My First Dragonhunter
July 22nd, 2013
I've been eager to see one of these ever since I read about them on Gillian's blog. Last week at Sugarbush Trail, I finally got my wish!
1680x1050 wallpaper
Dragonhunters are aptly named: large, powerful dragonflies that routinely eat other dragonflies and damselflies. (They'll even eat monarch butterflies, carefully eating around and discarding the bits with the highest concentration of toxins.) Given that this one was perched over Chelsea Creek right by the display grounds of the jewelwings, I have an idea of who was on the menu!
July 22nd, 2013
I've been eager to see one of these ever since I read about them on Gillian's blog. Last week at Sugarbush Trail, I finally got my wish!
1680x1050 wallpaper
Dragonhunters are aptly named: large, powerful dragonflies that routinely eat other dragonflies and damselflies. (They'll even eat monarch butterflies, carefully eating around and discarding the bits with the highest concentration of toxins.) Given that this one was perched over Chelsea Creek right by the display grounds of the jewelwings, I have an idea of who was on the menu!
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eglantine_br
July 23rd, 2013 at 1:35 am
Gorgeous. I used to be afraid of dragonflies- as a child. Does not make any sense, I know, but I found them scary. But as I got older I became more aware of their alien beauty. They are astonishing critters.
Suzanne
July 23rd, 2013 at 2:15 pm
I think being intimidated by dragonflies is not so off the mark--they're fierce predators, with a 95% kill rate on whatever they target. Just be glad you're not the size of an insect ;-)
guruwench
July 23rd, 2013 at 9:38 am
Beautiful! I've just started to try insect photography, and it isn't easy. (I need practice and my tripod.)
Suzanne
July 23rd, 2013 at 2:17 pm
Thanks! I actually photograph insects with a telephoto lens handheld, believe it or not...it's not the ideal way of doing things, but it works surprisingly well at least for large insects. I always have to do some digital sharpening though, to account for less-than-perfect focus.
Mike
July 23rd, 2013 at 11:09 am
Quite the eyes there!
Gillian
July 30th, 2013 at 6:48 pm
Congrats on the dragonhunter....he is a gorgeous beast!