Camera Critters #173

Since my favorite dragonfly hunting area is currently difficult to get to, I have been exploring other areas which in the past were fairly productive.

One of those spots is Fireman’s Pond in Redmond, Oregon.  Several years ago, one corner of the pond was alive with dozens of dragonflies and damselflies.  However, I had been there a couple of weeks earlier and the pickin’ were slim.

But not on my last visit.

I first thought the above critter was a Blue-eyed Darner.  However, I wanted verification, so I sent the image to my ‘expert.’  He identified the dragonfly as a Paddle-tailed Darner.

What makes it a special image, is it is the first I have seen of this species.  Scratch another off the life list.

Misty Dawn’s Camera Critter Meme is a great way see critters the world over. Go to the homepage here to see more. Then join the fun and add your own.

Camera Critter #119

Does lightning strikes the same place twice?

Can history repeat?

If you ask me, the answer to both questions is yes!

On July 7, 2007, I was walking along a spit at what I called Dragonfly Corner of Fireman's Pond in Redmond, Oregon. As I came near the end of the dry land, I noticed an Eight-spotted Skimmer sitting on the top of a reed in the water. I raised my camera and shot the image below.

Fast forward to July 15, 2010. I was again at Dragonfly Corner at Fireman's Pond, and again, I was walking on the spit. As I neared the end, in almost the same spot, I noticed another male Eight-spotted Skimmer sitting on the tip of a reed in the water. Remembering the shot three years earlier, I raised my camera and produced the following image.

Although they look similar, they are not the same critter...same species, but different bug. However, I almost captured the same image I captured three years earlier.

Misty Dawn's Camera Critter Meme is a great way to see critters the world over. Go to the homepage here and check out more. Then join the fun and add your own critter photo.