July 9, 2010

River Water-Crowfoot


At the end of May the Dordogne was covered with millions of small white flowers from River Water-Crowfoot (Ranunculus fluitans). In shallow places it is rooted in the river bottom and the long smooth stems reach the surface. Often they are uprooted by the current and taken downstream.
 

After the heavy rain in the first week of June the water level has risen and the River Water-Crowfoot all but disappeared.















But now, after a few weeks of sunshine, the Dordogne has calmed down, and here it is again!


To the enjoyment of this Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx spelendens), a damselfly. She is laying her eggs between the submerged stems.
















Plenty of swans find plenty to eat in the clumps of River water crowfoot. Here a couple is resting after feeding.