The shell of the Eastern Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) must have looked as big as the deck of an aircraft carrier to the Common Whitetail dragonfly (Plathemis lydia) that was circling around the pond, looking for a place to land yesterday at Occoquan Regional Park. I am pretty sure that the turtle, who was semi-submerged in the shallow water, basking in the sun, did not notice the temporary additional weight of the dragonfly.
When I first noticed the motionless snapping turtle in the water, I wondered if it was still alive. I kept a healthy distance from the turtle, because, as their name suggests, snapping turtles may snap with their powerful jaws when they feel threatened. I continued to observe the turtle and noticed the ever-changing pool of bubbles around its mouth that suggested that to me it was alive and breathing.
A number of Common Whitetail dragonflies were patrolling over the pond and I mused to myself that it would be really cool if one of them landed on the turtle. I was shocked when that scene unfolded in front of me just as I had imagined. Fortunately, I was not so shocked that I forgot to capture the moment with my camera.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Great capture, Mike!
Blue Rock Horses Frederick County, Virginia bluerockhorses.com
Thanks, Mitzy.
Preparation meets opportunity. Voila! Great photograph, Mike.
Thanks. It’s an easy formula in principle, but in practice it’s tough be be constantly vigilant and ready. 🙂
Way to be ready for an opportunity, Mike! That turtle’s shell looks like it’s seen some rough times.
Thanks, Ellen. Snapping turtles can live for a long while, upwards of 40 years I have read, so it is not surprising to see with with some wear and tear.
That turtle looks very weathered! Funny how it warms itself up in the sunshine and shallows.
From what I read, this is the way that snapping turtles like to bask. It may be because their heads are so big that they cannot retract themselves into their shells and so may feel threatened on dry land. About the only time I have seen a snapping turtle on dry land was when it was on its way to lay its eggs. Here is a link to a posting I did a couple of years ago with a snapping turtle out of the water https://michaelqpowell.com/2019/03/23/snapping-turtle-crossing/ .
I’m glad they complied 🙂
Your thoughts are powerful! 🙂
Sometimes dreams come true. 🙂
Perfect title
Thanks, Sherry. 🙂
Very Nice Mike! I have seen this quite a few times! I think the Turtle shells are warm so they like to land there!
So very still. I have only seen those submerged with head showing.
I have seen a snapping time completely out of the water only a few times. I think in each of those cases, the turtle was somehow involved with laying legs, which they do away from the pond.