Posts Tagged: red flameskimmer dragonfly

Meet Big Red, the Flameskimmer

Big Red visited us for four consecutive days. The red flameskimmer dragonfly, Libellula saturata, zigged and zagged into our pollinator garden in Vacaville, Calif. and perched on a bamboo stake for five hours at a time. Occasionally, he'd hunt--lift...

A red flameskimmer, Libellula saturata, perches on a bamboo stake. Note the nesting earwigs and bees in the split stake. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A red flameskimmer, Libellula saturata, perches on a bamboo stake. Note the nesting earwigs and bees in the split stake. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A red flameskimmer, Libellula saturata, sparkles in the sun. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A red flameskimmer, Libellula saturata, sparkles in the sun. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Helicopter? No, a red flameskimmer, Libellula saturata, glimmering in the sunlight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Helicopter? No, a red flameskimmer, Libellula saturata, glimmering in the sunlight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A flameskimmer,Libellula saturata, in flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A flameskimmer,Libellula saturata, in flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Why That Ol' Flame Stakes Out the Back Yard

Sometimes the red flameskimmer dragonfly (Libellula saturata) will let you approach it. Sometimes it's having a bad hair day or a bad predator/prey day or a just-leave-me-alone day and won't let you near it. This one (below) let me approach it. "Hey,"...

Red flameskimmer dragonfly (Libellula saturata) perches on a bamboo stake. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Red flameskimmer dragonfly (Libellula saturata) perches on a bamboo stake. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Hmm, is this my best side? Red flameskimmer dragonfly (Libellula saturata) perching on a bamboo stake. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Hmm, is this my best side? Red flameskimmer dragonfly (Libellula saturata) perching on a bamboo stake. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The red flameskimmer dragonfly (Libellula saturata) tries a new position. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The red flameskimmer dragonfly (Libellula saturata) tries a new position. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Late afternoon sun sets the red flameskimmer aglow. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Late afternoon sun sets the red flameskimmer aglow. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Right Color, Wrong Species

You never know what you'll see in your pollinator garden. That's why it's always a good idea to carry a camera with you, or you might miss a bit of drama. Not in drama queens, but in drama kings. Take the case of the male flameskimmer dragonfly...

A Gulf Fritillary butterfly checking out a red flameskimmer dragonfly. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A Gulf Fritillary butterfly checking out a red flameskimmer dragonfly. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Closer and closer. The Gulf Frit heads straight for the flameskimmer. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Closer and closer. The Gulf Frit heads straight for the flameskimmer. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Oops! You're not a prospective mate. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Oops! You're not a prospective mate. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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