Tag: Eight-spotted Skimmer

Dragonflies

by John Rakestraw, posted in Invertebrates
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As we enter that summer lull between songbird nesting season and southbound shorebird migration, it is a good time to look for non-avian treasures. Here are a few dragonfly species seen recently, starting with this Blue-eyed Darner
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Eight-spotted Skimmers are one of the more common species.
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This Eight-spotted Skimmer is missing part of a wing. Perhaps they had a close call with a swallow.
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Female Western Pondhawks are a lovely emerald green.
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This striking individual is a Flame Skimmer. I took a lot of frames of this dragonfly. I like this particular image because of the pale bokeh that frames the subject’s head.

Happy Summer

Fernhill Wetlands 8/3/12

by John Rakestraw, posted in OR Birding Sites, seasonal movements

I scouted Fernhill Wetlands for the Willamette Valley portion of my shorebird class. After a cool summer, we have finally gotten some triple-digit temperatures, making birding a little challenging. But there is a lot of mud and the shorebirds are moving in, joining the typical and not-so-typical summer residents.

Greater Yellowlegs are common right now, taking advantage of the shallow water in most of the area’s wetlands.

Lunchtime

I don’t think he caught anything on that dive.

Least Sandpiper

another Least

Spotted Sandpipers are often found along the rocky shoreline of Fernhill Lake.

This is a young Spotted Sandpiper, distinguished by the barring on the wing coverts (and the lack of spots).

Cackling Geese, which winter here in the tens of thousands, are a rare sight in summer. The exposed white rumps on these birds are an indication that the birds are molting their primaries, so they have obviously spent the summer here.

These three Greater White-fronted Geese are also several months too early.

Great Blue Heron and Great Egret

Green Heron

August is the time for baby Bullheads. Several schools were visible in the murky water.

Eight-spotted Skimmer, one of the few dragonflies that I can identify