Saffron-winged Meadowhawk, Day Brook Pond, Kennebunk Plains Wildlife Management Area

Band-winged Meadowhawk, Kennebunk Bridle Path, Kennebunk ME

It might be my imagination, but it seems to me that the Sympetrum dragons are late emerging this year. Suddenly there at tiny red Meadowhawks everywhere…most of which look to me to be Cherry-faced. And, despite its being after the 1st of September, I have yet to see any number of Autumn. I did find, on opposite sides of Kennebunk, two Meadowhawks that I see much more rarely. At Day Brook Pond on the Kennebunk Plains Wildlife Management Area, most of the Meadowhawks in flight were Saffron Winged, which is only my second sighting in Maine. And, within a few days I found Band-winged Meadowhawks along the Kennebunk Bridle Path by the lower Mousam River, again, only my second sighting of this dragon in Maine. Each is an interesting variation on the Sympetrum theme 🙂

Sony HX90V at 1440mm equivalent (using 2x Clear Image Zoom). Both shots 1/250 @ ISO 160 @ f6.4. Processed in Lightroom.