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Fish or no fish?

Posted in Autumn, Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, tagged Ardea herodias, Canon 7D, Great Blue Heron, Great Blue Heron fishing, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 18-400mm, Woodbridge VA on November 12, 2024| Leave a Comment »

I can usually count on spotting at least one Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) during my visits to Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Sometimes, when the tides are right, I will see them in the waters of the bay, but most often they are in the small ponds throughout the refuge.

Last Friday I caught sight of this heron in the shallow waters of one such pond. The heron was intently focused on the water and eventually plunged its head into the water. When the water is deep, the heron will thrust violently into the water, but in this case the movement was much smaller.

I watched and waited as the heron slowly lifted its head to see if it had been successful in catching a fish. As you can see in the final photo, the results were not clear. Obviously the “catch” included a lot of vegetation, but I can’t tell for sure if there was also a small fish. A few seconds later the heron seemed to swallow, dipped its bill into the water to rinse it, and resumed its fishing.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Dragonflies in November

Posted in Autumn, Dragonflies, dragonfly, Insects, Nature, Photography, wildlife, tagged Autumn Meadowhawk, Autumn Meadowhawk dragonfly, Canon 7D, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Sympetrum vicinum, Tamron 18-400mm, Woodbridge VA on November 11, 2024| 6 Comments »

After a month away on a car road trip, I finally returned home last week. On Friday I ventured out to Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge to see if I could find any dragonflies. It is pretty late in the season for most dragonfly species, but I was optimistic that I might be able to find some Autumn Meadowhawks (Sympetrum vicinum) that are almost always the final dragonflies to disappear in late autumn.

Happily I was able to spot a half-dozen or so Autumn Meadowhawk dragonflies, although I was able to capture images of only a few of them. The female in the first photo was quite cooperative and landed on a colorful fallen leaf. The dragonfly in the second photo is also a female and I am pretty sure that it too is an Autumn Meadowhawk—there is a slight chance that it could be a Blue-faced Meadowhawk (Sympetrum ambiguum), though it would be unusual to see that species so late in the season.

The final image is a long distance shot of another female Autumn Meadowhawk that is almost perfectly camouflaged. You will need to look very carefully at the upper edge of the leaf in order to spot the little dragonfly. I watched it land at that spot, but actually could not see the dragonfly when I took this shot. I will probably be out again with my camera later this week diligently searching for more dragonflies, the final survivors of the 2024 dragonfly season.

Happy Veterans Day to all those who have served or are continuing to serve in the Armed Forces of the United States. As someone who served for 20 years in the U.S. Army, this day is a special one for me. It seems a bit trite to say “Thank you for your service,” but those words reflect my heartfelt thanks to those men and women who voluntarily defend our freedoms.

In other parts of the world this day is celebrated as Armistice Day (or Remembrance Day) and I remember well being in Paris, France on this day several times and observing the impressive ceremonies on the Champs-Élysées to commemorate the armistice that ended World War I. Some thought at the time that it would be the “war to end all wars,” but, alas, those hopes proved to be unfounded.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Bison shadow

Posted in animals, Autumn, Nature, Photography, Travel, wildlife, tagged American Bison, Bison bison, buffalo, iPhone 11, Medora North Dakota, shadow, sunrise, Theodore Roosevelt National Park on November 10, 2024| 4 Comments »

It is always a challenge to shoot directly into the sun. You never quite know what kind of sun flares will make their way into you photo or how much your subject will become a silhouette. Still I can’t help but attempt to capture a photo whenever the opportunity presents itself.

My gamble paid off last week when I captured this cool image of an American Bison (Bison bison) last week at Theodore Roosevelt National Park in Medora, North Dakota. It was just after sunrise and the sun was still quite low on the horizon, creating a distorted, elongated shadow of the bison. You can see only a few details of this magnificent animal, but the shape of the profile of the bison makes it easy to identify the primary subject.

Luck plays often plays a significant role when it comes to wildlife photography, but I can’t help but think of the old adage, usually attributed to Wayne Gretzky, “You miss 100 % of the shots that you don’t take.” While I am not a fan of the “spray and pray” approach to photography, I do think it is worthwhile to take a shot whenever something catches your eye—sometimes you will be pleasantly surprised by the results.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Early morning in North Dakota

Posted in Autumn, Landscape, Nature, Photography, Travel, tagged buttes, iPhone 11, Medora North Dakota, North Dakota, sunrise, Theodore Roosevelt National Park on November 9, 2024| 5 Comments »

After a frigid night camping at Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota, I awoke early Tuesday morning to catch the sunrise. It was not super spectacular, but I was able to capture some of the color as the sun rose over the mountains.

When the sun was a little higher in the sky, I was able to get a better view of the spectacular landscape with incredible rock formations, as you can see in the final photo. I encourage you to click on that photo to get an enlarged view of the details of the landscape. In this part of the country, these terrain features are referred to as “buttes,” though it is not always clear exactly what make a “butte” a “butte,” rather than a “hill” or “mountain.” No matter what you call them, these terrain features are breath-taking.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Wild horses in North Dakota

Posted in animals, Autumn, Nature, Photography, Travel, wild horses, tagged Canon 7D, horses, Medora North Dakota, Tamron 18-400mm, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, wild horses on November 3, 2024| 2 Comments »

Two years ago I had the awesome opportunity to view some of the wild horses at Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota at relatively close range. During my recent visit to the same national park, I was not quite as lucky and spotted wild horses only in the distance.

The horses were grazing on an elevated spot, so I was forced to shoot at an upward angle. Consequently my shots of them all had only the sky in the background. Still, I was really happy to be able to spot some wild horses during the somewhat limited time that I spent at the park.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Little Missouri River

Posted in Autumn, Landscape, Nature, Photography, Travel, tagged Canon 7D, Little Missouri River, Medora North Dakota, Tamron 18-400mm, Theodore Roosevelt National Park on November 3, 2024| Leave a Comment »

The Little Missouri River runs through Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota and I was delighted to capture these shots of it during a recent visit there. There were some indications of autumn colors in the foliage and vegetation and especially in the reflections in the water, as you can see in the second photo below.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Sunrise in South Dakota

Posted in Autumn, Landscape, Photography, Travel, tagged iPhone 11, Medora North Dakota, sunrise, Theodore Roosevelt National Park on October 16, 2024| 12 Comments »

I got up early to catch the sunrise at Theodore Roosevelt National Park in South Dakota on 13 October during a road trip to visit family. I had spent the previous night tent camping in the park where temperatures dropped down into the 20’s (about minus 3 degrees C). I was warm enough in my little tent, though its outer surface was covered with frost when I first woke up.

It was dark when I started to drive slowly along the roads in the national park, but gradually the rising sun began to illuminate the spectacular landscape with its warm light. Here a couple of images that I was able to capture with my iPhone 11, which did a good job in somewhat difficult lighting conditions.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Visiting family

Posted in Autumn, Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, tagged Canon 7D, Melanerpes carolinus, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Tamron 18-400mm, Woodbridge VA, woodpecker on October 9, 2024| 8 Comments »

For the next few weeks my postings will be sporadic as I spend time visiting family members. I know that some viewers are used to seeing almost daily posts and I wanted to reassure in advance them that nothing is wrong. I am hoping to be able to give a few updates during this period, if possible, and plan to resume my “normal” schedule in early November.

I spotted this Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) during a visit to Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge last week when the skies were completely cloudy and overcast. The light was limited, so the subject is nor illuminated very well, but I was happy that I was able to capture the texture of the snap on which the woodpecker was perched. If you look closely you can see some small holes in the tree where the woodpecker has been pecking away.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Common Yellowthroat (female)

Posted in Autumn, Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, tagged Canon 7D, Common Yellowthroat, female Common Yellowthroat, Geothlypis trichas, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA on October 8, 2024| 2 Comments »

I was looking for warblers last week when I visited Occoquan Bay National wildlife and this little bird with bright yellow coloration under its tail was one fo the very few that I was fortunate to spot. I don’t know my warblers very well, so my identification of warbler species is often incorrect. Nonetheless I pored over the images in my bird guide and on line and concluded that this might be a female Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas).

As is often the case, the male of the species is a lot easier to identify with his distinctive black mask, and females tend to me more nondescript. I’d welcome the views of more experienced birders if my identification is wrong. From my perspective, I am happy enough that I managed to capture this shot of the beautiful little bird.

UPDATE: One of my friends on Facebook identified the bird as a Palm Warbler. I really need to work on my identification skills.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Wild Turkey in October

Posted in Autumn, Birds, Nature, Photography, Thanksgiving, wildlife, tagged Canon 7D, Meleagris gallopavo, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 150-600mm, turkey, Wild Turkey, Woodbridge VA on October 7, 2024| 4 Comments »

At this time of the year holiday preparations become intertwined at retail stores. I have already seen lots of displays for Halloween and suspect that I will see Christmas decorations for sale as well if I look a little harder. Indigenous Peoples Day and Thanksgiving Day are also part of this autumn blitz.

So I guess that it is not that surprising that I immediately thought of Thanksgiving Day when I spotted this Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) last week at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Turkeys are part of the lore of Thanksgiving and play a central role in the traditional feast, though commercial turkeys no longer bear much resemblance to their wild counterparts.

There are several flocks of wild turkeys at this wildlife refuge and I often encounter them foraging along the trails. When they see me, they usually move slowly into the undergrowth—I suspect that they have grown accustomed to the presence of humans, but do not want to interact with them most of the time. Strangely enough, that’s the same attitude that I display when I am out in the wild with my camera.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Blue-faced Meadowhawks in October

Posted in Autumn, Dragonflies, dragonfly, Insects, Nature, Photography, wildlife, tagged Blue-faced Meadowhawk, Blue-faced Meadowhawk dragonfly, Canon 7D, male Blue-faced Meadowhawk, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Sympetrum ambiguum, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA on October 6, 2024| 5 Comments »

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.

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White-eyed Vireo in autumn

Posted in Autumn, Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, tagged Canon 7D, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 150-600mm, vireo, Vireo griseus, White-eyed Vireo, Woodbridge VA on October 5, 2024| 6 Comments »

The weather forecast yesterday showed that there would be some sunshine, a welcome respite after a lengthy period of rainy and/or overcast weather, so I ventured out to Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Some other photographers have recently posted photos of warblers there and I thought that I would try my luck, knowing that the still abundant foliage would hamper my efforts to spot them.

As I was walking along on one of the trails, I saw some flashes of yellow, a good indication of a possible warbler. I watched and waited and eventually managed to get a few shots of the bird. I vaguely recalled having seen this species before, but I couldn’t remember what it was. A short time later, I encountered a couple of birders with binoculars. I am usually reluctant to ask for help out in the field, but somehow I managed to overcome my inhibitions and showed them a photo. One of them suggested that it was probably a White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus), not a warbler.

When I returned home, I checked my blog and found that I had previously seen White-headed Vireos in the spring of both 2022 and 2o24. In those cases, the eyes of the vireo were much whiter than those of this bird, which somehow made those prior identifications a little easier.

This is a transitional time of the year for me, a time when I try to search for both birds and dragonflies. My head is moving almost continuously as I alternate between scanning the nearby ground area for insects and the more distant trees for birds.

Summer stragglers and migratory birds mean that I never know what I might encounter when I go walking with my camera, so I try to stay alert and ready at all times.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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First dragonfly of October

Posted in Autumn, Dragonflies, dragonfly, Insects, Nature, tagged Blue Dasher, Blue Dasher dragonfly, Canon 7D, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Pachydiplax longipennis, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA on October 4, 2024| 5 Comments »

I know that there should be more dragonflies still around, but this past Wednesday, this Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) was the only dragonfly that I spotted during a visit to Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The day was cool and gloomy with intermittent drizzle, which almost certainly contributed to the relative scarcity of dragonflies. This month the number of dragonflies will continue to drop, but there still should be some Autumn Meadowhawks and Blue-faced Meadowhawks flying into November.

Blue Dashers are one of our most common dragonfly species and are usually among the first species to emerge in the spring and to disappear in the fall. The dragonfly in this photo was perched at the edge of a small pond. I was happy to capture this shot, considering that I had switched to my longer Tamron 150-600mm lens, which sometimes is a bit soft when extended to 600mm. I had changed lens in anticipation of seeing more birds, which largely was not the case that day.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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American Robin in October

Posted in Autumn, Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, tagged American robin, Canon 7D, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, robin, Tamron 150-600mm, Turdus migratorius, Woodbridge VA on October 3, 2024| 6 Comments »

It was cool and gray yesterday with intermittent periods of drizzle and I considered staying indoors. However, I had been cooped up inside for almost a week by teh daily rain showers, so I decided to venture out anyways. I did not see very many insects, only one dragonfly and one damselfly, but I did see a good number of birds. Actually, it is probably more accurate to say that I heard a lot of birds—most of them stayed hidden in the still abundant foliage or were visible from a long ways off.

During my time at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, I encountered several flocks of American Robins (Turdus migratorius). Growing up in Massachusetts, I tended to think of American Robins as harbingers of spring, but here in Virginia they seem to be present throughout most of the year. I used to refer to thesr birds as simply “robin,” but ever since I started to photograph birds, I have been more careful in identifying them as “American Robins,” in order to distinguish them from European Robins that are somewhat similar in coloration, but quite different in overall appearance.

The American Robin in this photo was busily foraging in the debris on the trail alongside the water. Fortunately the tides had receded a lot since my previous visit to the refuge, so the trail was no longer under water. I love the way that all of the leaves and branches in the image are an almost perfect match for the colors of the bird, giving the shot a nice sense of harmony.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Big Spider

Posted in Arachnids, Autumn, Nature, Photography, spiders, wildlife, tagged anon 7D, Argiope aurantia, Black and Yellow Garden Orbweaver spider, Black and yellow garden spider, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 18-400mm, Woodbridge VA on October 2, 2024| Leave a Comment »

At this time of the year, a lot of Black and Yellow Garden Spiders (Argiope aurantia) show up, like this one that I spotted recently at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. One of the features of this species is the distinctive zigzag pattern in the center of their webs.

When a prey lands on the web, the spider moves forward quickly to wrap up its victim in webbing material, as you can see in the second photo. Spiders will often wrap up several victims and leave them on the web for a later snack.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Mockingbird in late September

Posted in Autumn, Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, tagged Canon 7D, Mimus polyglottos, mockingbird, Northern Mockingbird, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 18-400mm, Woodbridge VA on October 1, 2024| Leave a Comment »

The weather has been uncooperative this past month and I’ve spent more time indoors than usual, so I have not been able to take as many bird photos as I have in some other months. Now that the leaves are starting to fall off of the trees, I am hoping that I will have the chance to spot and photograph more birds. As the weather gets cooler, there will also be fewer and fewer insects around, I will inevitably have to switch my focus.

Last week I spotted this Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) perched in a nearby tree while I was wading my way through Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. It was a gray and overcast day and many birds seemed to be sheltering in the trees, hidden by the foliage. This mockingbird was hopping about in the tree and I was happy to capture this shot before it flew away.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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More Monarchs

Posted in Autumn, Butterflies, Insects, Nature, Photography, wildlife, tagged Canon 7D, Danaus plexippus, Monarch, monarch butterfly, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 18-400mm, Woodbridge VA on September 30, 2024| 2 Comments »

Last Wednesday I was thrilled to spot multiple Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) during a visit to Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, the most Monarchs that I have seen at one time this entire season. I do not know if these are local Monarchs that are preparing to migrate southward or if they are migrating Monarchs that are stopping by to refuel their bodies as they continue on their journey.

In either case, the butterflies were really active, in almost constant motion as they moved about the the open thistle flowers. I was hoping to get multiple butterflies in a single shot, but was never able to capture more than two of them in any photo, as you can see in the first image below.

The final photo shows the kind of photo that I was trying to take, a sidewards view of the Monarch in action. If you look closely, you can even see the butterfly’s extended proboscis. I also love the wonderful contrast between the orange of the butterfly and the pink of the thistle flower.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Flooded trails

Posted in Autumn, Landscape, Nature, Photography, tagged Canon 7D, flooded trails, high tide, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 18-400mm, Woodbridge VA on September 28, 2024| 1 Comment »

The Potomac River is affected by the tides and, as a result, the levels of water off of Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge are also affected. Some of the trails at the refuge run parallel to the water and when tidal levels are unusually high, those trails are sometimes flooded.

This past Wednesday I visited the refuge. We had had some rainstorms recently, but I did not anticipated that I would encounter so much water on the trails. There were signs at several locations that warned of potential flooding, but they have been there before when there has been little, if any, flooding.

This time, however, there was a significant amount of flooding. In some cases, there was standing water on the trail, but in other cases, as you can see in the second photo below, the waves were washing onto the trail. There was a lot of debris on the trail as well, complicating my passage. I thought the water might be ankle-deep, but in a number of places, it reached my lower calf.

I was wearing boots that were somewhat waterproof, though they were inundated when the water levels were higher than the top of the boots. Fortunately, only about a third of the length of the trail was covered with water, so I was able to make my way down the trail without having to turn back. Needless to say, I did not see too many birds or dragonflies as I sloshed my way through the water, but strangely enough it was pleasant to experience to see these familiar trails in a different way.

We were mostly spared from the effects of Hurricane Helene, but I suspect that the water levels are still high in the Potomac River today. We had a fair amount of rain the last couple of day, but the sun appears to be shining right now, possibly encouraging me to go out with my camera today, though usually I avoid doing so on the weekends when the wildlife refuge is more likely to be crowded.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Female Great Blue Skimmer

Posted in Autumn, Dragonflies, dragonfly, Insects, Nature, Photography, wildlife, tagged Canon 7D, female Great Blue Skimmer, Great Blue Skimmer, Great Blue Skimmer dragonfly, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 18-400mm, Woodbridge VA on September 26, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Several months ago, Great Blue Skimmer dragonflies (Libellula vibrans) were quite common at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. As we approach the end of September, though, they have now become an uncommon sight and those that I do spot are often survivors that show signs of advanced age.

Last week I spotted this female Great Blue Skimmer. This species is quite easy to identify, because both males and females have white faces. Younger females are yellow and brown in color, but those colors gradually get duller and darker with age. Interestingly enough, their eyes also change colors—younger females have eyes that are reddish brown over a dull green and as they get older their eyes often become blue, like those of the dragonfly in the photo below.

I could not help but notice that this dragonfly has some damage to her wings, a frequent sight as the dragonflies get older. Still, she was getting along pretty well, a testament to the resilience and determination of these senior citizens of the dragonfly world.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Female Big Bluet damselfly

Posted in Autumn, damselfly, Insects, Nature, Photography, wildlife, tagged Big Bluet, Big Bluet damselfly, Canon 7D, Enallagma durum, female big bluet, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 18-400mm, Woodbridge VA on September 25, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Last week I spotted this female Big Bluet damselfly (Enallagma durum) at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, one of the few damselflies still around this late in the season. Big Bluets are primarily a coastal species in our area, which helped me to narrow down the possibilities when trying to identify the damselfly species. Generally female damselflies are tougher to identify than males, but I pretty confident that this one is a Big Bluet.

UPDATE: A sharp-eyed viewer pointed out to me that this is probably an immature male Big Bluet, not a female, based on a number of specific physical features. I think he’s right! It is not the first time that I have misidentified a damselfly and it almost certainly will not be the last time.

I love the way that the light green in the background matches the color of the damselfly’s body and makes for a really pleasing image.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Bald Eagle in September

Posted in Autumn, Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, tagged Bald Eagle, bird in flight, Canon 7D, eagle in flight, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 18-400mm, Woodbridge VA on September 24, 2024| 7 Comments »

Last Thursday I captured my first shot of a Bald Eagle in a few months during a visit to Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. I have spotted Bald Eagles several times this summer, but I did not see them from a distance, because of the foliage on the trees, and my first indication of their presence was when they were flying away from me.

There are still quite a few leaves on the trees, so I was startled when I flushed an eagle last week. I was fortunate, though, the eagle flew across my field of view and I was able to snap off a couple of shots before it disappeared from sight. This is a crop of the image that came out of my camera and I am pretty happy with the results, especially considering the fact that I had no time to make any adjustments to my camera before taking the shot.

I am still trying to focus primarily on insects, but know that before long I will be switching my focus to birds. However, as this photo shows, I will rarely pass up an opportunity to get a shot of a Bald Eagle, irrespective of the season.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Migrating helicopters

Posted in Autumn, Dragonflies, dragonfly, Insects, Nature, Photography, wildlife, tagged Anax junius, Black Hawk helicopter, Canon 7D, Common Green Darner, Common Green Darner dragonfly, dragonfly migration, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 18-400mm, UH-60, Woodbridge VA on September 23, 2024| 2 Comments »

It is getting to be that time of the year when certain dragonfly species, like the Common Green Darner (Anax junius), begin to migrate southward. Most people are aware of the migration of Monarch butterflies, but are surprised to learn that some dragonflies also migrate.

The Science News website described this amazing migration in an on-line article, “At least three generations make up the annual migration of Common Green Darner dragonflies. The first generation emerges in the southern United States, Mexico and the Caribbean starting around February and flies north. There, those insects lay eggs and die, giving rise to second generation that migrates south until late October. (Some in that second generation don’t fly south until the next year, after overwintering as nymphs.) A third generation, hatched in the south, overwinters there before laying eggs that will start the entire process over again.”

Last week I spotted a formation of helicopters flying in formation overhead as I was searching for dragonflies at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. For a moment the helicopters, which look to be UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, reminded me of migratory dragonflies. Before long their loud engines disturbed my reverie and I realized that they were probably flying to Fort Belvoir, a nearby military base.

The image I captured of the helicopters may look like it was turned into black-and-white after the fact, but that was actually the way that it came out of the camera. I really like the stark, monochromatic feel of image that works well with the subject.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Glimpse of a Monarch

Posted in Autumn, Butterflies, Insects, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife, tagged Canon 7D, Danaus plexippus, Monarch, monarch butterfly, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 18-400mm, Woodbridge VA on September 21, 2024| Leave a Comment »

I have seen quite a few Viceroy butterflies this summer, but have had real difficulties finding Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus). I have repeatedly heard warnings about how their habitats are threatened and fears that they might soon become extinct.

I was therefore quite thrilled when I spotted this bright orange butterfly on Thursday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. It seemed to be a bit larger that the Viceroys that I am used to seeing, so I chased after it, full of hope that it might be a Monarch. It landed for only a moment and I was able to capture this shot of the beautiful creature—it was indeed a Monarch butterfly.

The Monarch took off a few seconds later and flew out of sight. I stayed in place a bit longer, still filled with awe and wonder at the brief encounter, before I too moved on. It is amazing how much moments like this one lift my spirits.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Fine-lined Emerald dragonfly

Posted in Autumn, Dragonflies, dragonfly, Insects, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife, tagged Canon 7D, Fine-lined Emerald, Fine-lined Emerald dragonfly, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Somatochlora filosa, Tamron 18-400mm, Woodbridge VA on September 20, 2024| Leave a Comment »

After searching diligently for the last few weeks, today yesterday I finally spotted a Fine-lined Emerald dragonfly (Somatochlora filosa) at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. In the past this species has appeared on the scene in early September and is quite uncommon in my area.

As you can see from the photos, Fine-lined Emeralds like to hang vertically when they are perched, unlike many of the familiar dragonflies that I see throughout the summer that perch horizontally. When I spotted this dragonfly initially, it was flying back and forth at about knee-height and I immediately suspected that it was my target species. I have been watching dragonflies for a number of years and can identify some species (or at least make a good basis) on the basis of their flight profile.

I first spotted this species in 2017 at this refuge and have searched for them every year since then. The last few years it has grown increasingly hard to find Fine-lined Emeralds, so I was really happy yesterday to see this one.

This was actually my second encounter of the day with the species. A bit earlier, I observed one flying, but lost it in the vegetation while tracking it. This one might possibly be the same dragonfly, though it was far enough away that it could be a second one. Later in the day in another part of the refuge I caught a glimpse of another one as it zoomed by me. I chased after it, but came up empty-handed.

I will probably return to the wildlife refuge early next week to see if I can find another Fine-lined Emerald or perhaps I will find a Blue-faced Meadowhawk or an Autumn Meadowhawk, two other autumn dragonfly species.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Spicebush Swallowtail in mid-September

Posted in Autumn, Dragonflies, dragonfly, Insects, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife, tagged Canon 7D, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Papilio troilus, Spicebush Swallowtail, Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly, Tamron 18-400mm, Woodbridge VA on September 19, 2024| 7 Comments »

As I have mentioned previously, I have real difficulties in identifying many of the dark swallowtails that I encounter. However, sometimes I get a perfect view of one and the task is vastly simplified.

Last week at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, for example, I spotted this Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly (Papilio troilus) feeding on a blooming thistle plant. I could tell it was a Spicebush Swallowtail because its row of inner orange spots was interrupted by a swoosh of blue that looks a bit like the tail of a comet. Additionally, the position of the butterfly made for a beautiful composition of the image that I was able to capture.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Swift Setwing in mid-September

Posted in Autumn, Dragonflies, dragonfly, Insects, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife, tagged Canon 7D, Dythemis velox, Fort Belvoir VA, Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge, male Swift Setwing, Swift Setwing, Swift Setwing dragonfly, Tamron 18-400mm on September 18, 2024| 1 Comment »

I had not seen a Swift Setwing dragonfly (Dythemis velox) in several weeks at Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge and feared that they might be gone for the season. I was therefore thrilled when I spotted this one last Thursday. Most of the previous times when I have seen Swift Setwings, they have been perched with their wings pulled forward, but this one had its wings fully extended.

A bit later that same day, I spotted a Swift Setwing that appeared to be missing an entire wing, as you can see in the second photo below. I looked carefully at other shots of the same dragonfly and in a couple of them I can see at least a partial wing in that spot. It is interesting that I did not notice this problem with the wing while out in the field, and the dragonfly flew away without any issues whatsoever.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Skipper in September

Posted in Autumn, Butterflies, Insects, Nature, Photography, plants, Summer, wildlife, tagged Canon 7D, Fort Belvoir VA, Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge, Peck's Skipper, Peck's Skipper butterfly, Poanes zabulon, Polites peckius, Tamron 18-400mm, Zabulon Skipper on September 17, 2024| 2 Comments »

Recently I have featured numerous large, beautiful butterflies feeding on blooming plants, especially thistles. Today, I decided to turn the spotlight to the smaller, more nondescript butterflies, commonly referred to as skippers, that have been equally active and visible in recent weeks.

According to Wikipedia, there are more than 3500 species of skipper butterflies in the world and many of the species are visually similar in appearance. For that reason, I am especially cautious in trying to identify one of these small butterflies. Sometimes I will request assistance in identifying specimens in one of many Facebook groups to which I belong. I have learned the “secret” to getting a response—if I make a misidentification, some experts who might not help me with an identification will feel compelled to correct me.

I spotted the little beauty in the photo below last week while I was exploring a patch of flowers at Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge. It might be a Peck’s Skipper (Polites peckius), but to me it looks a bit more like a Zabulon Skipper (Poanes zabulon). Whatever the case, I like the way that I was able to capture the butterfly in action, sipping nectar with its proboscis fully extended.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Sidewards glance

Posted in Autumn, Dragonflies, dragonfly, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife, tagged Blue Dasher, Blue Dasher dragonfly, Canon 7D, Fort Belvoir VA, Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge, male Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis, Tamron 18-400mm on September 16, 2024| 3 Comments »

Some dragonflies will look me straight in the eye, but others, like this male Blue Dasher dragonfly (Pachydiplax longipennis), seem to prefer sidewards glances. I spotted this cute little dragonfly last Thursday at Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge. Blue Dasher dragonflies are among the first dragonflies to appear on the scene in the spring and among the last ones to disappear in the autumn.

The vegetation at this time of the year is always interesting, a combination of new growth and dried-out stems. I love both the colors and textures of the perch that this dragonfly had selected and the visible cobwebs add a nice touch of visual interest to the image.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Great Spangled Fritillary and thistle

Posted in Autumn, Butterflies, Insects, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife, tagged Canon 7D, Great Spangled Fritillary, Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Speyeria cybele, Tamron 18-400mm, thistle, Woodbridge VA on September 15, 2024| 4 Comments »

I spotted this spectacular Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly (Speyeria cybele) last week at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Although I usually have something to say about an image, in this case I will let it speak for itself. Suffice it to say that I love the wonderful combination of the pink of the flower and the orange of the butterfly. Wow!

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and thistle

Posted in Autumn, Butterflies, Insects, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife, tagged Canon 7D, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Papilio glaucus, Tamron 18-400mm, thistle, Woodbridge VA on September 13, 2024| 1 Comment »

We are definitely in a period of time when butterflies are everywhere, especially in the patches of thistles that are blooming now. Earlier in the week I spotted this beautiful male Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge as he was feeding on a thistle. I was delighted to capture a shot when the butterfly had his wings fuly extended, showing off all the details of the wings.

In case you are curious, you can tell that the butterfly is a male because he lacks the band of blue spots along the hindwings that are found on the females of the species.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Florida Predatory Stink Bugs

Posted in Autumn, Bugs, Insects, Nature, Summer, wildlife, tagged Canon 7D, Euthyrynchus floridanus, Florida Predatory Stink Bug, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 18-400mm, Woodbridge VA on September 12, 2024| 7 Comments »

On Monday I spotted these cool-looking black- and-red beetles at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. I think that they are immature Florida Predatory Stink Bugs (Euthyrhynchus floridanus), a species considered to be beneficial, because its diet consists of many species of pest insects. The nymphs of this species go through five stages (instars) in their growth process and I believe these bugs are in one of the later stages of development.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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