Macks Photography

11/10/2026

Something else to blame on Labour !
Harold Wilson’s Labour government in 1976 issued the first licences !!

13/09/2026

Incredibly proud to have been chosen by Wild View Cameras as their Sponsor's Choice Award winner in the recent Wiltshire Wildlife Trust photography competition.
Looking forward to adding a trail cam to my equipment arsenal in the coming weeks.
Thank You

And finally… announcing the winner of the Sponsor’s Choice Award in our Photo Prize 🏆

White-legged Damselfly at Conigre Mead by David Mackey (Macks Photography) 🌿

The detail captured by David in this photo is incredible 🤩

Our sponsors Wild View Cameras said: I am drawn to it’s amazing googly eyes… this beautiful image captivates my own love for insects and their natural beauty 💚

Credit to David for this amazing photo 🎉

08/09/2026

Pendennis Castle, Falmouth, Cornwall 🏰🌊

Looking through the ancient walls of Pendennis Castle across Carrick Roads towards St Anthony Head and its iconic white lighthouse.

A lovely combination of historic Cornish stonework, coastal landscape and a glimpse of the Fal Estuary beyond.

📍 Pendennis Castle, Falmouth, Cornwall
🌊 Carrick Roads
💡 St Anthony Head Lighthouse

Pendennis Castle was built by Henry VIII as part of England’s coastal defences, guarding the entrance to the Fal Estuary. Across Carrick Roads stands St Anthony Head, with its lighthouse marking the approach to Falmouth Harbour.

03/09/2026

Southern Hawker — Aeshna cyanea

One of the UK’s most striking dragonflies, the Southern Hawker is a powerful and highly agile flyer.

This individual paused briefly on a favourite perch, showing off the beautiful blue-and-black patterning of the abdomen, vivid green thorax markings and those incredible compound eyes.

Southern Hawkers are often found around ponds, lakes, canals and slow-moving water, but they can travel surprisingly far from breeding sites while hunting. They are also known for repeatedly returning to the same perches — which can give a patient photographer a real chance of capturing them.

📍 Species: Southern Hawker
🔬 Aeshna cyanea
📅 Flight season: July–October
🌿 Habitat: Ponds, lakes, canals, wetlands and woodland edges
📏 Wingspan: approximately 110–120 mm

A fleeting moment in the late-summer light. 🐉📷

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03/09/2026

02/09/2026

Brown Hairstreak & European Hornet

A splash of autumn colour in the summer sunshine. 🧡

This beautiful Brown Hairstreak (Thecla betulae) was photographed resting on a thistle, its rich orange-brown underside glowing in the sunlight. The delicate white markings, fine edging and small tail are characteristic features of this beautiful and elusive butterfly.

Also sharing the thistles was a European Hornet (Vespa crabro). One of Britain's largest social wasps, the European Hornet is an important predator of other insects and also contributes to pollination as it visits flowers for nectar.

Two very different insects, sharing the same patch of thistle — a lovely reminder that some of the best wildlife encounters happen when you simply stop and look closely. 🌿📸

📷 Mack's Photography

01/09/2026

Male Ruddy Darter | Sympetrum sanguineum

A striking male Ruddy Darter resting beautifully on a yellow flower in the late-summer sunshine.

The deep red abdomen, distinctive pinched waist and black legs are classic features of this species, while the warm, natural surroundings give the photograph a lovely late-summer feel.

A wonderful little dragonfly and a great example of just how vibrant our native darters can be. 🐉🌼

📍 Ravensroost Wood WWT, Wiltshire, UK

31/08/2026

Willow Emerald Damselfly | Chalcolestes viridis

A beautifully detailed Willow Emerald Damselfly resting delicately against a slender stem, its metallic green body catching the light beautifully against the lush summer foliage.

The long, elegant abdomen and beautifully veined wings give this species its distinctive, graceful appearance. A lovely example of one of our more delicate and photogenic damselflies.

📍 Ravensroost Wood WWT, Wiltshire, UK

30/08/2026

Male Ruddy Darter | Sympetrum sanguineum

A striking male Ruddy Darter basking in the warm summer sunshine, perfectly settled on a lush green leaf.

The intense blood-red abdomen contrasts beautifully with the surrounding foliage, while the distinctively black legs and strongly waisted abdomen make this a classic male Ruddy Darter.

A lovely close-up showing the fine detail of the wings, eyes and body — and a great example of one of our smaller but unmistakable darters. 🐉🌿

📍 Lower Moor Farm WWT, Wiltshire, UK

29/08/2026

Female Common Darter | Sympetrum striolatum

A beautifully detailed female Common Darter perched delicately on a weathered stem, with the soft olive-green background providing a lovely natural backdrop.

The warm golden-brown colouring and subtle yellow markings along the abdomen are beautifully captured, while the fine detail in the wings and delicate structure of the legs really comes through.

A lovely example of one of Britain's most familiar dragonflies. 🐉🌿

📍 Lower Moor Farm WWT, Wiltshire, UK