Nature Notes #14

At this time of year, more than six months since my last sighting of a dragonfly or damselfly, I feel their absence keenly. Currently, amidst this low ebb, I serendipitously turned to binge-watching the BBC's detectorists, a programme to which I had been oblivious until the recent Small Prophets series also written by Mackenzie Crook. I was expecting the same gentle comedy and (like many of you, I'm sure) I was not disappointed. However, what was completely unexpected was the beautiful framing of the landscape and the wildlife within it, which flowed throughout the three series. It was an absolute joy to watch. Indeed, amongst the abundant wildlife featured, including flowers, beetles, butterflies, mammals and hoverflies, there were also a couple of damselflies and a dragonfly.

Azure Damselfly, male, Series 1 Episode 3. © BBC detectorists

Common Blue Damselfly, male, Series 3 Episode 5. © BBC detectorists

Common Darter, male, 2022 Special. © BBC detectorists 

But wait a minute, NaHaL (you may be thinking), this is a Nature Notes blogpost. Save the odonatological stuff for another time and let's have a song!

The detectorists theme tune was written and performed by actor and musician Johnny Flynn, including an appearance in Series 1 at an open mic night just before the two main characters took to the stage. It's fair to say that the combination of music, gentle comedy, wildlife and the cast's performances make for a very moving and memorable programme.

Detectorists

Song by Johnny Flynn

Will you search the loamy earth for me?

Climb through the brier and bramble?

I'll be your treasure

I felt the touch of the kings, and the breath of the wind

I knew the call of all the song birds

They sang all the wrong words

I'm waiting for you

I'm waiting for you

Hmm-mm-mm-mm, mm

Hmm-mm-mm-mm

Hmm-mm-mm, mm

Hmm-mm-mm-mm

Would you swim through the briny sea for me?

Roll along the ocean's floor?

I'll be your treasure

I'm with the ghosts of the men who can never sing again

There's a place, follow me, where a love lost at sea

Is waiting for you

Is waiting for you

Hmm-mm-mm-mm, mm

Hmm-mm-mm-mm

Hmm-mm-mm, mm

Hmm-mm-mm-mm

Would you drift o'er the rolling fields for me?

Hoard me in the highest bough?

I'll be your treasure

But in history's rhyme, there's a place and a time

And a truth to the gold that the folds cannot hold

I'm waiting for you

I'm waiting for you

And now I feel a little less fraught, the 2026 Odonata season is less than two months away, and, hopefully there will be a second series of Small Prophets.