could be the lighting, the angle, fast moving objects and so many other factors. The most important being having a camera handy at the right time, at the right place, ready to shoot at short notice, irrespective of the factors mentioned earlier and hope like hell to get a good shot.

A couple of weeks back due to my ignorance I had done a big blunder. I mistook a ‘Damselfly’ larva to be a ‘Water Scorpion’. Fearing that it would injure or eat the fish in the tub, I extracted it from the tank. It never went back to where it belonged. After researching on the internet, I realised my mistake. It was a harmless insect, though looks are deceptive.

Yesterday morning, as usual, I neither carried my camera nor my mobile, when I went to the roof to feed the fish. There was chaos as fish food hit the water surface. The fish went into a feeding frenzy.

As a habit, I did a visual inspection of both the fish and their tub, looking for any incongruities.

While scanning the surface, an unfamiliar movement caught my eye. An insect was wriggling while sitting on a floating plant. This time I made no mistake in recognising it. It was a Damselfly just out of the water, getting ready to face the world. It appeared quite transparent and light green. Probably the effect of the green surroundings was being reflected in its body colours.

I couldn’t have left that scene go like that. I rushed down the fight of stairs, pulled out my camera from its bag, checked if the SD card and battery were inserted. The lens was given a quick wipe with the lens cloth and off I was back to the roof, for the shoot.

As usual, Mr Murphy notices everything. This creature disappeared from the place where I had spotted it. The fish thought it was feeding time again and started congregating on the surface. I ignored them. My mind was tuned to photograph the insect. It was like finding a needle in a hay stack.

My only fear was that it being a juvenile, it could have been pulled by the fish as they tend to nibble on anything which floats or wriggles. On second thoughts, it could have been taken away by a bird, as they too come over for a drink. Could it have been possible that it had flown away? A little disappointed, I sat by the side of the tub.

The camera was ready in all respects, but the subject had gone missing. As usual, I started looking for a different subject. One last try, and there it was. It had just about opened its wings and while probably trying to make its maiden flight. The insect had shifted its location from one end to the other end of the tub. My mind was fixated to find it where one had left it. Therefore, it was hard to find.

A few clicks of the light green Damselfly were captured. I then let it be.

It was fish feeding time in the evening again. This time I was well prepared with my camera.

One scanned the tub slowly and steadily. My perception was to locate a greenish thing floating around. Lo and behold, I saw a fully grown Damselfly displaying its beautiful blue colours, especially at its tail end and head. One could not miss it. A few clicks made my day.

It had not flown away. Why so, I thought to myself? Was it waiting to gain strength? Was it afraid to venture out? Was it finding the environ very conducive? Was food available in plenty? Etc. Could this insect be a ‘defective piece of nature’ where its wings had not deployed properly. I did not fiddle with how nature would take its course. I wished it luck and moved down.

Will I find that beautiful Damselfly still in the tub tomorrow? I wonder!!!!!!!

 

JAI HIND

© ® NOEL ELLIS








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