Ready to take off

ID: Potter wasp

Stumbled upon this particular patch while returning from a birding spot, unfortunately without any of the waders, where, initially, there seemed to be a potter wasp busy surveying the area. Within a moment another 3-4 of them joined in at the same area and started settling down. And then started the activity of scraping the mud from the ground, probably a very robust activity as they seemed least bothered by our presence around, though still pretty far off, and accumulating them into a decent sized blob. Once happy with the amount of it, these would get off from the crouched down position into a more upright pose, as seen in the frame, and then fly off, almost disappearing in the dense bushes. It was interesting how they could generate that blob out of the dry and dust laden path off the trail.

EXIF:
Canon 80D
Tamron 100-400
F/6.3
Shutterspeed 1/400
ISO 400
Rested on the ground, No flash fired

Location: Bhandup Pumping Station

Loved the low angle and the pose, the way it is holding the blob. The narrow petiole, or “waist,” and the abdomen have very interesting shape and are well documented in this photograph. Nicely captured. Thanks for sharing.