Autumn Meadowhawk dragonflies (Sympetrum vicinum) like Mike! Mike Powell, that is, a.k.a. “Meadowhawk Mike.” The following photos were taken at Huntley Meadows Park on 15 November 2013. Each set of images, or individual image, features a different dragonfly (or dragonflies) perching on Mike at various times during the day. Disclaimer: No dragonflies were either injured or killed in the making of these photos.
Now you see it; now you don’t! A male dragonfly perching on Mike’s shoulder, that is. Or was.
A time-series of images showing a mating pair in tandem. Mating pairs are usually more skittish than this male and female.
Sometimes the same dragonfly — or more than one dragonfly — perched in different places.
Another male, testing a couple of perching places.
A male on Mike’s arm.
This isn’t an optical illusion — a male dragonfly actually is perching on Mike’s blue jeans. Well, actually it is an optical illusion — my eyes cross when I look at these photos too long!
A male dragonfly, with a little help from a friend, endorses an Adidas messenger bag for carrying photo gear.
Another mating pair in tandem, perching on the back of Mike’s sweatshirt.
By now you may be wondering, what’s the point? (Pun intended. That’s so like Mike, isn’t it?) Point is, Mike is a meadowhawk magnet!
Related Resources:
- Autumn Meadowhawk dragonfly (female) [spotted on 15 November 2013; posted on 22 November 2013]
- Champion dragonfly [spotted on 15 November 2013; posted on 20 November 2013]
- The natives are friendly [spotted on 21 October 2013; posted on 31 October 2013]
Copyright © 2013 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
Tags: adult female, adult male, Autumn Meadowhawk dragonfly, friendly, friendly Sympetrum spp., Huntley Meadows Park, in tandem, mating pair, Sympetrum vicinum, wildlife photography
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November 30, 2013 at 6:02 am |
Yikes. I had forgotten how many times I had dragonflies perched on various parts of my body during those sessions when we were chasing them with our camera. Your shots are wonderfully detailed and sharp, which was not easy since your subject often had trouble standing still.
November 30, 2013 at 6:08 am |
Reblogged this on Mike Powell and commented:
I don’t know what it was about Autumn Meadowhawk dragonflies, but they really seemed to like to perch on me during several sessions when I was stalking them with fellow photographer and blogger Walter Sanford, who was able to capture shots of them (including mating pairs) on various parts of my clothing and body. His shots are wonderful and provide some great views of this colorful dragonfly that seems to have disappeared with the arrival of frigid weather.
November 30, 2013 at 11:09 am |
Is it pheromones, Mike?:) All the dragonflies and damselflies I try to photograph are extremely skittish.