During several recent visits to Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge, I did not see any Swift Setwing dragonflies (Dythemis velox), so I feared that they might be gone for the season. I was therefore delighted last Thursday to spot several of them at the small pond at this refuge.
Swift Setwings like to perch at the very tip of vegetation that hangs over the water, which makes getting a profile shot of one a challenge without getting wet. These little dragonflies often perch in a distinctive pose with their wings pulled forward, which reminded some scientist of the “ready-set-go” position of a sprinter and is reportedly the reason for the name of the species.
On this day, a breeze was blowing periodically and it seemed like the Swift Setwings had to repeatedly readjust their wing positions to maintain their balance, which you can see particularly well in the second photo below.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
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