Except for the Elisa Skimmer (red dragonfly two photos below) I took these photos in the course of one walk. The swift long-winged skimmer (above) is almost a perfect dragonfly photo. Click on it to enlarge and enjoy the detail.
I don’t think I’ve taken a photo before of the widow dragonfly (above). A gentle breeze was whipping her around on that thin branch. Of the five or so photos I took of her, this was the only one with focus good enough for the post. The expression “summer breeze” has come to mind often in the past few weeks. The Baltimore oriole’s nests sway in a gentle breeze and the dragonflies struggle to hold on as unseen power pushes at their wings and sets them fluttering. The dragonfly will get blown off its perch and return again, over and over. Sometimes, it comes and goes at will it seems. Often, I just focus the camera on the bare branch or leaf and wait a few seconds, as happened while I shot the photo below. Voila!
Along the path was a reminder of the delicate structure of these insects. I don’t know if wind or bird left this widow’s wing behind.
SilverLining 