Here are two nice fresh dragonflies of the Libellula genus.
This first has the dark basal wing patches that are typical of Widow Skimmers (Libellula luctuoso). This is a female.
The second is a female Spangled Skimmer (Libellula cyanea) with stigma that are two toned which is an indicator of the species. 
Both are lovely specimens. I got pretty wet crawling around to get the proper angle but it was worth it. I found them just before the sun rose above the trees and ended the nice soft light.
Entomologists are a great bunch. I had misidentified the second dragonfly, but a friend on Facebook straightened me out on that one.
Stephen Gingold Nature Photography Blog 
They really are pretty. It amazes me how you photographers get such lovely portraits of them. It may be that they’re a little slower in the mornings. By the time I see them, they’re really whizzing around. Of course, my equipment’s better suited to take photos of immovable objects than birds, butterflies and dragonflies!
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You hit the nail on the head, Linda. When they are all nice and dewy, as with most insects, they are often immobile which reduces the challenge just a teeny bit. 🙂 I really admire the folks who can catch the dragonflies on the….well….on the fly. One thing to keep in mind is that many will return to a perch so when you find a dragonfly on a stick or particular plant, if you watch you will get an idea if it is a favored perch. Then wait.
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I’ve noticed that habit of returning to the same place, and just last Thursday I made use of it to stake out a couple of stalks that a neon skimmer kept coming back to. The time was already close to noon but the dragonfly was quite obliging and let me get very close.
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The hotter it gets, the more dragonflies we see. But with the heat comes more frenetic activity and a greater challenge for capture….digital, not netting. The repeat visits sure do help.
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Well worth getting wet for, Steve. I confess I borrowed the theme for my own post today. Dragons are in season here too 🙂
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Thanks, Andrew. So we are blogging in tandem on parallel tracks with two minds as one. 😎
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A double dose of “flies” today. These are great captures. I really like both of them.
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Andrew and I were on parallel tracks today, Yvonne. I am glad you enjoyed our dragons. Thanks!. 🙂
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What’s a little wetness in the service of good pictures, right? Nice going.
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Absolutely, Steve. I’ve dedicated a pair of jeans and my bug proof khakis for muddy shooting. For these I had to lie on my side though so the shirts are now dedicated too. Why not, we have machinery to take care of that.
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Definitely worth getting shouted at for having muddy jeans, if this is the result.
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Thanks, Lottie. No shouting….as long as I don’t muck up my Sunday best…..or track it into the house. 🙂
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