There are not very many dragonflies flying around this late in the season, so I was happy to spot this Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens) last Thursday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. I was even more thrilled when it perched within range of my long telephoto zoom lens and I was able to get the first shot below. The dragonfly was perched really look to the ground in a grassy field and it was a challenge to frame a shot where my view was not blocked by the tall grass.
What could possibly be better than getting a shot of an elusive dragonfly like a Wandering Glider? How about capturing two of them in a single photo? My first thought when I spotted the two Wandering Gliders together last Monday at the same refuge was that they were trying to hook up—I think that one of them is a male and one a female. The hook-up did not happen, at least not while I was observing them.
The weather forecast for this week shows lots of clouds and rain and cooler temperatures. None of those conditions are particularly hospitable to dragonflies, so I suspect that the population will continue to drop as members of some species die off and others, like these Wandering Gliders, migrate to locations with more favorable conditions.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Interesting to hear you say “late in the season”, Mike. But maybe that’s because it’s getting cold where you are? It makes me wonder what the dragonfly season is here and Southeast Florida? I do notice that they have been very active in recent weeks, but maybe it has been months – I’m not sure.
The dragonfly season varies, of course, based on location. When the daytime temperatures drop below 70 degrees regularly and the nights get into the 50’s and below, that tends to spell the end for most dragonflies. It’s partly, I think, because the insects on which they feed start to disappear. As for Florida, I suspect that there are places where there are dragonflies for most of the year. 🙂
We found a field last week with dozens of Wandering Gliders. A few attempts at flight shots were not successful and none were kind enough to perch for a moment.
Two in one shot?? That’s just showing off.
Great photographs, Mike!
Very nice shots of the wings here, such intricate detail. 😃. While we still have some in the Lowcountry their numbers are dwindling. The best indicator is the absence of Kites. They have moved on a while ago.
Hi Mike. Really elegant photo capture! Are you still going to write that book? I am clueless when it comes to identifying them. My post from yesterday morning has a couple of them. One is perched on the nose of my kayak. Do you have any idea what kind it might be? Thanks. Best, Babsje
I have see a dragonfly perch on a turtle, but never on a Great Blue Heron. Your posting has a lot of cool shots of an extremely bold (or foolish) dragonfly. It is hard to be certain, but it looks to me like it is a male Blue Dasher, judging from the light blue body that has a blackish-blue tip.
Thanks so much, Mike! Yep the Dragonflies around here are pretty bold and they seem to tease the Herons. But like the old Dragonfly saying goes, “sometimes you get the Heron and sometimes the Heron gets you.”
Beautiful shots. I love the Autumnal colour palette and the way those wings sparkle against the background.
Do you find you are seeing dragonflies later and later in the season each year? This is something I have been thinking about as we are still experiencing very warm temperatures here in PA and just the other day we had a baby garter snake on our porch. I have not encountered a snake on my property this late in October before.
Thanks, Laura. I am actually a bit surprised that I haven’t been seeing more dragonflies the past few weeks, during which we have had temperatures close to 80 degrees some days. I suspect that the behavior of reptiles like snakes and turtles is affected more by the temperature than that of insects like dragonflies that have a much shorter lifespan. That being said, I honestly don’t know whether dragonflies tend to die of old age or whether due to environmental effects, like temperature changes.
They have distinctive, beautiful patterns, reminiscent of cloisonne. Nice shots, Mike. Summer is definitely winding down.
Very nice Mike! Great Find & Great images!
Fabulous captures, Mike, glad you are still seeing a few out and about. I’ve often wondered where they go to die, or even sleep—I rarely see one in either condition.
We’ve had two Roseate Skimmers visiting our yard over the last week, but they are NOT interested in being documented 😝. Out in the wilds the numbers are down as we’ve had some nights in the 50s.