Eight-spotted Skimmer on a cattail stalk – Nikon D810, f11, 1/640, ISO 400, -0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Long before birds became my primary subjects I photographed lots of bees, butterflies and other bugs including dragonflies and when ever I am out in the field I still notice them and when I can I aim my lens and focus on them.
A few days ago I discovered several male Eight-spotted Skimmers close to the edge of Glover Pond at Farmington Bay and was delighted to photograph these beautifully patterned Odonata.
Eight-spotted Skimmer male – Nikon D810, f11, 1/500, ISO 400, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
While I photographed these male Eight-spotted Skimmers I did see a female but unfortunately she had grasses in front of her and my view of her was obstructed.
Male Eight-spotted Skimmer – Nikon D810, f11, 1/1000, ISO 400, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Fossils of dragonflies have been found with wingspans of two feet, I can only imagine what it would have been like to see them in flight, on the wing and chasing after prey.
These male Eight-spotted Skimmers hung around at the edge of Glover Pond perching on cattails and hawking insects from the air. I love dragonflies because they are beautiful, fascinating and most of all, they eat the bugs that bite me. Dragonflies can eat hundreds of mosquitoes per day and each one they eat is one less pest that might try to suck the blood out of me!
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my insect and spider photos.
Thank you all for your comments on my Eight-spotted Skimmer images.
A wing-span of two feet? I would love to see that – except that I shudder at the size the ‘squitos of the day reached.
A gorgeous series today. Thank you.
Well Mia, once again I am amazed by the stunning clarity and detail of your work.
But I do have to agree with Ms. Cormacks note…I also thought that an “eight spotted skimmer” was a bird! Thanks for some new knowledge. Looking forward to your next post…
I love these images! Thanks for providing them !!!
and I love to see them fly, they are the insect raptors of the sky
Do they count the black area as spots or the white area?
The black Neil, the white areas aren’t always as strong as my images show.
Beautiful photos, Mia. Dragonflies are very interesting.
I’m laughing at myself because I was thinking that an “eight-spotted skimmer” was a bird that I had never heard of. I love dragonflies as well as their wings so delicate & their markings are so intricate.