Three Dragonflies

[JW Mills]

Blue Dasher, male, at Smythe Park

 
 
Twelve-spotted Skimmer, male, at Col Sam Smith

 
 
This was a tough one. After searching guides on the net I'm thinking Common Blue Damselfly/Northern Bluet, female.
Taken at James Gardens

[JimmyM]

Zed,
Great shots of the dragonflies - something a little different and much appreciated . If you possibly could, please post a shot of a cicada or any other interesting insect .
thanks ,
Jim

[Moira]

These are sensational John, especially #2 & 3.   I don't know what I'm doing wrong, but I've never come across one I can shoot

[Brian Bailey]

Nice shots!  Female damselflies are really tough.  I'm thinking #3 might be a Violet Dancer (Argia fumipennis).  The markings on the thorax are a bit puzzling, but the rest of it looks right.

BB

[JW Mills]

Thanks Jim, Moira and Brian!
 
Jim, I started out photographing birds and then branched out. I took my first grasshopper pic the other day!
I will post once I have some other insects.
 
Moira, I find it's a little bit of patience and a lot of luck. When I spot a dragonfly I stop and watch. Some will flit about and some will land. If it keeps flitting about, I move on. If it lands I close in very slowly and hope for the best! Just as with birds, some dragonflies are more skittish than others.
 
Brian, I'll go with your ID. I'm new to this and Bluet was my best guess.

[ravynne40]

John these are great, I admire your patience for photographing these guys, I have tried..waited..and none have landed for me. Maybe I will have better luck next year.
We did see some huge ones on the lakeshore today but the wind was so strong they literally blew away, even the seagulls were flying backwards and sideways...
you know the wind is strong when a good is flying sideways too!
*sigh* and they cancelled the Air show