A few weeks ago, I did a posting with some close-up images of a Common Baskettail dragonfly (Epitheca cynosura), but one of my fellow photographers keeps reminding me that I have not posted any shots of the entire dragonfly, which it turns out is not all that common in our local marshland park.
This small collection of images highlights some of the notable features of the Common Baskettail dragonfly, including its beautiful blue eyes and unusual tail. I took these photographs a month ago (on 19 May), but I have fallen a bit behind on viewing and processing my shots.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Nice photos, Mike. I haven’t seen this one yet– is it usually by the water or up in the weeds? It looks like they do perch for photos, rather than zoom around like those dang Darners. I wonder who thought their “tail” looked like a basket?
This individual is definitely a male, as indicated by the hamules located under Segments 2-3. (Remember that all damselflies and dragonflies have 10 abdominal segments, numbered from front to back.) The name “baskettail” is derived from the way in which females oviposit.
Awesome shot. I so love dragonflies.
Great shots , Mike ! Congrats!!
utham
Apparently no dragonfly is safe from publicity if you are in the woods! Nice set.
Stunning work, I find myself going back multiple times to catch all of the amazing detail.
Great detail in the wings on that last shot. The lighting must have been perfect.
It was pretty awesome light–just a slight amount of shade, if I remember correctly. This has been a great season so far for dragonflies and I have been venturing deeper into the woods in search of new ones.