Adult male Calico Pennant dragonfly

Feeds:: Posts; Comments

Adult male Calico Pennant dragonfly

August 22, 2019 by Mike Powell

Last Friday I spotted this handsome adult male Calico Pennant dragonfly (Celithemis elisa) while exploring Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge with my friend and fellow dragonfly enthusiast Walter Sanford. Earlier this month I did a posting entitled Mosaic Wings that featured a photo of an immature male of this same species that had a bright yellow body. This image gives you an idea of how the body color changes to red as the male Calico Pennant dragonfly matures.

Posted in Dragonflies, dragonfly, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Calico Pennant, Calico Pennant dragonfly, Canon 50D, Celithemis elisa, male Calico Pennant, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 180mm, Woodbridge VA | 17 Comments

17 Responses

on August 22, 2019 at 9:19 am | Reply krikitarts

What a handsome fellow!
on August 22, 2019 at 12:19 pm | Reply rugby843

What a bright beauty!
on August 22, 2019 at 1:06 pm | Reply Laura (PA Pict)

Beautiful capture, Mike.
on August 22, 2019 at 4:53 pm | Reply Dan Antion

I think you said this once before but he looks like a pole vaulter.
- on August 23, 2019 at 8:19 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  He sure does. All of the “pennant” dragonflies love to perch at the very tip of flimsy vegetation that often bends in the wind, which makes them look even more like pole vaulters.
on August 22, 2019 at 4:59 pm | Reply Ms. Liz

That dragonfly just glows.. spectacular!
- on August 23, 2019 at 8:20 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Liz. These little guys are one of my favorite dragonflies because of the patterns on their wings and their beautiful coloration.
on August 22, 2019 at 5:34 pm | Reply New Hampshire Garden Solutions

Nice shot!
on August 22, 2019 at 7:29 pm | Reply Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography

I just enlarged this to full screen…impressive photograph 👏👏👏
- on August 23, 2019 at 8:21 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Ted. Given that I am shooting mostly with a macro lens, I am able to capture a lot of detail, assuming that the dragonfly is tolerant enough to let me get close.
  - on August 23, 2019 at 9:02 am Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography
    
    They must appear to be giants in the view finder too LOL
  - on August 23, 2019 at 11:28 am Mike Powell
    
    I guess it is a matter of perspective. I have photographed dragonflies a LOT closer. Check out this posting, for example, https://michaelqpowell.com/2014/10/18/blue-eyed-blue-faced-beauty/ . 🙂
  - on August 23, 2019 at 1:11 pm Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography
    
    Whoa, just looked. Give me Alligators any day.
  - on August 23, 2019 at 1:45 pm Mike Powell
    
    🙂
on August 23, 2019 at 4:10 pm | Reply Ellen Jennings

Great capture, Mike, and a pleasing composition with the placement of insect and his perch!
- on August 24, 2019 at 7:00 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Ellen.
on August 26, 2019 at 8:14 am | Reply Molly Lin DutinaMolly Dutina

Yellow to red. Strange progression!