smpbiologist-rcurtis's Favorites

@cannizag I’m feelin funky about this. Is it crangonyx? It’s not S. dentata, I don’t think it’s hyalella, and if it’s crangonyx the telson is too long for minor or setodactylus

It was found in a small permanent pond

Cropped close-up added.

The last time that I saw Carolina Saddlebags at this water collection pond in Norton, was August 2nd. They, and the Comet Darners, were gone after that.

Cedar waxwings have been devouring every dragonfly and damselfly they could find; particularly dozens of teneral Autumn Meadowhawks, Eastern Pondhawks, and damselflies.

I returned for a visit yesterday, and was surprised to see a Carolina Saddlebag exit the reeds and fly past me to the tree line. In seconds it was grabbed by a Cedar Waxwing. It was gone as fast as I could snap my photos.
I walked to the other side of the pond and another one flew out of the reeds, and was attacked by three waxwings. That one was more tattered and a much duller red and orange-red color.

Sadly...until these photos.... I had only been able to get flight photos this season.

Eyes appear purplish. The side of the saddle rounds up to a point which slopes to the front.
The red reaches the edge of the bottom of the wing.

Details of the wing differences can clearly be seen in drawings by Ed Lam. (available on Walter Sandford's photoblog)

Unlike the points on the Red Saddlebags, with dips on both sides.