Or maybe it was the other way around.
Yesterday morning I was cleaning up in my kitchen when I noticed a very large, entirely orange dragonfly perched on my hummingbird feeder pole (my actual feeder was down for cleaning). So I grabbed my photo gear, sans tripod, and went out to try to photograph it. I knew that hand holding my huge, heavy lens would be problematic but I figured it would take me too long to get my tripod set up, so I decided to try to get sharp shots without it.
Yep, I’m a glutton for punishment.
It turned out to be a male flame skimmer (firecracker skimmer) and man, was he ever a handsome dude. If grumpy looking.
With apologies to my good friend Kelli Frame, owner of our local Wild Birds Unlimited store, I didn’t buy my hummingbird feeder pole from her. Instead, I just used an old 8′ piece of rebar that I sharpened on one end and bent on the other, so it functions perfectly well. It was cheap and available.
The dragonfly was using the pole as an elevated hunting perch and for the next 20 minutes or so he repeatedly took off from it to go after flying insect prey and then returned to it with the prey, or to try again. Over the years I’ve spent hundreds of hours watching Red-tailed Hawks hunting from elevated perches and returning to the same perch so this hunting technique felt very familiar to me, to the point that I kept thinking about red-tails while I was trying to photograph the dragonfly.
Several of his prey items were so small I could barely see them through my lens but one time he caught a…
bee of some kind and it didn’t take him long to chow it down.
I just assumed that he’d tear off chunks of the bee and swallow them individually, so I was surprised when he…
swallowed it whole. How he got that big bee past his narrow neck I just don’t know.
On one occasion, when I couldn’t tell if the dragonfly had prey or not, a very aggressive yellow jacket? repeatedly buzzed him. At one point it almost landed on one of his legs but the dragonfly seemed unfazed. It seemed to me that since he had no trouble with the bee, maybe the yellow jacket should have been much more careful.
I think the flame skimmer looks pretty impressive against a black background with its dark orange wing veins showing so well. Despite the blown specular highlights on his abdomen.
This is why I was having so much trouble getting sharp shots. This photo was taken last evening but I was photographing the dragonfly that morning so in order to keep from shooting into the sun I had to stand on my deck and shoot over the top of my roses.
Hand holding my big, heavy lens was just impossible so eventually I put the plastic chair you see in the upper background on top of a table and used the flimsy, wobbly chair to stabilize my lens. Or tried to…
Anyway, it was a fun if frustrating experience. Many of my shots were soft and at my focal length up close I usually didn’t have enough depth of field but I enjoyed spreading my wings from birds to a large, colorful and mostly cooperative insect.
Ron
Really enjoyed seeing the details of the dragonfly in these close-up photos. Such a stunning color. Thank you !
A very handsome orange gent! Glad he’s sticking around and hope you’ll be able to get some more lens time with him. I’ve always enjoyed time spent with dragonflies, damselflies, skimmers, and the like.
Coincidentally, I had an encounter with several of his “cousins” yesterday. They seemed to be more blue in color with black wings. When I was leaving the spca around 4, I took the “scenic route” to use up the rest of my treats with the dogs in their kennels. At least a couple dozen of these insects— maybe more — flew very close to me. Hopefully, they were going after the flies and mosquitoes that have been bothering all the dogs since our unusually wet winter and spring (and weren’t mistaking me for a pesky fly😉).
Marty, I was surprised to see him again late this afternoon. This time he was buzzing around my garden and not perching that I saw. I assume it’s the same male but I can’t be sure.
Beautiful and educational! 🙂 I’ve never seen a red one – must be able to crunch/chew that bee well to get it down that narrow throat! Don’t get many dragonflies here – seem to be wherever cattails are growing – “damp”.
Judy, this species in particular likes water so I was a little surprised to see him in my back yard. But lo and behold, I just saw him again about 10 minutes ago. Maybe he likes my bird bath.
How fun and great photos! Such a beautiful color. I pay attention to everything, Jon hates to hike with me because I stop look and take photos! I always double the time AllTrails lists to do a trail. We use to have tons of dragonflies around my Salt Lake home but they have been few the last 10 years. This year there is a explosion of dragonflies. I love to sit in my back yard and watch them. I have wondered if the drop in numbers have been due to the regulation of water flow in Red Butt creek. Generally the creek flows year round, sometimes low amounts of water but never dry. For several years the river bed will be dry for weeks.
Thanks, April. I’m noticing a few more dragonflies this year but not a lot.
Colour me amazed and delighted, both at the series and at the fact that you could take the photos.
I am wondering whether the dragon fly squishes the bee so it can swallow it. It does look impossible to get the bee down that tiny neck.
Thank you.
Could be, EC. There has to be some kind of explanation.
These are amazing make me realize we don’t pay enough attention to insects. Usually as prey for the birds 😊 that fourth shot is gorgeous and inspires a color palette for weaving. Glad you made the efforts to get these shots!
“makes me realize we don’t pay enough attention to insects”
Good point, Catherine. We should.
Of course going on a walk with an under 3 year old you get to notice lots of bugs!
I’m sitting here just saying “WoW” as others are.
Thank you for sharing your photos/informational post.
CJ
Thank you, CJ.
Just BEAUTIFUL—I’m so glad you made the effort; it really paid
off handsomely ! I hadn’t known the name of that particular
dragonfly, and think it’s perfectly suited. Is August the mating season for dragonflies ? In the last several weeks, I seem to see them everywhere I go–have been wondering if it is their “last hurrah” ?
Thanks, Kris. Dragoflies mate in late summer, including August.
Very interesting colorful post Ron. I often enjoy watching dragonflies when I am out and have taken many photos of them. Really like the one against the dark background. Very innovative idea using the rebar for a hummingbird feeder pole. I have a photographer friend who carries around your same camera and lens, but he is one strong guy who lifts weights so he can do that.
Thanks, Everett. My bad back doesn’t help when it comes to hand holding my gear.
What excellent shots! Thank you!
Thanks, Cindy.
You captured the beauty of the intricate wings of the dragonfly so well! And I love it’s head too! I had no idea dragonflies eat bees. Fantastic shots!
Jo, dragonflies will eat just about any insect. Including other dragonflies.
love these shots!
Thanks, Kellie.
I now know what is meant by “wings of lace.” Amazing!
Take Care,
Kaye
Thanks, Kaye.
Sometimes your photos remind me of a quote of the preacher and theologian Ralph Sockman. He famously said, “The larger the island of knowledge, the longer the shoreline of wonder”.
I could go on, but this morning I will let that line speak for itself.
Thank you, Michael. That quote is a new one to me but then I don’t read much preacher stuff… 🙂
All I can say is WOW – Ron!!
Wow works for me. Thanks, Joanne.