my first glimpse
12:20:53, 17th January … my first glimpse as it clung motionless at the top of the stump
12:21:05, 17th January … clinging to the edge of the ‘cliff top’
12:21:39 … antennae fold down, perhaps in reaction to my presence
12:22:37 … I move to get a lateral view
12:25:27 and it decides to take a few steps forward
12:25:57 … but soon turns and descends again into the shelter of the stump
12:29:04 climbing up again
retreat
12:29:57 but a quick change of plans and back under the leaf litter accumulation in the rotting centre of the stump
reemergence
12:38:14 … reemerging from under the leaves
12:38:56
12:42:04 ... the scale of the climb
12:46:13 … made it to the top
testing the wings!
12:47:09 … note elytra barely lifted yet hindwings in rapid (blurred!) motion
a brief rest before ultimate take off
12:47:16 … a very brief rest after the initial 15cm flight, before heading away skyward