Outdoor Ontario

Wildlife Reports => Toronto Wildlife => Topic started by: JW Mills on August 14, 2011, 08:11:39 PM

Title: Dragonfly Hunting, Part 2
Post by: JW Mills on August 14, 2011, 08:11:39 PM

Pics taken in July.
I believe I got the ID's correct here as well.
ID's for 2, 3 and 4 corrected as per input from Brian Bailey
ID's for 3 and 4 corrected as per Colin Jones
 
1. Twelve-spotted Skimmer
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u225/zed37/Dragonflies/TwSp049b03.jpg)
 
2. Eastern Pondhawk
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u225/zed37/Dragonflies/GrDa031_02x01.jpg)
 
3.Dot-tailed Whiteface
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u225/zed37/Dragonflies/DotHW035x01.jpg)
 
4. Dot-tailed Whiteface
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u225/zed37/Dragonflies/HudW040x03.jpg)
 
5. Eastern Amberwing
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u225/zed37/Dragonflies/EAmb013b01.jpg)
 
6. Common Whitetail
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u225/zed37/Dragonflies/CoWh036b03.jpg)
 
7. Common Whitetail
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u225/zed37/Dragonflies/CoWh016_01x01.jpg)
 
8. Common Baskettail
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u225/zed37/Dragonflies/CoBa054x01.jpg)
 
9. White-faced Meadowhawk
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u225/zed37/Dragonflies/MDHK047x01.jpg)
 
10. Blue Dasher
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u225/zed37/Dragonflies/BDas074x07.jpg)

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Post by: BoboBird on August 18, 2011, 02:28:46 AM

How did I miss this?

All super shots.

5 has been in some battles.

And the DIF is great. I must learn to do that too.

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Post by: RKD on August 18, 2011, 10:34:59 AM

I am a real fan of dragonflies so am really enjoying your photos. I have a question. How do you get them to sit still long enough to get such great shots. They always seem to fly off just as I am about to click.

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Post by: JW Mills on August 18, 2011, 09:37:09 PM

Thanks guys!

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Post by: Brian Bailey on August 19, 2011, 09:38:41 PM

Another nice set John.  Congratulations on the baskettail in flight shot!  VERY hard to do so successfully.

Again, I'm going to pick on your IDs:

#2 appears to be a female Eastern Pondhawk.

Female Whitefaces can be tough, but I believe #3 & 4 are Hudsonian Whitefaces.  (Don't let the name fool you.  They're also found in southern and central Ontario too.)

BB

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Post by: Brian Bailey on August 19, 2011, 10:09:33 PM

Quote from: "RKD"

I am a real fan of dragonflies so am really enjoying your photos. I have a question. How do you get them to sit still long enough to get such great shots. They always seem to fly off just as I am about to click.

Some species are virtually impossible, but others are fairly easy once you find the right approach.  In general, the skimmers are easiest because they hunt from perches and are relatively tolerant of approach. The basic rules are:  approach low and slow and be patient.  If a dragonfly takes off as you get closer, just stop and wait.  Many species that hunt from perches patrol a very small area and have a handful of favourite perches.  If you just stay still and wait, there's a very good chance he will come right back to the same perch within a minute.  The longer you're there, the better the chance it will get used to you and stop being so wary.  Another generalization is that smaller odes (damselflies or dragonflies) are more tolerant of close approach than larger ones.

Keep in mind that some individuals of any species will, for any number of reasons, just be uncooperative.  If you find yourself trying to shoot one of these, save the frustration and just move on.  There's probably another one nearby.

BB

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Post by: JW Mills on August 20, 2011, 09:49:59 AM

Thanks again Brian, for the kind words and the ID correction!

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Post by: Moira on August 20, 2011, 06:33:05 PM

Thanks for the tips Brian.  I too find these hard to photograph, unlike John, who is doing a great job :)

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Post by: JW Mills on August 20, 2011, 08:25:11 PM

Thanks for the kind words Moira.
 
One tip to add to Brian's list;
Once you have found a likely perch, wait with your camera in a semi-ready position. If a 'fly lands move your camera into shooting position slowly. Dragonfly eyes are geared to motion and even a quick camera movement may be enough to spook them.