Last Tuesday as I was exploring Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge I spotted this handsome male Calico Pennant dragonfly (Celithemis elisa). Unlike some species that perch close to the ground and are hard to see, Calico Pennants perch on the uttermost tips of vegetation. Although they are visible, they are often hard to photograph, because their precarious perches start to sway at the slightest hint of a breeze.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Love this image, Mike. Nice muted background too!
A Dragonfly question for the expert. How high do they fly? With the warm weather the Dragonflies are thick her. Our Mississippi Kites (raptor) live on them and swoop in circles over the house, but 500 feet in the air. Dragonfly up there too ?
That’s a good question, Ted, and I don’t have a definitive answer. There are some species, though, like the Wandering Glider that cover long distances including transoceanic flights during which they supposedly feed on something called aerial plankton.
I know many of the species here travel south, the Mississippi Kites follow them. I am just amazed at the height they will hunt at. Thanks, if I find any info myself I will forward along.