Posts Tagged: Sympetrum corruptum

Watching It Like a Hawk

Watching it like a hawk... A variegated meadowhawk dragonfly, Sympetrum corruptum, that is. We look forward to breezes--even strong gusts--in our little pollinator garden in Vacaville, Calif., because often we'll see dragonflies touch...

A variegated meadowhawk dragonfly, Sympetrum corruptum,in flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A variegated meadowhawk dragonfly, Sympetrum corruptum,in flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Touchdown! The variegated meadow hawk perches on a spent salvia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Touchdown! The variegated meadow hawk perches on a spent salvia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This variegated meadowhawk dragonfly, a strong wind drooping its wings, nevetheless kept returning to this perch, a spent salvia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This variegated meadowhawk dragonfly, a strong wind drooping its wings, nevetheless kept returning to this perch, a spent salvia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Eye to eye with a variegated meadowhawk dragonfly, Sympetrum corruptum. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Eye to eye with a variegated meadowhawk dragonfly, Sympetrum corruptum. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Dragonflies En Masse

So there they were, literally dozens of dragonflies flying around two separate Vacaville (Calif.) yards, feasting on swirling clouds of prey (gnatlike insects) and then touching down on blades of grass or fence posts. They proved as elusive as a...

A wind-swept meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum, perches on a fence post after feasting on prey on July 1, 2018 in Vacaville, Calif. This was taken just after sunrise with a 200mm macro lens. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A wind-swept meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum, perches on a fence post after feasting on prey on July 1, 2018 in Vacaville, Calif. This was taken just after sunrise with a 200mm macro lens. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This is a closeup of the variegated meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum, taken Oct. 10, 2016 in Vacaville, Calif. It's perched on a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia. This was taken in late afternoon with a 70-180mm macro lens. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This is a closeup of the variegated meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum, taken Oct. 10, 2016 in Vacaville, Calif. It's perched on a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia. This was taken in late afternoon with a 70-180mm macro lens. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A Perfect Perch for a Dragonfly

A perfect perch. A young male variegated meadowhawk dragonfly, Sympetrum corruptum, found a perfect perch--a seed ball of Mexican sunflower (Tithonia) in our pollinator garden in Vacaville, Calif. It towered over the garden and so did he. Naturalist...

A young male meadowhawk dragonfly, Sympetrum corruptum, perches on a seed ball of Mexican sunflower (Tithonia). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A young male meadowhawk dragonfly, Sympetrum corruptum, perches on a seed ball of Mexican sunflower (Tithonia). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

To 'Catch' a Dragonfly

Dragonflies are fierce predators but they are predator-shy.  "If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck," as the saying goes. If you look like a predator, walk or fly like a predator and act like...

A wind-whipped female variegated meadowhawk, a Sympetrum corruptum. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A wind-whipped female variegated meadowhawk, a Sympetrum corruptum. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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