Identity Help
Jul 14, 2019 18:42:28 #
kenrich53 wrote:
A week ago I spent the afternoon at the Wildlife Safari in Ashland Nebraska. I posted a few photo's that I took but I also wanted to post this one. I'm not sure if this is a dragonfly or not. Can someone tell me if i'm correct or is it something else. I always thought dragonflys had transparent wings.
it sure is pretty...beautiful dl.
Jul 14, 2019 21:52:56 #
Good evening:
That is an excellent! photo of an Ebony Jewelwing, as ID'd. FWIW, if you take a lot of photos of dragon- and damselflies, you might find this website useful: www.odonatacentral.org. It can be brute force sometimes, searching through all their photos, but I've been able to ID all but a very few of the scores I've photographed (mostly in Texas) over the past 10 years or so.
Likewise, I very much recommend a book titled Texas Damselflies Reference (or Field Guide) by John Abbott. I have a .pdf version I've had for a bunch of years, but I really don't know where I got it. When I looked up a URL to share here, it turns out it's a regular book for sale. I think it came from the website I mentioned above. Regardless, it is the best I've found for quickly ID'ing damsels and well worth the effort of getting a searchable copy.
Also, in case you don't know, male and female damsel- and dragonflies are often very different colors--even more diverse than birds. A male can be blue, the female green, or can have totally different wing markings, or color patterns, etc. It's a lot easier to ID males than females on-line, so if you happen to take a shot with differently colored critters, keep it even if it's not a great photo because that might be the clue you need to ID the subject of the shot you want to keep.
And last, a clue to taking photos of these. If you walk up on a dragon perched on a branch or twig, and it flies away, stand still, frame your shot where it was, and wait. They almost always return to the exact same place if you're not too close, especially in mid-day. I will take some shots then move enough to startle the bug into the air, then take a few steps closer. Almost always, it returns to the exact same perch unless I've got too close, usually w/in about 5 feet. Damsels are similar, but they tend to return to the same area, not always the same perch.
As you might guess, I really like taking photos of these, and I always really appreciate a good one like yours.
Cheers
That is an excellent! photo of an Ebony Jewelwing, as ID'd. FWIW, if you take a lot of photos of dragon- and damselflies, you might find this website useful: www.odonatacentral.org. It can be brute force sometimes, searching through all their photos, but I've been able to ID all but a very few of the scores I've photographed (mostly in Texas) over the past 10 years or so.
Likewise, I very much recommend a book titled Texas Damselflies Reference (or Field Guide) by John Abbott. I have a .pdf version I've had for a bunch of years, but I really don't know where I got it. When I looked up a URL to share here, it turns out it's a regular book for sale. I think it came from the website I mentioned above. Regardless, it is the best I've found for quickly ID'ing damsels and well worth the effort of getting a searchable copy.
Also, in case you don't know, male and female damsel- and dragonflies are often very different colors--even more diverse than birds. A male can be blue, the female green, or can have totally different wing markings, or color patterns, etc. It's a lot easier to ID males than females on-line, so if you happen to take a shot with differently colored critters, keep it even if it's not a great photo because that might be the clue you need to ID the subject of the shot you want to keep.
And last, a clue to taking photos of these. If you walk up on a dragon perched on a branch or twig, and it flies away, stand still, frame your shot where it was, and wait. They almost always return to the exact same place if you're not too close, especially in mid-day. I will take some shots then move enough to startle the bug into the air, then take a few steps closer. Almost always, it returns to the exact same perch unless I've got too close, usually w/in about 5 feet. Damsels are similar, but they tend to return to the same area, not always the same perch.
As you might guess, I really like taking photos of these, and I always really appreciate a good one like yours.
Cheers
Jul 15, 2019 13:36:08 #
Jul 15, 2019 13:37:58 #
SangerM wrote:
Good evening: br br That is an excellent! photo... (show quote)
Wow, excellent feedback. I really appreciate the info and will look forward investigating the book and link you provided. Thanks for the kind words about the photo. Ken
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