newtoyou Loc: Eastport

And then a switch to an attempt to dragonfly ID.
I thought Paulson's Eastern book would help, but it underscores how much I have to learn.
This area has been newly rehabbed to provide more natural conditions of water flow. Step pools, reused woodland soil from construction sites(thus introduced native life thru seeds, etc.
This is the first year of a full yearly cycle. A rare orchard already found and insects, frogs, turtles, deer(and a fawn) and an endless list. This is a half block away, and will be a long term project recording new life as I find it. Pictures of dragonflies. I thought them hard to net, photos are harder.
For ID if possible. I am plodding thru Paulson.
Thanks, all.
Bill
The deer just wandered by.
The wonder is that there are few mosquitoes. Gambusia afinis, a live bearing native called the mosquito fish is here in force. And with the dragonflies hopefully they will never get to be a problem.

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Another hanging just out of shot,? A male standing guard?

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This is one of many pools

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DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

I've got Paulson's book, too. It's useful, up to a point. You basically have to flip through every page and hope you see a picture like the one you took. To make it more complicated, there's male vs. female, and juvenile vs. adult.

napabob Loc: Napa CA

cool, love the prop wash from the DIF

EnglishBrenda Loc: Kent, England

That looks like a marvellous place to find subjects, both fauna and flora and so handy for you to visit - feeling envious, well except for any mosquitoes.

newtoyou Loc: Eastport

First, thanks, all. The mosquito population is very low. Very little stagnant water, a fresh wash with every rain. Look up Gambusia afinis, the mosquito fish. I raise these and I can say prolific, yes. Only two inches long so take up little space.
But this promises to be a dragonfly haven.
I have an edge here. I was born and raised about four or five blocks away. Have always come back. Saw the decline, now get to see a bit of rebirth.
This was all a farm. One of the last in the area to put the corn in shocks to dry.
So far one note of success. An orchid last seen in this area over thirty years ago is growing here. Deer, including a fawn, otter,and others. Birds aplenty. Now to gather the specialists together and catalog the progress.
Bill

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

The one perched on sand is a female blue dasher. The ones in flight I don't know, but I am thinking a spangled skimmer or something related. That is a species I would like to see. The one perched on a branch tip is a male blue dasher.

EnglishBrenda Loc: Kent, England

Thanks for the interesting response, nice to hear of rebirth in the environment

docshark Loc: Millersville, PA

Your ovipositing female is a Yellow-sided Skimmer (Libellula flavida). Mark Sturtevant correctly put an ID to the rest. I posted a few of these in the third part of my series from Idylwild WMA, Federalsburg, Maryland last week.
-Doc

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Good shots, Bill. I really like how you caught the dragonfly in flight and your pond looks like a great place to find a wide variety of subjects.

newtoyou Loc: Eastport

A suggestion.
Many times I use a process of elimination to get to an ID. Learn a few of the more commonly seen dragonflies and use these as a base. By narrowing down your choices you unclutter the field.
Use size. Large specimens are likely darners and skimmers. Clubtails are obvious.
First thing to glance at is the range map. No matter what, the odds are against a species being found in a foreign area. Ranges have been well documented.
Family relationships are easily seen in dragonflies. Mannerisms point out different families. Does it stay on a beaten path and rarely land? Darners again. Catch pairs in tandem for positive sex determination.
Habitat works two-ways in insect ID. One can visit a certain habitat to better the chance of success, or the habitat can point toward ID.
Tag the lead pages in your book so it is easy to go directly to a family. Use the book. Pencil notes, underline, etc. I do this with field guides. Use soft pencil. And last, remember past mistakes. An excellent learning tool.
Keep notes and enjoy yourself.
Oh, get a good net. If you capture a dragonfly and give it a piece of grasshopper or other tidbit, it will often calm and eat, giving you time to get some macro.
Bill