Carolina Saddlebags dragonflies (Tramea carolina) bounce about as they fly, which makes them look a bit like butterflies as they move through the air. It is easy to spot their bright red bodies and prominent rear wing patches, but it is a challenge to photograph them, because they don’t perch very often.
I was fortunate on Monday to see one land high in a nearby tree and was able to capture this view of the underside of its wings. The vegetation was far enough away that it blurred out nicely, drawing the eye of viewers to this modest portrait of a beautiful little dragonfly.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Ahh! Love the bright red color. Great shot!
Benjamin thinks that this dragonfly is “awesome!” On the enlarged photo, he was quick to point out the yellow stigma and the orange areas in addition to the big red areas on the wings. He also noticed the spider web on the branch. It always amazes me that he remembers the word stigma, now I do too! Thank-you, Mr. Mike!!