Flying dragons

[magentus]

Thought of you in the park today RoSchro:

[Ron Who]

 

[El Corkscrew]

Thought of you in the park today RoSchro:

 

[Ron Who]

Unlike other hawker species, the Migrant Hawker likes to hunt, and rest, in packs. The entire pack will rest in a single tree which makes a spectacular sight. I counted over 50 today in only a few yards.

[El Corkscrew]

I want a SAK called the Migrant Hawker...

[Ron Who]

I want a SAK called the Migrant Hawker...

In the USA, Hawkers are called Darners. They are among the largest and fastest flying dragonflies of the planet. The Migrant Hawker is one of the smaller Hawkers with an average length of 63mm..

[magentus]

What is the one in my picture RoSchro? I call it a Scarlet Flapper.

[Ron Who]

What is the one in my picture RoSchro? I call it a Scarlet Flapper.

I had to download and enlarge the picture for the details. The answer is: Common Darter. The name is well chosen.

[magentus]

Thanks Ro. What type of fly is in the picture next to the common darter? They seem close.

[Ron Who]

Thanks Ro. What type of fly is in the picture next to the common darter? They seem close.

Hard to say, looks like a Greenbottle fly.

[magentus]

Thanks Ro. What type of fly is in the picture next to the common darter? They seem close.

Hard to say, looks like a Greenbottle fly.

Are they rare, because the Scarlet Flapper killed it a minute later?

[Ron Who]

Thanks Ro. What type of fly is in the picture next to the common darter? They seem close.

Hard to say, looks like a Greenbottle fly.

Are they rare, because the Scarlet Flapper killed it a minute later?

Haha. no. They are related to the Housefly and share most of their nasty habits, so good riddance I'd say. During its adult life a dragonfly will eat anywhere from a few dozen to hundreds of gnats and flies, and maybe an occasional butterfly. Dragonflies are a natural pest control.

[El Corkscrew]

Each flying dragon name I hear sounds like an even better band name...

[Ron Who]

Found myself a real dragon today. This is Zootoca vivipara (the Common Lizard). Its length is about 5 inches.

[Ron Who]

Sickle-bearing Bush Cricket

[Ron Who]

This afternoon I set out to find some other hawkers, like the Southern Hawker and the Brown Hawker. I found them allright, but didn´t manage to capture them on camera. Oh well, the hawker hunting season will last to the end of October at least. So today´s picture features yet another Migrant Hawker.

A hawker on the hunt is difficult to picture in flight. But after hunting for a few weeks, hawkers reach full maturity and go back to the water to stake out a terrritorium of their own. They patrol their terrritoria incessantly, searching for females to mate with, and will hover for longer periods of time, up to 30 seconds, and at these intervals I have the best chances of picturing one flying.

[Ron Who]

The BSA Insect Study Merit Badge. I would like to have one even though I´m not a boy scout (and never was).

[SteveC]

Hey Ronald, this was on my flowers this am.



DSC01774 by SteveC, on Flickr

DSC01765 by SteveC, on Flickr

DSC01761 by SteveC, on Flickr

[Ron Who]

 

Looks like a Bog Hawker (Aeshna subarctica), I´m not sure. It´s not likely I´ll ever see one overhere.

[SteveC]

I think it's a  Common Hawker

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_hawker

[Ron Who]

I think it's a  Common Hawker

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_hawker

The two are look-alikes. But the Common Hawker has yellow and straight shoulder stripes, while the Bog Hawker's are green and hammer shaped. OTOH the spots on the thorax seem to indicate a Common Hawker. As I said, I'm not sure.

[detron]

I believe this is a "Black Saddlebag Skimmer"
I KNOW he was huge!  one of the biggest I have ever seen
I WISH he had been on something besides the concrete, so the picture would have looked better

I recommend you click the photo, and go into Photobucket and click the view image (mag glass with a +).  this is a high reolution picture, thatactually shows a lot of wing detail

[Ron Who]

 

That's a beauty!  Unfortunately I'm experiencing some trouble with the Photobucket site.

[detron]

That's a beauty!  Unfortunately I'm experiencing some trouble with the Photobucket site.

here is a Google Drive link,  try that

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B96d3YZxO2vrdkI4ZlhvRk9EVVk

[detron]

better picture

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B96d3YZxO2vrVl8xcWN1Z0k1NTg

[Ron Who]

Oh yes very nice. I downloaded a copy for my collection if you don't mind.

[detron]

Oh yes very nice. I downloaded a copy for my collection if you don't mind.

feel free!   

[detron]

Oh yes very nice. I downloaded a copy for my collection if you don't mind.

you did notice there were 2 different photos correct?

[SteveC]

I think it's a  Common Hawker

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_hawker

The two are look-alikes. But the Common Hawker has yellow and straight shoulder stripes, while the Bog Hawker's are green and hammer shaped. OTOH the spots on the thorax seem to indicate a Common Hawker. As I said, I'm not sure.

Here's another angle, you can also click on these for a zoomable pic.

DSC01755 by SteveC, on Flickr

[Ron Who]

Yesterday I finally managed to picture a Brown Hawker again. This is a female.