This was predicted to be a warm day (31°C) so I decided to visit the upper reaches of the Yarra River once more.
I left reasonably early to hopefully get some lethargic damselflies in the morning
but there was quite thick smoke haze from the bushfires in the high country
and the sun didn't come out until nearly midday.
I wasn't expecting to see anything new but I was hoping for enough to try some experimentation.
At the end of the day I had taken over 1400 photos, the most ever for me (to date),
so I consider it a success even though some of my experiments didn't quite work.
Below are some significant events.
Remember, my photos can be uniquely identified by the last four digits, which I'll also use as references.
Images 6020 and 6042 show an emerging Yellow-striped Hunter, Austrogomphus guerini.
Image 6063 shows the same insect after it had taken its short first flight.
Once again there were many Whitewater Rockmasters, Diphlebia lestoides, around.
I wanted to see how close I could get, particularly to their faces.
As image 6648 shows, they got pretty close to me with this female trying to deposit her eggs on my legs.
One of the least pleasant experiences of the day were all the stinging flies.
Image 5214 shows a green-eyed one sitting on the sedges while
image 6364 shows one trying to burrow through my skin to get at my blood.
Needless to say, the latter didn't live for much longer.
