Still More Dragonflies

These dragonfly photos were taken almost three weeks ago and are just now finding their way to the blog.

Collage of Halloween Pennant Dragonflies

Collage of Twelve Spotted Skimmer Dragonflies

Widow Skimmer Dragonfly

Calico Pennant Dragonfly

Female Eastern Pondhawk Dragonfly

Each summer, it gets harder to maintain the house and yard. We're aging, you know, as difficult as it is to accept that fact. So, this summer, we're getting some much-needed maintenance taken care of...things that would need to be done if we stayed here but that would also help sell the house if we decide to go that direction.

Among other things, we're getting a new front door. The house is nearly 45 years old, and the entry door has never been replaced. The wood in the side panels has cracked enough that we can see daylight through the cracks. So it's time. We've ordered the door and have hired an installer. So it's not in yet, but here's a picture of it from the online catalog:

When it arrives and is installed, I'll post before and after pictures.

We're also having a new roof put on the house and adding an improved venting system for the attic, along with a few other improvements and maintenance items. It's been time consuming and sometimes stressful as we line up professionals to take care of these things, but we're seeing the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. 

As a friend likes to say, we just hope the light at the end of the tunnel isn't an oncoming train.

More Dragonflies and a Kingfisher

Another visit to Ouabache State Park provided a few more dragonfly photos and a couple of shots of a belted kingfisher. Enjoy.

Widow Skimmer

Eastern Pondhawk

Twelve Spotted Skimmer

Twelve Spotted Skimmer

Belted Kingfisher

Belted Kingfisher In Flight

The Dragonflies Are Back!

The small lake at Ouabache State Park had been drained all summer last year as work was underway to build a swimming beach. That reduced the number of dragonflies for me to photograph to...well...zero. And that resulted in a dearth of dragonfly photos on the blog last year.

Ah, but the beach is finished now; the lake is full; and the dragonflies are back! 

Kunkel Lake, Ouabache State Park

Red Saddlebags Dragonfly

Calico Penant Dragonfly

Common Whitetail Dragonfly

Twelve-Spotted Skimmer Dragonfly

Blue Dasher Dragonfly

Widow Skimmer Dragonfly

A New (To Me) Dragonfly

Doug found this little visitor on one of our shrubs Thursday night, about nine o'clock. I don't believe I've ever seen a dragonfly quite like this one and hope one of you might be able to identify it for me.

The images aren't the best quality because of the low-light situation and the movement of the dragonfly's perch in the evening breeze. In fact, I had to use a flash, which must have confused this poor little critter because those big eyes were rolling with my every move.

Update 6/25/17: Aha! Persistency in searching the internet has paid off.  I believe this is a female Eastern Pondhawk.

A Quiet Anniversary

Today (August 15) is Doug's and my 28th wedding anniversary. If you're interested in seeing a few wedding photos, I posted some here on our 24th anniversary. And, if you're interested in hearing about how we met, that story can be found here.

 

We didn't do anything exciting to mark the occasion of this anniversary, but we enjoyed several meals out with friends in the course of the week. We also spent one afternoon at Ouabache State Park. I didn't get any photos that day, but here are a few from the week before:

Red-Spotted Purple Butterfly, wings open

Red-Spotted Purple Butterfly, wings closed

Eastern Pondhawk Dragonfly, with a face any mosquito (and some humans) would fear 

Wildflowers growing along the shore of the small lake at the park

Dragonflies, Woodpeckers, and Swallowtail

I hope I'm not wearing anyone out with my dragonfly photos; but 'tis the season, you know. And I do find them fascinating. I've purchased a book to help me with identification and will do my best to get it right. I'm open to corrections, though.

 

These photos were all taken at Ouabache State Park in July.

Male Eastern Pondhawk Dragonfly

Male Blue Dasher Dragonfly

Male Widow Skimmer Dragonfly

Male Halloween Pennant Dragonfly

Male Blue Dasher Dragonfly

And, to give you a little break from dragonflies...

Male Red-Bellied Woodpecker and a Juvenile

Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly

Dragonflies and a Little Fisherman

After a month of heavy rains and the arrival of summer temperatures at last, the dragonflies are out in abundance at Ouabache State Park. Please feel free to share your knowledge if you can identify any of them. (I really need to get a book!)

This is a photo from June, 2014, during my non-blogging year.

All of the rest of the images are from last week:

These two were attached. Hanky panky was suspected.

The same pair

A loner

Another pair that had been attached only moments before

Late in the afternoon, a pair of humans showed up. The small one had received the fishing rod as a birthday gift last week, and this was the first chance that Dad had had to take him to the park to try it out.

Dragonflies

These are some pictures of dragonflies that I captured last year on one of our visits to Ouabache State Park. I haven't had a chance to get photos of them yet this year. Our spring has been on the cool side; and, although I've seen a few buzzing around, they don't seem to be out in abundance yet.

Male Calico Pennant

Male Halloween Pennant

Male Halloween Pennant

Male Calico Pennant

Dragonflies and More from Ouabache State Park

This is another set of photos from what has become our favorite state park. These were all taken during a visit to the park on August 23, 2013.

The first two are flowering weeds that grow along the water's edge.

And what would a post from Ouabache State Park be without a few dragonfly images?

Eastern Amberwing Dragonfly

This isn't a great shot of the Eastern Amberwing Dragonfly, but I liked the reflection.

Widow Skimmer Dragonfly

Widow Skimmer Dragonfly

A little fall color sets off this picturesque dead tree.