Good News, Bad News

Good
I finally found an unbelievably helpful blog post explaining how to use my camera's 4K features. Why the manufacturers don't hire people like Heather to write their instructions and make their instructional videos I'll never know. Nothing in my 400-odd-page manual actually explains anything clearly.
Bad
Heavy tree canopy and a cloudy sky made it impossible for me to practice what I learned.

Good
One Arrowhead Spiketail passed me four times along the now mostly dry creek/runoff bed on the Village Trail. 
Bad
Without sun or water, the Spiketail never slowed down or perched.

Good
On my way up to the elementary school, I just happened to see an amusing green caterpillar resting on the bridge handrail. My first ever Eastern Tiger Swallowtail caterpillar!

Bad
Heavy tree canopy and intermittent sun in all the wrong places make for a lot of awful photographs.

Always Good
I am easily entertained by photowalking.

If happiness is a warm puppy,

then waterproof hiking shoes that actually fit are bliss.

How lovely it is to be secure in my feet so I climb down a bank. walk along a mud bed, and watch Arrowhead Spiketails.

I owe many thanks to Clayton's Shoe Store, whose owner knows shoes and has infinite patience (these are pair number 5 I've tried).

Note to Another Ode Watcher on the Mountain

Dear S.,

I sure wish I could take you on a stroll up or down the SOT-Sewanee Village trail, but I know you'd never make it with that cast.

The only reason I walked that trail today was boredom with all the same old odes -- skimmers, fragiles, pennants, the regulars of summer. I thought I'd walk with my macro lens, go down the trail and into town, then through the campus back home. Perhaps I'd find a few insects or some leaves or even some trinkets in shops or window reflections.

Instead I saw this magnificent dragonfly. Wish you could see it too! (Oh, and besides this Arrowhead Spiketail, I also saw a Gray Petaltails and loads of Ebony Jewelwings.)

R

In Just Ten Days

four new Odonate species seen, photographed, and verified by experts. That makes 34 distinct dragonfly species and 20 distinct damselfly species.

Arrowhead Spiketail at Lake Cheston

Painted Skimmer at Lake O'Donnell

Southern Sprite at Lake Dimmick

Amber-winged Spreadwing at Lake Dimmick