Damsels and Dragons of Wishnik Woods

2009-12-23T04:38:00.000-08:00

WITH APPRECIATION...

2009-12-19T06:16:00.000-08:00

Damselflies and Dragonflies... Do you admire them for their flying acrobats, the interesting behaviours they exhibit, or the simple grace and beauty they add to the garden or pond?

When I began observing my damsels and dragons, I had developed a need to know more. I purchased my 'guide book' from the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Dragonflies and Damselflies of Northeast Ohio...co -written by Larry Rosche, Judy Semroc, and Linda Gilbert.

Aside from his Odonata expertise, Larry Rosche is a bird enthusiast and a list of accomplishments to his name. That being said...I'd like to thank Larry for graciously taking time out of his busy schedule and answering I.D.questions on my previous Darner posts.

If you'd enjoy learning more of the Odonata world, may I suggest that you pick up a copy of Dragonflies and Damselflies of Northeast Ohio. The book is packed with wonderful photography, and is full of fascinating details of these interesting little creatures.

Thanks to everyone involved in compiling this great read...I've learned so much due to the dedication of all the contributors.

Proceeds from the book benefit the Natural Areas Division of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. If this post is viewed by anyone mentioned above...I sincerely hope my information is accurate. A couple of quick notes...the images shown here and in my blog are strictly my own. For expert photography...get the book! This post was written by myself with no knowledge of anyone who wrote, photographed, contributed or published the above mentioned book. Just thought my viewers might enjoy a good read on the world of Odonates.

JUNE 4

2009-12-18T03:48:00.000-08:00

JUNE 3

2009-12-17T02:28:00.000-08:00

JUNE 2

2009-12-16T16:17:00.000-08:00

JUNE 1

2009-12-15T15:53:00.000-08:00

LATE MAY INTO JUNE

2009-12-15T14:39:00.000-08:00

MAY 3

2009-12-15T14:13:00.000-08:00

MAY 2

2009-12-15T12:54:00.000-08:00

MAY 1

2009-12-15T11:57:00.000-08:00

VERY INTERESTING??...

2009-10-20T02:46:00.000-07:00

It's a beautiful, cool day, I had just finished walking the pond and photographing some of my lingering Meadowhawks. My battery lost its' charge, and I was walking back to the cabin. I had past a large stack of bricks, and was admiring a Meadowhawk soaking up the warmth from the bricks. That was when I saw this partial dragonfly. I bent down to it, thinking the dragon was surely half-eaten and a goner...when to my surprise it flew away! I spun around and watched this disabled dragonfly...fly. Most times when my battery has lost it's charge, I can turn the camera on and off again, and it will allow me one or two more captures. Well, I was lucky and allowed only two. These were quickie shots, no adjustments...the first image is, as is. The second image I added light to view the underside better.

As I tried to place my finger in front of this 1/3 dragonfly to see if it would climb aboard, it took off. Can't say that I blame it, especially if its' demise was to due a predator...which is likely. Yet, I wonder if it is possible to have been born in such a state and adjusted accordingly, which I would highly doubt possible. I'm keeping an eye out for this Meadowhawk in the next few days that remain in my dragonfly season...curious to see if it survived any longer. In any case, it was something else to see and sad at the same time.

FEMALE BLUE DASHER AND UNKNOWN...

2009-10-15T15:14:00.000-07:00

Unsure on this last image

FEMALE BLUE DASHER...

2009-10-15T06:01:00.000-07:00

DARNERS 3

2009-10-07T08:48:00.000-07:00

Let me just say....Confusion reigns my brain!! Just when I think, I've got it....I don't! I really need to study my guide book more...I just wanted to start posting my dragons since I haven't posted all summer. This whole I.D. process is very difficult for me(must be getting old), frustrating as well. I truly would hate to give out the wrong identification.

Update...Many thanks to Larry in providing the correct I.D. for me.

The first two photos are an inmature male Common Green Darner.

The next four photos are of a male Black-Tipped Darner.

DARNERS 2

2009-10-07T02:55:00.000-07:00

Common Green Darner-female
Shadow Darner-female
Green-Striped Darner-female
Black-tipped Darner-female

Thank you Larry for the I.D.s provided!

DARNERS...1 Black-Tipped Darner

2009-10-07T01:49:00.000-07:00

Female Black-Tipped Darner ovipositing in cattails growing in the shallow end of the pond.

Many thanks to Larry for providing this corrected I.D.!

COMMON GREEN DARNER

2009-10-06T03:02:00.000-07:00

The largest of our local dragonflies are of the Darner family. Here is a female teneral Common Green Darner which I was fortunate to find resting on my Hydrangea tree next to the pond.

BLACK - TIPPED DARNER

2009-09-27T05:36:00.000-07:00

This I.D. is with much hesitation as I find the identification process with some of the dragons very difficult. If someone finds my I.D. incorrect, correction is definately welcome! Here is a female ovipositing her eggs along a mucky edge of the pond. I was so focused on the dragonfly, I didn't see the water spider next to her (third image down). She had no problems as I placed my camera right next to her, even allowing me to move a leaf that was directly under her wings.

EBONY JEWELWING DAMSELS...

2009-06-08T13:00:00.000-07:00

I... ADORE... this newcomer to my woods! It is my new favorite, and I have never seen an Ebony Jewelwing before, other than in a photo. I first happened upon the female, and a couple of days later I saw the male on an early morning walk. I 've seen the male twice now. The very sight of both stopped me in my tracks. The body parts are a bright emerald green, but depending on the light source, can appear metallic blue. The female appears more brown and although my I.d. book doesn't mention that coloring, my female is an exact match to the their female pictured.
Now, this pair was obviously very easy to I.D....so I did my homework on these two. They are Broad-winged damselflies, and only two of the five North American members of this genus reside in Northeast Ohio. One being the Ebony Jewelwing... and the other is a River Jewelwing, which is considered rare and endangered. My Ebony Jewelwings may not be rare...but they are so striking to me. I love the black wings. The first two photos are the female, and we met mid-day. She was quite friendly and after many shots, all of a sudden she flew fast to my camera lens and then my finger...then resumed her position! I can read your mind...that wasn't anger...just go along with me, okay?! Seriously though, it is kind of neat to see a tiny creature curious and it gave me a good laugh, too.
How handsome is he? These two photos are the male. The first time I saw him it was early morning, I had just took a quick walk around the pond. We still have a rather large size rock garden in place where our original waterfalls were located. All of the original bushes, and perennial plants are still there, but this Jewelwing was gliding in and out of the very large Japanese Willow bushes before resting high in the Japanese Willow tree. No worthy photo opportunities that day.
The second time I saw the male (assuming they are one in the same), it was a bright and breezy early evening. I wish the shots were sharper. He was hanging around on some Hosta and Daylily leaves. The male and female are both something else to see, but the coloring on the male really stands out in the sun.

LATE SPRING DAMSELS...3

2009-06-08T05:22:00.000-07:00

Male Violet Dancer...the smallest of our dancers.
On Memorial weekend, my husband and son constructed a simple tree swing that takes you over the little "lagoon" area of our pond. The ropes are attached 20 feet up to the sturdiest branches. I'm between 5'-2" -5'-3" in height... this couple almost landed on me, but instead choose the rope a few feet above my head.

Mating Bluets

Male Fragile Forktail showing the upside-down exclamation mark dorsal thoracic stripes.

LATE SPRING DAMSELS...2

2009-06-08T03:30:00.000-07:00

Mating Violet Dancers

Male Eastern Forktail

I believe this is the orange version of the female Eastern Forktail.
One more male Violet Dancer

Unsure I.D. on the next two photos

Male Fragile Forktail between dew drops...the last photo I'm unsure of yet. I'm having trouble with my text not showing beside or under some photos.

LATE SPRING DAMSELS...1

2009-06-07T18:52:00.000-07:00

Unsure I.D.

Female (orange version) Eastern Forktail

Unsure I.D.

Male Fragile Forktail

I was quite surprised strolling on the damn of the pond when I gazed down and spotted this brilliant colored Eastern Red Damsel. This is a first timer for me on this damsel. It's considered uncommon to rare. According to my I.D. book (Dragonflies and Damselflies of Northeast Ohio - it can be purchased through the Cleveland Museum of Natural History), rare is in bold print. But experts state that "although considered to be uncommon, they can be exceptionally numerous when found." So far, I've only seen this one male.

Unsure I.D. on these last two photos

2009 SEASON BEGINS...6

2009-05-18T07:08:00.000-07:00

SO....my damsels and dragons are back, and I'm happy. That was the good news, now the bad news...remember I ordered a book on I.D. towards the end of summer? I had every intention of studying that book front to back...all winter! Yep, you guessed it, I barely touched it. I haven't even attempted to I.D. any of my captures, yet. I thought I'd post what I do have to show before I get too far behind.

This post took 8 hours of transferring my photographs....there is no rhyme or reason in each individual post. Photos that I had grouped together .....separated out of order. I finally gave in, my apologies for this random order. This post #6 are my most current captures and then so on back towards the beginning of the season...April. The Springtime Darners were the first to appear, I was unable to photograph them. You will see a female darner depositing her eggs on and around a lily pad as you head back in these posts.

OOOPS!...couldn't resist this close-up!

See comments for I.D.

2009 SEASON BEGINS...5

2009-05-18T06:07:00.000-07:00

See comments for I.D.

2009 SEASON BEGINS...4

2009-05-18T05:13:00.000-07:00

2009 SEASON BEGINS...3

2009-05-18T04:50:00.000-07:00

2009 SEASON BEGINS...2

2009-05-18T03:56:00.000-07:00

The heart-breaking story of how this dragon ended up in my hands is told on my main blog...Wishnik Woods...post titled April into May...5
Oh, the drama!!

2009 SEASON BEGINS...1

2009-05-18T02:44:00.000-07:00

I'M STILL HERE...

2008-12-28T17:36:00.000-08:00

Just a quickie post...I'm holding off for photos beginning my next dragon season...with a different camera. (ha!...like that will help my photography skills!) These are just a few from this past season. It's going to be a lo-o-o-ng winter!

MEADOWHAWKS IN NOVEMBER...

2008-11-06T01:50:00.000-08:00

I was surprised to see my Meadowhawks still here in November, after a few nights of temps. dipping to the upper 20's. During the last week of October, we had three days of intermittent snow flurries. Upon doing a little more research, I found that the Autumn Meadowhawk is quite hardy and is known to hang around after a few frosts. Now, since November 1st., our daytime highs have been in the 60's and have peaked to 70 degrees. I have noticed that some of the dragons are almost colorless, I know that their colors can fade as they age, I'm assuming this is what I'm witnessing.

Looks like I should have plenty more Meadowhawks next year, wouldn't you say?!

AUTUMN MEADOWHAWKS...

2008-10-26T09:43:00.000-07:00

DARNERS IN OCTOBER...

2008-10-18T15:59:00.000-07:00

I'm showing this end of the pond for a reason. First of all, our pond level is down over a foot, due to lack of sufficient rainfall this year. The whole area just in front of the tree closest to the ponds' edge is where the shown darners spent alot of their time. You can't see it in this photo, but in that area...the ground level actually juts out about 6-8 inches..the first darner photographed was in this area....
and this is where she was ovipositing. This was taken yesterday on Oct. 18th...I thought for sure my dragons would be gone. Our lows at night have been in the low 30's. When this darner flew down in front of me...it was quite breezy and about 55 degrees outside. What's confusing to me...is that she looked just like the MALE Green-Striped Darner in my D&D guide, not the female. She was right in front of me, I just held the camera straight down....I got a good look at what she was doing. This is the area where she was somewhat under the ground(where it juts out), I thought if I leaned out over her to capture a better photo of what she was doing...I might scare her off. She was beautiful! When she first appeared as I stood there, I didn't have my camera. I asked my husband who was fishing to go and grab my camera, thinking she'd be gone if I went. I really thought my friends wouldn't be out...I also saw four Meadowhawks yesterday.

These last four photos were taken about a week ago in the same area, there two darners, one we saw briefly, this one was predominately blue. The other was mostly green and the stripes on the abdomen were thick horizontal stripes which were deep green. This dragon spent nearly a half hour around me...hovering next to me as I sat on the ponds' edge...sometimes just about a foot away...we just looked at eachother! Of course, there's me....the "Dragonfly Whisperer" (yeah, it's a nice place in my own little world!), talking away to it the whole time! I must have taken 50 or better photos...I thought for sure I had many perfect photos! I eventually just put the camera down and enjoyed the company of this curious dragon. And, uh, as far as all those "perfect" photos? Well, unfortunately...this is it. Now, I know dragons in flight are the most challenging to capture, but seldom do I see the darners at rest...add to that they love being in the hot glaring sun...I did add shadows and messed with these photographs to try and reduce somewhat the sun glare.

EASTERN AMBERWING...

2008-10-12T05:47:00.000-07:00

A few photos of the Amberwing this past summer...I must admit, my favorite is the two flying right towards me like little bomber planes!

HMMM?????....

2008-10-07T19:24:00.000-07:00

Here I am looking back on photos that I took this past summer...I started playing around and zooming in...and look what I found in the bottom right corner of the top photo. Yes, I cropped it for you! Another dragon...o.k....what is it? And on top of all this excitement...look to the upper right of that dragon. There is a VERY large spider looking down on that dragon! I wonder what unfolded that day?! What's your money on? The dragon or the spider? Or did they talk over their differences and just walk away? I've got to tell you, this was like finding the prize at the bottom of the Cracker Jack box!!

OCT. 5TH..LUCKY ME!...

2008-10-06T19:09:00.000-07:00

I had thought with all of our cool daytime highs and very cool nights, my dragons would be out of sight. Sunday was beautiful and the high topped out at about 72 degrees. Can you imagine my excitement when this darner flew right in front of me, maybe 7 -8 feet away and landed?! It was a little breezy, and of course, Patches kept brushing up against me to pet her(I was sitting on the hill facing my cattails). The pictures aren't clear, I felt I had to rush and click, click , click....no time to experiment with settings! The reason being is that for my larger dragons, they have always been so elusive...they enjoy teasing me. They'll fly high, do a surprise zoom past me, or I'll turn around and one was just behind me and quickly flies away! I'm going out on a limb here...I'm fairly certain this is the Green-striped Darner of the Mosaics'. By the coloring...I'd assume it's a male. Anybody???????

EASTERN PONDHAWKS...

2008-10-05T03:29:00.000-07:00

It took me a few weeks to photograph this female Eastern Pondhawk in this first photo. Then finally one day, I was able to capture these shots. These two were in the mating wheel practically on top of my foot, they were that close.

PONDHAWK AND DASHER...

2008-10-03T03:06:00.000-07:00

The first two photos are just a couple more close-ups of an Eastern Pondhawk. The third photo at first glance I thought was maybe a young adult female Blue Dasher...but on close inspection...I 'm thinking this may be an Elfin Skimmer...due to the horizontal stripes. The Elfin Skimmer is endangered. Of course, I don't have an extremely sharp photo, the more I look at this ...the more confused I am. I make this observation as a very new amatuer and am anxious to hear from an expert on this I.D.....Tom...where are you? The last dragon shown is a mystery to me...this photo was taken within the last week. When this one was spotted, it appeared more brownish in person. I have my guess on this one, too, but hestitate to make one more guess!

***POST EDIT...after Toms' kind input..I retitled this post...the third photo down is NOT an Elfin Skimmer...it is a young adult female dasher.***

WIDOW SKIMMERS AND PONDHAWKS...

2008-10-01T02:36:00.000-07:00

MOSIAC DARNER???....STILL NEED HELP!

2008-09-27T06:25:00.000-07:00

I'm getting the feeling...as I am a newbie at identification...and as difficult as precise I.D. is....I'll just post my photos from this past summer. This is the third summer we've had our pond, hopefully next year there will be even more dragons (and maybe I'll learn a little more about my camera!) I am not a photographer...nor an expert in any field, that is for sure! Just an avid admirer of these fascinating damsels and dragons. I basically just use the auto setting on my BASIC camera, on these photos I did use the action setting. Can any of you suggest a good camera that I could use for photographing these beauties....something not too crazy expensive and without a lot of features that an amateur would probably never use?! I must say, I have been to the blogs of my commentators....and, wow!!! Talk about talent!! Wouldn't it be wonderful to live your life traveling and photographing what you love all over the world?! Yes, I admit...I AM jealous!

SO GOOFY LOOKING...I'M CUTE...

2008-09-20T06:49:00.000-07:00

Yet to be identified...of course, the last photo is one of my meadowhawks that follow me around! That shot was taken yesterday...the Meadowhawks showed up in August.
***See comments on I.D. discussion

SKIMMERS IN FLIGHT...

2008-09-19T10:59:00.001-07:00

***See comments on I.D. discussion

DAMSELS...

2008-09-19T03:00:00.000-07:00

Yet to be identified...
EDIT...Please see comments on I.D.

DAMSELS...

2008-09-19T02:39:00.000-07:00

Yet to be identified...

MOSIAC DARNER?...NEED HELP!

2008-09-15T11:58:00.000-07:00

The first three photos were taken within a few days of eachother a few weeks ago...The last photo was taken this past weekend. Are they all the same...can anyone tell me? Usually these dragons come out late afternoon to evening to check me out and then swoop down a few times and are back up in the tree tops...quite large in size. In the last photo, I had just finished taking waterlily photos, and was reviewing them in my camera. This dragon came down low between me and the waterlillies, raised up about 2 feet higher....it was within one foot of me ...just watching. I switched my camera over and tilted it ...and shot....hoping to catch it in photo! (wasn't even sure if the camera was aiming at it)...well, I got lucky. What surprised me was that it was raining lightly, breezy and pretty dark out.

TWELVE- SPOTTED SKIMMER...

2008-09-10T10:38:00.000-07:00

This male skimmer was photographed around our pond on July 2, 2008. This is a common variety dragonfly, I loved watching this zebra(my word) dragonfly zooming around. He was a rather large size dragon. I have not seen him since this season.

RUBY MEADOWHAWK IN FLIGHT...

2008-09-09T10:15:00.000-07:00

The first photograph I tweaked quite a bit to add glow and soft edges...I just actually learned how to use my Picasa, (I'm like a kid in a candy store now!). I was going for a dreamy effect. I just love watching this characters fly around and doing their acrobats. Yesterday, I came home from work and was greeted by one ...a Ruby Meadowhawk...hovering right in front of my windshield as I put the truck in park. When I got out, there it was again ...within two feet of my face. I enjoy when they follow me around the pond and by the plants or waterfall.

BLACK SADDLEBAG -GLIDER

2008-08-28T17:29:00.000-07:00

I just received my second edition copy of the book ...Dragonflies and Damselflies of Northeast Ohio. I'm very excited to go through all of my photos from this summer of 2008 to try and identify what I've seen here in Wishnik Woods. I'm fairly certain this large dragon is a Black Saddlebag. It is quite a large one...And I think this is a male after zooming in on my photos.

MY DAMSELFLIES...

2008-08-25T12:24:00.000-07:00

These are a few photos that I've taken this past summer, I have not identified them yet...I have ordered a book to help me in this process...and it'll be a slow one...I'm sure!! I really love the green damselfly.
EDIT...Please see comments on I.D.

RUBY MAKES A COMEBACK...ALONG WITH FRIENDS!!...

2008-08-25T03:03:00.000-07:00

Needless to say, I was very excited when the red dragon returned..as soon as I walked on the dock and sat down, it was there! I was out there for quite a while bonding...it allowed me to pet its' wings, and followed me everywhere. This dragonfly came within inches of my body and many times within a few inches of my face. It seemed that I was a curiousity as well! I tried holding the camera right next to my face, on the auto and close up settings to get a shot of this...but they all came out blurry. I know, "sure it did!" is what you're thinking... but it's true. I was in dragonfly heaven! A little later the real action began when a few friends showed up.

ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET...

2008-08-24T09:16:00.000-07:00

This is my first post that I dedicate to the beauty and playful antics that the Damselflies and Dragonflies of Wishnik Woods offer me! I have an absolute love of these creatures...I could sit for hours admiring their acrobats. As I've grown more curious of the damsels and dragons...it seems even they are increasingly curious of me...something that I enjoy, too. I am just starting to educate myself somewhat on these fascinating creatures...so if I am incorrect on ANY identification...please leave a comment of correction. I would truly appreciate it!...also any notes of male or female...or just a line that you visited. In this post, I've included photos of the first time visit to our pond by this" Ruby Meadowhawk". Isn't it beautiful? This one allowed me to bond with it for quite awhile, even allowing me to pet it's wings. Just the feat alone of me half-squatting, leaning forward, arms outstretched(one petting the dragonfly and the other holding a shaking camera!) - trying to keep my balance in the mucky, marsh area of the pond...well, let's just say...would've been one hilarious photo right there. I had to push through overgrown seeding plants (note the seeds on my funky hand shot), and kind of hold them aside and down with my legs. NOT an easy task, let me tell you! The last photo is the "Ruby Meadowhawk" on the left and on the right is a" Widow Skimmer". That poor skimmers' wings were quite battered. I cannot tell you how excited I was when this red dragonfly just flew up and plopped down next to me as I was sitting on our deck!