Readers’ wildlife photos

May 4, 2025 • 11:15 am

I’m having big-time computer problems today, so there may not be any more posts. Bear with me; I do my best. But at least I got this one up.

Today is Sunday, and therefore we have photos from John Avise of dragonflies and damselflies of North America. John’s captions are indented, and you can enlarge his photos by clicking on them.

Dragonflies in North America, Part 3
This week I continue a series of posts on Dragonflies and Damselflies (taxonomic Order Odonata) that I’ve photographed in North America.  I’m going down my list of species in alphabetical order by common name.  Also shown is the state where I took each photo. 

Eastern Pondhawk, Erythemis simplicicollis, male (Louisiana)

Eastern Pondhawk (Georgia), side view of male:

Eastern Pondhawk (female), Louisiana:

Eight spotted skimmer, Libellula forensic (British Columbia, Canada):

Flame skimmer, Libellula saturata, male (California):

Flame skimmer, female, California:

Flame skimmer (another female), California:

Four-spotted skimmer, Libellula quadrimaculata (British Columbia, Canada):

Great pondhawk, Erythemis vesiculosa, female, Florida:

Halloween Pennant, Celithemis eponina, female, Florida

Halloween Pennant, female, head-on, Florida:

Little Blue Dragonlet, Erythrodiplax miniscula, male, Florida:

Little Blue Drag0net, female, Florida:

Little Blue Dragonlet, tenneral female (Savannas, FL.:

 

13 thoughts on “Readers’ wildlife photos”

  1. The Eastern Pondhawk is the dragonfly I grew up with. It was always darting around on sunny days when I was fishing at the swampy pond near my house in upstate. We York. I was a bit afraid of them, thinking that they might bite, but these lovely pond hawks were as much a part of that pond as the Bluegills, Largemouth Bass, and Chain Pickerel for which I angled as a child.

    Nice post!

    1. Upstate New York sounds a lot like my beloved Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where I spent summers as a child likewise fishing for Bluegills, Bass, and Pickerel, and always accompanied by Pondhawks.

  2. Pretty sure I’ve seen pondhawks in my wanderings – glad to finally know the name!.. and it is cool name!

  3. I am very much enjoying these! It is funny, but I have only seen a couple 4-spotted skimmers although they are supposed to range thru my area. I must be in a break in their distribution.
    Soon, I hope to go out to a Special Woods to try try again to see the Ringed Boghaunter. One of the most drab of all dragonflies, but one of the very few in my area that I have not photographed.

  4. Incredible photos. The detail is amazing to see so close up. The Great pondhawk
    reminds me of a helicopter. All are beautiful.
    Thank you-

  8. Gorgeous! The Flame Skimmer is one of our most abundant local dragonflies. Occasionally there’s a swarm of hundreds of them zooming around outside my office window – wonder if it’s some sort of display?

  9. Gorgeous, seeing them close in the photos is a treat! Thank you for sending them, very appreciated.

  10. Beautiful jewels, as said before; I appreciate them, a treat to see them close!

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