Wednesday, October 1, 2008

WIDOW SKIMMERS AND PONDHAWKS...







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11 comments:

Baker Watson said...

Great captures. I think the widow skimmer was the first dragonfly I shot this summer.

Are your widow skimmers still around? Most of my dragonflies are gone. I haven't seen a widow in a week or so even though there were many during the summer. I still have just a few pond hawks plus some Eastern Amberwings and some occasional pennants.

Good job on capturing the mating on the widows.

Baker

spookydragonfly said...

Hi Baker...Most of my damsels and dragons are gone...I've seen a couple damsels in the past week and a half which I will post. A couple of large dragons are still around...they fly high in the tree tops and occasionally come to skim the surface or I turn around and they are there and gone. Ha! I'm getting delusional now...I think they're just teasing me because they know I want that one great shot! I've had plenty of the meadowhawks...two days ago one kept flying around me as I put the dogs on their chains. I put my arm out and to my amazement it landed on my forearm. It stayed until I couldn't hold my arm out any longer. As I bent down petting my dog, it landed on his head. Oh, if only I had the camera!! That didn't last long anyhow as my dog, Apache, turned back to bite it! The dragon survived. Later in the day, one of them landed on my shoulder for a bit. After last nights' very cool temps, I'll bet I won't see anymore!

Dragonflylady44 said...

Beautiful shots. Thanks for sharing your love of the dragonfly with all. Many blessings...Elizabeth

Amila Salgado said...

Lovely photographs.
I suppose some of these shots were taken at x3 optical zoom only with digital zoom?

spookydragonfly said...

Dragonflylady...Thanks for the comment!


Gallicissa...You would be correct!

As Baker and I unfortunately are witnessing dwindling sightings...what about the both of you?

Gallicissa...If I remember correctly...in your climate... you are fortunate to have the dragons year 'round? I still can't get over the image of dragonfly swarms!!

Amila Salgado said...

Hi Spookydragonfly,
I meant to ask you "I suppose some of these shots were taken at x3 optical zoom only without digital zoom?"

But, I see you have understood my English (Sringlish aka Sri Lankan English).

Your 3rd, 4th and 5th images from top look as if they were taken at 3 x optical zoom as they stand out -from the rest.

The South Western Sri Lanka where I am from is the only aseasonal ever wet region in the whole of South Asia. So, yes we have wingd adults year round and I have no complains about it!

spookydragonfly said...

Hi Gallicissa...yes, I understood you...your Sringlish, as you call it! However you say it, your observations are correct. Since I'm not a photographer, I'll take many shots, different ways. Then I pick and choose once I view them. I delete MANY photos. You are lucky to have the damsels and dragons all year. I'm jealous...again!

合田學 (上坂眞信)  said...

Hello.
A wonderful sentence and photograph were pleasant and had a look at it.
The dragonfly is a really wonderful person.

spookydragonfly said...

Pseudothemis...Thank you for your kind comments. You have many moments of happiness with the dragonfly, yes? Have you admired them all your life? I learned from Dragonflyladys' blog that Japan is often called, "Dragonfly Island!" How many different dragons do you see in one day? You do well in conveying your message in English!

Rambling Woods said...

Scrolled down here too as I have started photographing and learning about the dragons and damsels on our pond. I was so surprised to catch see an autumn meadowhawk across the pond after we had had several night of frost..Big and beautiful...but our season here near Buffalo is over now..sad...

spookydragonfly said...

Rambling Woods...Thanks for the visit! The meadowhawks that you speak of(not shown in this post), I had to do a little more research on. I, too, was surprised to see them after a few days of snow flurries. It seems the Autumn Meadowhawks are very hardy and have been known to survive a few frosts. It's nice to see them this late!