St. Marks Fly Mating

Lesinlondon · #1 (**permalink**) 24-04-2009, 07:12 PM

Today at Grange Hill, nr Chigwell, Essex. One area at edge of woods was thick with females on the wing. Many males too. Several mating. The wind got up a bit, big trouble getting a focused images, but I thought I would post these. Thanks. Les.

tameblackbirds · #2 (**permalink**) 24-04-2009, 07:21 PM

wow great images

if rather rude

Bruce Williams · #3 (**permalink**) 24-04-2009, 07:33 PM

Nice capture Les - I've seen large numbers of these in recent days (Aylesbury and Milton Keynes area) but not a sniff of a mating pair.

Bruce

Lesinlondon · #4 (**permalink**) 24-04-2009, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Williams

Nice capture Les - I've seen large numbers of these in recent days (Aylesbury and Milton Keynes area) but not a sniff of a mating pair.

Bruce

Thanks. Saw some males last week in Greenwich, by the Thames, and one in local eco park, in Rotherhithe, London. Females are beginning to show now so you may see them mating next time.

I found them easy to approach, especially when occupied mating. They don't seem to like it too windy. Today when breeze came up they would all disappear, and show again when it dropped. Except those mating! They just blew about on the leaves, hanging on for dear life - as in my pic. Thank. Les.