Dragonflies Purgatory Creek

Up here in Minnesota the realities of winter are starting to sink in. The light covering of snow that we got this past weekend looks like it is going to stay and unfortunately there is surely a lot more on the way. I stopped by Lake Vadnais yesterday to photograph migrating waterfowl and found that they had already closed the road for the winter. I decided to park and walk in but I found most of the water near the shore was already ice and the only open water was near the middle of the lake so the birds were to far away to get any decent pics. So since I kind of have a case of the beginning of winter blues I decided to post some summer dragon pics to cheer up myself and anyone else who is already sick of snow, cold, and grey skies.
All of these pics where taken at Purgatory Creek Back on July 23rd. It is kind of fun to look at these pics and remember sweating out in the wetlands, back in July, when the high temps this week are in the 30s if we are lucky.The first three pics are of eastern pondhawks. Eastern pondhawks begin life bright green in color. Females stay this green color but as the males mature pruinosity covers the abdomen and and thorax and gives it the powdery blue color.
Another dragon that is very similar looking to the eastern pondhawk is the blue dasher. They also get a powdering blue color as they mature due to pruinosity but the pruinose on the blue dasher does not cover the thorax like it does on the eastern pondhawk.
Blue dashers typically hunt from a favorite perch. Both males and females will defend their preferred feeding perches leaving the perch only to catch prey or fend of a rival.

The eastern amberwing is one of the smallest dragonfly in our area. Since they are usually less then an inch long, the elfin skimmer is the smallest dragon in North America at .8 inches, they are often easier prey then other dragons. To help keep themselves from becoming prey they will often mimic wasps, which they resemble in size and color.