Look at this wonderful dragonfly! It was perching on the top of a small flag decorating a grave in the cemetery. Armed with pictures and my dragonfly book (see Amazon Widget at bottom of page), Stokes Beginner's Guide to Dragonflies, I've determined that it is a Ruby Meadowhawk. They like to perch on top of stalks just like this one is doing.
The focus isn't as good on this picture, but I like the way he (yes it's a male) is holding his wings, and you can see the long legs.
Here' my best shot. I love how the red showed up in the sun! These are late season dragonflies, and like to hang around sluggish streams or ponds. This all fits. The genus is Sympetrum, but the book says that exact identification can be difficult even for experts because they can have white faces, or brown, with variations in the wing veins... well... I'll stick with the basics for now. Here's my new fact to remember. It's in the family of "skimmers." Most of the dragonflies we see. The book says they are the "most common, diverse, and easily recognized" dragonflies.
Enjoy!
P.S. I worked all day and got "Get Off the Couch with Joan" done. It's now available as an eBook. It includes ten essays, most were previously published as newspaper columns, chronicling two years of hikes on the North Country Trail.
 | See Dragonflies |
12 comments:
Hope that your day is as charm as the red dragonfly.
I've never seen a dragonfly like that one before. Very interesting. Congrats on finishing that book.
What a pretty dragonfly! I also have never seen a red one. Wishing you success with your new book!
Ruby Meadowhawk - perfectly named.
Wow amazing pictures.
Sparkly! And congratulations on the e-book!
fabulous photos...especially the one showing off his red coloring and gorgeous wings!
What an amazing color! It's beautiful!
Beautiful pictures of the dragonfly. I love these little helicopter creatures. You got very good shots of the wings.
Rainfield- red is a powerful color. It worked.
Ann- I think they are fairly common, but don't get noticed as much as early season ones.
Jean- Thanks! I bet you can find a red one. I've seen them fairly often, but never been able to get a picture before.
Carol- yes, for once the name really fits.
Cynthia- it cooperated and sat still!
Dennis- thanks! Tell your human to publish some of his stories.
Loretta- thanks! For once this camera did just what I wanted.
Lynne- Hard to beat that shade for bright!
Ratty- I really like them too. Wish I knew more of their names, but maybe I can learn a few.
I see this dragonfly here in India also, halting on the tips of sticks at nearby streams.
Hi Cosmos- My book said that there are varieties of it nearly everywhere!
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