My first damselflies of 2020

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My first damselflies of 2020

April 24, 2020 by Mike Powell

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.

Posted in damselfly, Macro Photography, Nature, Photography, spring, wildlife | Tagged Canon 50D, Eastern Forktail, Eastern Forktail damselfly, Fort Belvoir VA, Fragile Forktail, Fragile Forktail damselfly, Ischnura posita, Ischnura verticalis, Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge, Tamron 180mm | 9 Comments

9 Responses

on April 24, 2020 at 8:12 am | Reply shoreacres

I know how much you enjoy these and the dragonflies; I’m glad they’ve finally shown up in your neighborhood!
- on April 24, 2020 at 8:15 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  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.
on April 24, 2020 at 8:25 am | Reply Reed Andariese

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!
on April 24, 2020 at 8:34 am | Reply Molly Lin Dutina

Love how the first shot she is a straight line among the crooked!!
on April 24, 2020 at 9:08 am | Reply mitzybricker

Beautiful captures, Mike!
on April 24, 2020 at 11:28 am | Reply Michael Scandling

Congratulations. What a great way to start.
on April 24, 2020 at 5:05 pm | Reply krikitarts

It’s good to know that your search for favorites is expanding successfully. Looking forward to more damsels and dragons–keep them coming!
on April 25, 2020 at 3:30 am | Reply Ms. Liz

Both beautiful but the female is a real star, and looks to me as if she’s made of opal!
- on April 25, 2020 at 5:59 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  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.