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Posts Tagged "pond"

Female Blue Dasher Ovipositing

Posted on Jul 1, 2016

Female Blue Dasher Ovipositing

How cool does this hovering aircraft look? This female Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) is ovipositing, laying eggs, into aquatic vegetation in a pond as photographed last week. As you can see they are quite skilled at keeping their head still while their wings are whipping and the abdomen is being pressed into the water.

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Slaty Skimmer

Posted on Jun 28, 2016

Slaty Skimmer

This Slaty Skimmer (Libellula incesta) is not hanging out in the desert, though it may look like that from this photo. Much of the region is running a strong rainfall deficit from the past few months with many areas abnormally dry and some in the midst of moderate drought. This combined with higher than average temperatures and aggressive destruction of vegetation in areas around ponds like this one (I promise there is a pond out of sight in this photo with actual water) can make what was a favorable area for insects and thus birds and other wildlife far less attractive and beneficial. Water...

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Male Eastern Pondhawk

Posted on Jun 27, 2016

Male Eastern Pondhawk

I was able to spend a little time checking out a couple of usually good spots for dragonflies last week. This lovely male Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) was waiting for some females on a leaf on the edge of a pond. June is usually the beginning of the main part of our flight season, and this is the best time of year to get out and find some odonates. Whether they are zipping by capturing prey, mating, ovipositing, warming themselves or more you should explore any type of wet area near you to find them busy as can be in the summer sun. If you need some creative plans for the...

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Red-tailed Hawk

Posted on May 18, 2016

Red-tailed Hawk

I recently found this calm, cool and collected Red-tailed Hawk hanging out over a pond and not minding a few gawkers like myself passing by for a look and a photo or two. Some birds are just more habituated to humans than others, and this one was content to sit here peacefully – even the songbirds were not paying it any attention. Occasionally it would look down at the frogs below, perhaps pondering about having them as a snack or looking for a snake. For the most part mammals are the biggest part of the menu for them, and maybe this bird was being inquisitive more than anything else....

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Blue-winged Teal Pair

Posted on Apr 16, 2016

Blue-winged Teal Pair

Here is a shot of that shy Blue-winged Teal pair that was hanging around – if you two would like to stay in the area and build a nest, by all means! The price is right and we could use a lovely couple like you in the neighborhood. I wish they would swim a little more towards me instead of away, like all the ducks seem to enjoy doing…still, they’re a beautiful pair, and there will be a lot more green springing up around them after a weekend like this one. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator

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