I was delighted on Thursday to encounter my first Blue-faced Meadowhawk dragonfly (Sympetrum ambiguum) of the season at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. A few minutes later I got a peek at a pair of mating Blue-faced Meadowhawks—spring is not the only season for love.
Blue-faced Meadowhawks are one of the prettiest dragonfly species that I have ever encountered. I love the contrast between their turquoise faces and their bright red bodies. Generally I spot them in the early autumn, just as most of the other dragonfly species are starting to disappear.
Blue-faced Meadowhawks will be around for a bit longer and then their “cousins,” the Autumn Meadowhawks will end up as the last remaining dragonflies of the season. In some years I have seen Autumn Meadowhawks as late as mid-December and a fellow photographer spotted one in early January one year. Autumn Meadowhawks also have red bodies, but have brown eyes.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Gorgeous red..
Thanks. The red color is stunning. You would think that the red dragonflies would stand out but they are relatively small and they show up just as the leaves are changing colors.
ah, no wonder I have never seen them at all before, I am weird when it comes to dragon flies, makes me miss home in Vietnam.. Thank you again for the nostalgia. ❤
Terrific photographs!
Now, that’s colorful.
Hello Mike!!