Having forsaken Lake Cheston for distant ponds, I returned today and immediately saw another damselfly: the Swamp Spreadwing (Number 23).
After taking many frustrating photographs of the tiny creature in the shadows, I headed to the dam, thinking I would merely walk around the lake for exercise. A single Halloween Pennant caught my eye, however -- the first I've seen outside of those at Farm Pond. On my scramble down to the stones at the shore, I lost my balance, tossed my camera into the grass to protect it, and fell hard against my left shin. I got a decent picture, though I am still wondering why I saw only one pennant.
On the way round the far side, I spied a golden-colored dragonfly on the edge of a leaf, and just as I was about to snap its picture, a boisterous family of three rounded the pathway curve. I got a couple of fuzzy photos before the threesome chased off my target. A quick post to Bugguide identified her as an Autumn Meadowhawk (Number 24). Snap! I had taken photos several weeks ago of tenereals scattered all around the lake, and although I had been unable to identify them then, I now know they were the immature Meadowhawks!
Back tomorrow for more of the same, I hope.
2 comments:
Sorry about the fall, Robley! I hope you aren't too sore today.
What I noticed in these shots was the way they each hold on.
If only I'd had something to hang onto!
Did you notice that one perches atop a leaf, another mid-stem, and still another atop a blade of grass or reed? I have learned that where a dragonfly or damselfly perches helps to identify the critter. So much to know!
Post a Comment