Posts in Category: dragonflies
Seaside Dragons in love
Seaside Dragonlet mating wheels. Kennebunk, Maine, USA, July 2025 — Down by the Bridle Path through the tidal marsh the Seaside Dragonlets were bush mating and ovipositing. There must have been a dozen pairs in the one small pool I observed. Busy busy. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my insect and action modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Needham’s Skimmer
Needham’s Skimmer: I am not sure I have seen a full adult Needham’s Skimmer before…or at least the ones they have here on the Chesapeake Shore in Maryland are much redder than any I have seen it the past. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my insect modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Eastern Amberwing
Eastern Amberwing Dragonfly: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, July 2025 — The dragonflies are becoming more numerous as the hot summer weather comes upon us. I have been waiting, and this is one I am always delighted to see. Not much bigger than large bumblebee, its deep amber wings can be seen flashing in the sun half way across the pond. It is in fact the second smallest dragonfly in North America, just ahead of the Elfin Skimmer (which I have never seen). Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with Insect subject recognition. Processed in Photomator.
Wandering Glider
Wandering Glider: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, June 2025 — lots of Wandering Gliders coming in off the ocean and over the dunes the other day. You could stand and watch them pass in an apparently endless stream. I even tried a few flight shots. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Dot-sight. Program mode with my birds-in-flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Blue Dasher Art
Blue Dasher Dragonfly: Roger’s Pond Park, Kennebunk, Maine, September 2024 — One of our most common dragonflies in Southern Maine, but still worth a close look, especially when artfully posed on the September grass head. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Insect recognition auto focus. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Band-winged Meadowhawk
Band-winged Meadowhawk: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, September 2024 — There were lots of dragonflies patrolling the a yard and an overgrown field in Kennebunk on a bright September day, but the only one that lit for me long enough for a photo was this Band-winged Meadowhawk. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my action and flight modifications. Insect recognition auto focus. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Spot-winged Glider
Spot-winged Glider: Kennebunk Bridle Path, Kennebunk, Maine, USA, September 2024 — Earlier this summer we had more Wandering Gliders than I have ever seen in Southern Maine, patrolling mostly on the back side of the dunes along the seashore, and up the tidal creeks. I was surprised then to see, when I got to processing this shot from a few days ago, that this is a Spot-winged Glider. I have seen a few here over the years, right along this same stretch of trail through the tidal marsh beside the Mousam River, but this is the first one in a while. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Insect subject recognition auto focus. Program shift to f13 for depth of field. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Black-saddlebags
Black-saddlebags Dragonfly: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, September 2024 — I don’t ever remember seeing as many Black-saddlebags as I have seen this summer here in Southern Maine. Maybe I have just been more often to places where they are, but it certainly seems to me that there are more of them this year. And I have, with patience, certainly gotten more of them perched for me. 🙂 I had to wait 10 minutes for this one as it circled the path and the little stand of taller beach rose bushes many times before settling down. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Insect recognition auto focus. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Widow Skimmer
Widow Skimmer: Roger’s Pond Park, Kennebunk, Maine, USA, August 2024 — One of my favorite dragonflies, the Widow Skimmer. There are generally a few around the edges of Roger’s Pond when I visit this time of year. This is a well developed male with the pruinescence (white waxy spots) on wings. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC VXD zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Insect recognition auto focus. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Tiny Dragons
Eastern Amberwing Dragonfly: Roger’s Pond Park, Kennebunk, Maine, USA, August 2024 — Among my favorite dragonflies, the diminutive Eastern Amberwing, is only the size of large bumblebee. They are not all that common in Southern Maine, but there are usually a few at Roger’s Pond this time of year. I think this is a male, due to the solid amber wings, and, indeed, if so I only saw males at the pond yesterday. The females may have been further out among the lily pads. Sony a6700 with the Tamron 50-400 Di iii VC VXD zoom at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Insect recognition auto focus. Processed in Photomator.