Posts Tagged: variegated meadowhawk

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)

Don't You Just Love Those Dragonflies?

Don't you just love those dragonflies? We watch them circle our fish pond, grab flying insects in mid-air, and then touch down on a bamboo stake in our yard to eat them. Some dragonflies stay for hours; others for what seems like half a second. Some let...

Red flame skimmer or firecracker skimmer (Libellula saturata). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Red flame skimmer or firecracker skimmer (Libellula saturata). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Variegated meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Variegated meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Widow skimmer (Libellula luctuosa). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Widow skimmer (Libellula luctuosa). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Red-veined meadowhawk (Sympetrium madidum). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Red-veined meadowhawk (Sympetrium madidum). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Ode to the Meadowhawk

If you're around creeks, ponds and irrigation ditches, watch for the dragonflies. We spotted scores of variegated meadowhawks (Sympetrum corruptum) last Sunday along an irrigation ditch bordering a sunflower field in Winters, Calif. Like helicopters,...

Variegated meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum, glows in the early morning. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Variegated meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum, glows in the early morning. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A camouflaged variegated meadowhawk. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A camouflaged variegated meadowhawk. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Dragonfly mating ritual. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Dragonfly mating ritual. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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