{"id":252,"date":"2019-07-08T01:16:00","date_gmt":"2019-07-08T01:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michiganrootsbirding.com\/index.php\/2019\/07\/08\/no-birds-how-about-dragonflies\/"},"modified":"2021-06-29T23:45:33","modified_gmt":"2021-06-29T23:45:33","slug":"no-birds-how-about-dragonflies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michiganrootsbirding.com\/2019\/07\/no-birds-how-about-dragonflies.html","title":{"rendered":"No Birds? How about Dragonflies!"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

With the summer doldrums in full swing, my usual birding patches are predictable. Less activity means more time looking at other things! One of my favorite alternative critters to photograph are Dragonflies!<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
I spent quite a bit of time photographing Dragonflies at two locations this weekend: MSU’s LTER Experimemtal Farm in Kalamazoo County and Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery in Van Buren County. <\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
I’m not nearly as good at identifying Dragonflies as I am birds, but I’m giving it my best shot! If you see one I have misidentified, please drop a comment!<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n
\n
Probably my favorite shot out of the lot, this Halloween Pennant posed nicely at eye level. The grain growing in the background created a beautiful bokeh. <\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n
\n
The Eastern Pondhawk is one of my favorite species to look for. The black and green coloration of the female reminds me of Reptile from Mortal Kombat. I believe the photograph gracing the top of this post is the Male. <\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n
\n
The Red Saddlebags is another favorite of mine. This Dragonfly is quite small, and I struggled to get this one in focus. Normal and Macro settings on my camera were not working to get the insect in focus. I ended up having to use manual focus to get the shot. I was super lucky it did not fly off!<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n
\n
The Blue Dasher is one of the most common Dragonflies in Michigan. <\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n
\n
The Hot Rod of Dragonflies, the Widow Skimmer.<\/div>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n
While most of the Dragonflies were abundant at Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery, this was the only Slaty Skimmer I saw.<\/div>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n
The Common Whitetail Skimmer is a familiar sight around ponds and marshes.<\/div>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n
The Giant Darner is North America’s largest Dragonfly measuring 5″ in length with a wingspan equal to length. Truly frightening due to shear size, all this guy wants.<\/div>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n
Chalk-fronted Corporal<\/div>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n
Ebony Jewelwings are a common site in wooded areas near water. <\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Click to rate this post!<\/div>
<\/div>
\n <\/path>\n <\/svg>[Total: 0<\/span> Average: 0<\/span>]<\/span><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>