I have really gotten into dragonflies this year, for some unknown reason. I am always looking for them, and, since it is new, I can generally find a new bug on most trips. The difference between this and birding is that I am photographing every dragonfly I see…or at least every dragonfly I can catch perched. I saw many Black Saddlebags this summer in Maine…they are so distinctive they are easy to identify on the wing…but it was several months before I found one sitting where I could photograph it.

On my recent trip to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, Black Saddlebags were everywhere but, again, perched Black Saddlebags were scarce. I was delighted to find this mating wheel within a step or two of the upland trail at Sabal Palms Sanctuary near Brownsville. This shot is at 840mm equivalent from about 4.5 feet (closest focus).

Engaging the 1.5x digital converter provided this more macro view of the head grip the male has on the female.

Or there is this view showing the male’s wings to good advantage, taken at 840mm equivalent plus 2x digital converter.

1) Exposure Time:0.0015s (1/640) Aperture:f/5.8 ISO:200   2) Exposure Time:0.002s (1/500)Aperture:f/5.8 ISO:200 3) Exposure Time:0.0025s (1/400) Aperture:f/5.8 ISO:200

Processed in Lightroom for Intensity and Sharpness.

And I did see several Red Saddlebags at Santa Anna NWR…but no photo yet!