Menoturals; Autumnal Pondlife

This may be the end of October, but I am preparing this as a Nature Friday post, as November starts tomorrow, but that is (as always on this blog) reserved for a video. So here's your NF post on a Thursday.

Since it is the last day of October, I also recognise that many will be thinking 'spooky'. The best I can do is bring you images of slightly unusual critters for a nature post - arguably a bit grotesque, if not exactly gruesome. 

These shots were actually taken at the start of October. I travelled from New Lanark to Edinburgh, prompted by a special visit you will read about next week. However, it was also good to spend a little more catch-up time with Mac1. She had one full day spare from other commitments, and it had risen to be one of the glorious, bright days that could put on quite the show around here. We headed south of the city to Penicuik and onto part of the North Esk Way. We did not walk far. Instead, we lingered in the sheltered spot by the pond, working our cellphone cameras to the limit!

I have been sharing the mushroom ones on Mondays, but here are other things that I spotted. Can you make out the Waterhens making their way into the wee hut? There was a mated pair and an older chick—that's it nearest the door and more tawny-coloured than the parents. The second parent is tucked behind the hut. If you biggify, you can just make out the shoulder stripe! 

As you can see, the water was clear and held lots of water foliage. The Great Pond Snail population was very healthy! This was very gratifying, as they are considered rare in Scotland. They obviously are thriving here, for we saw lots of them. 

Yes, they are. This population is not struggling! Photographing them was a challenge, mainly because the light reflection on the water was quite intense and because there was a slight hazy film on the water caused by exudations from the plants.

I liked this one, as you can clearly see the animal itself, not just the shell. 

The other critters that kept us company in numbers that day, in the wonderful late-year sunshine, were the dragonflies, specifically the Common Darter species.

We had great fun trying to capture the ultimate portrait. I shot at them from sideways, frontways, backways, and topways. The fore and rear were my two faves. Also, I managed a tiny bit of film.

Handsome, I think you will agree? Along one of the railings, we spotted this...

... I don't think it will take you too long to figure out this was a dragonfly cocoon! Just that one visible, but we have to think there were more, for the population of these flying gems was also quite abundant.

There was just one other wee critter that was spotted (other than lots of different birds; Robin, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Wren, Buzzards...), and that was the Stickleback fish. Just the one, but again, we were sure plenty were hiding in the undergrowth! Again, the photographic challenge was there - this was the best I could manage. It was a grand outing, and you will see just a little more on Saturday Sounds this weekend.