Dragons and Damsels

[Mike McKenzie]

Went down to a local pond earlier today to see what I could see. I found a lot of Dragon Flies and Damsels too. Also a feathered friend that I've never seen before...

These are pic's of a Pied-Billed Grebe, first one I've ever seen in my 70+ years...
These Grebes don't dive, they just sink!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/stripermike/Dragons%20and%20Damsels/Pied-BilledGrebe3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/stripermike/Dragons%20and%20Damsels/Pied-BilledGrebe2.jpg

Except when they're all fluffed up!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/stripermike/Dragons%20and%20Damsels/Pied-BilledGrebe1.jpg

Here's some Dragon Flies..Kinda' interesting usin' my 400mm lens as a Macro...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/stripermike/Dragons%20and%20Damsels/DragonFly.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/stripermike/Dragons%20and%20Damsels/DragonFly4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/stripermike/Dragons%20and%20Damsels/DragonFly3.jpg

I remember one time when I was hangin' around Kennebunkport Maine, just up the street from the Bush "compound"..it was just before sunset and I was sittin' on the back porch relaxin' with a belly full of fresh Lobster and Beer and watchin' all these Dragon Flies buzzin' around, then I noticed some kind of bugs were "hatchin" and were zippin' straight up in the air from the lawn....I could see their silhouette against the sky as the Dragon flies were catchin' them....Lookin' at this guys mouth, now I see why it was so easy for them to grab those bugs..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/stripermike/Dragons%20and%20Damsels/DragonFly2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/stripermike/Dragons%20and%20Damsels/DragonFly1.jpg

Plink! There goes an egg into the water!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/stripermike/Dragons%20and%20Damsels/DragonFlies2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/stripermike/Dragons%20and%20Damsels/DragonFlies1.jpg

I'd hate to be a female Dragon or Damsel fly and get drug around by the neck while "procreatin"!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/stripermike/Dragons%20and%20Damsels/DamselFlies4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/stripermike/Dragons%20and%20Damsels/DamselFlies3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/stripermike/Dragons%20and%20Damsels/DamselFlies2.jpg

Notice the Damsel nymph shuck just to the left of the female...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/stripermike/Dragons%20and%20Damsels/DamselFlies1.jpg

I guess that's enough.

Mike

[Scott V]

Awesome Mike! Those are some really nice pics I had no idea you were 70+.

[Darian]

Amazing photo's. Damsels 'N Dragons.... Kinda sounds like a computer game. Beautiful colors on those bugs. The Grebe is really interesting. Did he wander off the usual track to wind up here.... ??? I've never seen one before either. Great stuff. :D

[Kneedeep]

Great pics, Mike.
Thanks for sharing them.

[jbird]

Really nice Mike! Great job on getting the ovipositing action with a 400m! That can be tough even with the best AF sensor. I'd love to know some details from your EXIF on those shots. :-)

One of the coolest things about digital photography is when youre done with the hunt (which is a blast in its self) a whole new round of fun begins when you plug that card into your pc and see the detail youve captured.

Well done sir!

PS. I hope you dont mind, I ran the picture of your grebe thru some filters to bring out a little more detail :-)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/Pied-BilledGrebe.jpg

[Troutstalker55B]

Great photos Mike! I really like the one of the white tail dragonfly. The pied-billed grebe is an amazing little bird, I see them all the time at Lake Davis and Eagle Lake. At Eagle in December there will be freezing fog, 0 degree temps, and that little grebe is happy to be out there eating Tui Chubs - So fragile yet so tough.

Jon.

[Mike McKenzie]

Darian, The book says they breed locally but usually found on bigger lakes..This bird is all decked out in breeding plumage including the stripe on the Bill ..No others around though....All by itself...

jbird, Check your PM box...What system did you use to do the "filtering" I could sure see the difference..I hate it when the shot you want to get is with the sun opposite ya' because to get the detail on the dark side, everything else gets blown out!

Mike

[Larry S]

Birds and bugs. Great stuff Mike. From one 70's guy to another.
Best,
Larry S

[Cmcculloch]

Finally, we get BUG PORN. Was getting weary of the fish variety and needed something different to keep my interest up (so to speak).