Camera Critter #68

Prior to developing a fascination for the lizards of this area, I grew fond of the dragonflies flying around the various places I would visit with my camera.

Friday, I went out again, in search of the greatest photo ever taken. I didn't see any lizards, and oddly enough, haven't for about two weeks now, but I did come across a couple of odonate, or dragonflies...one of which I briefly saw and was unable to get a photo of last year.

The dragonfly above is known as a Band-winged Meadowhawk. I've always loved their bright red bodies and tinted wings.

Above is the one I missed getting a good shot of last year...a Variegated Meadowhawk. Though not as pretty as the Band-winged Meadowhawk, in its own way, it is still a gorgeous critter.

Misty Dawn's Camera Critter Meme is a great way to see critters of all types. Go to the Meme homepage here and check out more entries. Then join the fun and let the world see your critters!

Camera Critter #67

For those who have followed my CC posts, you know I like lizards. But I also like Tenodera aridifolia, or Praying Mantids. I am always looking for them when I am out on safari...but looking doesn't always mean finding.

However, I have come across a few and I would like to introduce you to the critters as I saw them. These are to only ones I have come across during my wanderings of the high desert areas of central Oregon.





Misty Dawn's Camera Critter Meme is a great way to see critters of all types. Go to the Meme homepage here and check out more entries. Then join the fun and let the world see your critters!

Camera Critter #66

The past year has been a good one for swallowtails in my yard. Late last year, I captured images of an Oregon Old World Swallowtail (see my CCM #56 post) visiting one of the many flower in the backyard. A couple of months ago, I was able to get images of a Twin-tailed Swallowtail. Both of those shots were lucky ones, as I had the camera in hand when they arrived. But I have also had a lot of missed opportunities. By the time I see them and get my camera, they are gone.

Then, a couple of days ago, I was walking through the backyard, when another swallowtail flew past me and landed on a nearby flower. I ran back to my apartment to get my camera and by the time I returned, the butterfly had moved to the Apple Tree. I was able to get a couple of shots off before it took to the wind and disappeared off in the distance. After checking the photo on the computer, I realized I had taken a photo of a Western Tiger Swallowtail...my first one. Since getting this photo, I've been hoping to see it return so I can improve on the photo with a wings open shot.

Western Tiger Swallowtail

Then Thursday, I was sitting on the bench under the Apple Tree enjoying my morning cup of coffee when I noticed a large, yellow butterfly heading my way. I grabbed my camera, which I had brought out with me just in case, and headed towards the bug. It then landed five feet from me on a flowering plant and opened its wings for a perfect image. Thinking it was the same critter as I photographed in the Apple Tree a couple of days earlier, I went back to the computer, uploaded the shots and discovered I had once again photographed, not the Western Tiger Swallowtail I was hoping for, but yet another Twin-tailed Swallowtail.

Twin-tailed Swallowtail

It's is still a good butterfly image, but not the wings open shot of the Western Tiger Swallowtail I was hoping for.

Misty Dawn's Camera Critter Meme is a great way to see critters of all types. Go to the Meme homepage here and check out more entries. Then join the fun and let the world see your critters!

Camera Critter #65

When I go out on a photo safari, I am always looking for something strange and unusual to photograph.

Ten days ago, I was out in one of my favorite areas, east of the airport in town, in the bad lands. I was checking on critters flying around and kept seeing a small bright, almost reflective object going from plant to plant. Every time I turned to the object, it was gone again.

Finally, it landed a yellow flower near me (not sure of the flower type) and I got a good look at it and several photos.

It was a Bee Fly, of the Lepidanthrax family.

Only about a quarter of inch long, this little guy looked like he was wrapped in tin foil.


Misty Dawn's Camera Critter Meme is a great way to see critters of all types. Go to the Meme homepage here and check out more entries. Then join the fun and let the world see your critters!