Dragonflies and Damselflies

[AlanF]

Here's a 1 second burst from the R5+100-500mm of an Emperor Dragonfly flying (21 frames).

 

[HenryL]

A few from this weekend. Turns out an app I've been trying out for identifying birds (Seek) also works for dragonflies.

Bar-winged skimmer


Needham's Skimmer

 

[Click]

Nice pictures, HenryL.

 

[Click]

Here's a 1 second burst from the R5+100-500mm of an Emperor Dragonfly flying (21 frames).

Pretty cool. Well done, Alan.

 

[AlanF]

A few from this weekend. Turns out an app I've been trying out for identifying birds (Seek) also works for dragonflies.

Bar-winged skimmer
View attachment 198329

Needham's Skimmer
View attachment 198330
View attachment 198331

Lovely shots! I must try the app.
Edit - downloaded it, seems very good.

 

[Maximilian]

For those who always thought about what a dragonfly does with its landing gear at cruising level here is something for you.
Hint 1: the forelegs are behind the eyes
Hint 2: Their legs are specialized for catching prey. They can form a catching cage. They are not really made for walking.
A green-eyed hawker, by the way.

 

[AlanF]

In answer to the question can the R5 do Banded Demoiselles in flight (slowed down about 10x). The limiting factor is me, not the AF.

 

[AlanF]

A few stills of Banded Demoiselles (R5/100-500mm). The R5 seems to AF well for these.

 

[AlanF]

Female Common Blue Damselfly at 2.4m. Top = R5 + 100-500mm @ 500mm, magnified 2x in Topaz Gigapixel. Bottom + RF 2x @ 1000mm.

 

[AlanF]

Male Common Blue Damselfly @3.3m and R5 with 1000mm. He seems to be looking at me, and it's the first time I think I have seem the hairs resolved using my gear.

 

[Click]

Very nice shots, Alan. I especially like the last one.

 

[Maximilian]

A pair of azure damselflies in a mating flight. Pretty close so more DOF was not possible.

 

[Maximilian]

Mating wheel of blue-tailed damselflies

 

[Click]

Nice series, Maximilian.

 

[Maximilian]

Nice series, Maximilian.

Thanks, Click

 

[koenkooi]

A mating wheel from yesterday:


It took a few tries to get the angle right without spooking the damselflies, the first scare made them fly to a better spot, so that actually worked out

 

[koenkooi]

This isn't the best shot from the sequence, but this one has the reflection of the dragonfly in the canal!



A more in-focus shot from that sequence:

 

[AlanF]

This isn't the best shot from the sequence, but this one has the reflection of the dragonfly in the canal!



A more in-focus shot from that sequence:

Nice shots! Was it ovipositing? The pose and height look like it.

 

[koenkooi]

Nice shots! Was it ovipositing? The pose and height look like it.

It was doing this in between flights:


During shooting I was thinking "I need to look up how they lay their eggs, this sure looks like it!"

 

[AlanF]

It was doing this in between flights:


During shooting I was thinking "I need to look up how they lay their eggs, this sure looks like it!"

That certainly is ovipositing!