I finally photographed my first damselflies of the spring on Wednesday during during a brief visit to Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge. I spotted the female Eastern Forktail damselfly (Ischnura verticalis) in the first image as she perched on a log in a mini-wetland area adjacent to a small pond. In addition to capturing the damselfly itself, I am really happy with the way that the texture of the bark and the interplay of the light and shadows turned out in the shot.
The second shot shows a male Fragile Forktail damselfly (Ischnura posita), one of the few damselflies that I am able to identify with a relatively high degree of confidence. On males of this species (and most females too), the shoulder stripe is interrupted and looks like an exclamation point. I like the way that the muted colors of the dried-out vegetation on which this damselfly was perched help to make its colors stand out and draw a viewer’s eyes to the main subject.
I will almost certainly get more and better shots of damselflies in the upcoming months, but there is something special about stopping for a moment to celebrate images of my first damselflies each year.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
I know how much you enjoy these and the dragonflies; I’m glad they’ve finally shown up in your neighborhood!
Thanks. The damselflies may have been here for a couple of weeks already, but I am really limiting my trips outdoors with my camera, so I have to hope they are around when I happen to come by. Fortunately I know what kind of habitats they like, so I know where to look.
Nice Mike! So far I have not seen any here, but I am limited to my yard and condo community. Did see one dragonfly off in the distance though!
Love how the first shot she is a straight line among the crooked!!
Beautiful captures, Mike!
Congratulations. What a great way to start.
It’s good to know that your search for favorites is expanding successfully. Looking forward to more damsels and dragons–keep them coming!
Both beautiful but the female is a real star, and looks to me as if she’s made of opal!
Thanks, Liz. I am always intrigued to know what attracts people to particular subjects and images. Often I find that people immediately like really bright colors, but when I can get them to linger a little longer, I think they can find a richer, deeper beauty in colors that are a bit more muted, like those of the female damselfly in my posting.