Dragontowne: Some olde and some new friends
Mar 7, 2020 01:20:59 #
These are the last dragonfly pictures from July of last summer.
First up is another young slaty skimmer (Libellula incesta). I don’t even remember taking this picture, but there it was in the cue. This one is a male, and so it will later transform into a uniformly blue-grey dragonfly when it matures.
Young slaty skimmer by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Ever since I started this hobby I had been trying to get photographs of the next species. This is the black saddlebags dragonfly (Tramea lacerata), so-named from the wing markings that make it look like it is carrying baggage. They are not uncommon – I’ve seen several this summer alone, but they don’t land very often and when they do they won’t let me get close enough. The first picture was my first one, and I was totally chuffed to get it! I think this is a female. The next pictures were taken several days later in a different park, and that is a male.
Black saddlebags by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Black saddlebags by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Black saddlebags by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
The next pictures are of another new species. I was heading deep down a forest trail when this large darner landed right next to me. What a beauty! And very cooperative too. I am not yet sure what I have here, other than its being a male, but it does strongly resemble the green-striped darner (Aeschna verticalis) or the Canada darner (Aeshna canadensis). My mistake was I should have had the sense to also try for pictures from a side view, as that will reveal color patterns that will definitively ID many of the “variegated darners”.
Darner dragonfly by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Darner dragonfly by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
And finally, we have...royalty. Late July is the time for royal river cruiser dragonflies (Macromia taeniolata) in the Magic Field. These spectacular dragonflies are challenging as they will nimbly fly on long patrols, quickly disappearing from site for several minutes before eventually coming back on their return leg. After a time they will land and sit for an extended period, but then one needs a bit of luck to see where they landed. One particular day was very lucky for me since I got both a female and later a male on the same day. The first pictures are the female, and the next is the male. I was especially pleased with the latter since this was my first male royal river cruiser.
On a later occasion I returned to the MF with a friend who is also very enthusiastic about the hobby. We worked together to get more pictures of this species, and he was as amazed as I am about those insanely brilliant eyes!
Royal river cruiser by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Royal river cruiser by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Royal river cruiser by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Royal river cruiser by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Royal river cruiser by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
First up is another young slaty skimmer (Libellula incesta). I don’t even remember taking this picture, but there it was in the cue. This one is a male, and so it will later transform into a uniformly blue-grey dragonfly when it matures.
Young slaty skimmer by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrEver since I started this hobby I had been trying to get photographs of the next species. This is the black saddlebags dragonfly (Tramea lacerata), so-named from the wing markings that make it look like it is carrying baggage. They are not uncommon – I’ve seen several this summer alone, but they don’t land very often and when they do they won’t let me get close enough. The first picture was my first one, and I was totally chuffed to get it! I think this is a female. The next pictures were taken several days later in a different park, and that is a male.
Black saddlebags by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrBlack saddlebags by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrBlack saddlebags by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrThe next pictures are of another new species. I was heading deep down a forest trail when this large darner landed right next to me. What a beauty! And very cooperative too. I am not yet sure what I have here, other than its being a male, but it does strongly resemble the green-striped darner (Aeschna verticalis) or the Canada darner (Aeshna canadensis). My mistake was I should have had the sense to also try for pictures from a side view, as that will reveal color patterns that will definitively ID many of the “variegated darners”.
Darner dragonfly by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrDarner dragonfly by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrAnd finally, we have...royalty. Late July is the time for royal river cruiser dragonflies (Macromia taeniolata) in the Magic Field. These spectacular dragonflies are challenging as they will nimbly fly on long patrols, quickly disappearing from site for several minutes before eventually coming back on their return leg. After a time they will land and sit for an extended period, but then one needs a bit of luck to see where they landed. One particular day was very lucky for me since I got both a female and later a male on the same day. The first pictures are the female, and the next is the male. I was especially pleased with the latter since this was my first male royal river cruiser.
On a later occasion I returned to the MF with a friend who is also very enthusiastic about the hobby. We worked together to get more pictures of this species, and he was as amazed as I am about those insanely brilliant eyes!
Royal river cruiser by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrRoyal river cruiser by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrRoyal river cruiser by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrRoyal river cruiser by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrRoyal river cruiser by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrMar 7, 2020 02:05:17 #
Wow! These images are really beautiful. The narrative is great, too. 
Mike
Mike
Mar 7, 2020 06:01:34 #
All very well done..........especially #3......I swear it looks like it's playing a flute 
Mar 7, 2020 09:18:08 #
Mar 7, 2020 10:37:58 #
Mar 7, 2020 14:47:53 #
Mar 7, 2020 15:50:19 #
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