Tag Archives: Canon 100-400mm

Sunrise at Bear Island

It was a cloudless morning so the sunrise wasn’t spectacular. Other than that the not to be taken for granted fact that sun rose another day. There was a nice orange glow for a few minutes.

An Alligator was out moving around early.

Alligator In Pre-sunrise Glow
Alligator In Pre-sunrise Glow

A Great Blue Heron announced his presence.

Great Blue Heron at Sun Up
Great Blue Heron at Sun Up

The same GBH passed a pair of Tricolored Herons going the other way.

Herons Up Early
Herons Up Early

Just before the sun topped the tree line the orange intensified.

Here Comes The Sun
Here Comes The Sun

Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, SC
October 21, 2023

Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly And Prey

An Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly perched on a leaf with a potential Mayfly snack on the underside.

Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly
Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly

A few minutes before I had watched another one of these damselflies chase a Mayfly. They both exhibited serious flying skills and that time the Mayfly prevailed. Here, I wondered if the damselfly knew the Mayfly was there.

Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly
Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly

Francis Beidler Forest, SC
April 7, 2023

Dragonfly and Shadow

A few dragonflies were perching on these giant leaves, which I believe are Powdery Alligator-flag.

The dragonfly, a Blue Dasher? I didn’t get a good enough image of his abdomen to see if there were stripes. The Great Blue Skimmer is described as “very large” … the Blue Dasher as “small.” Hmmm.

Dragonfly on Pondside Vegetation
Dragonfly on Pondside Vegetation
Dragonfly on Pondside Vegetation
Dragonfly with Very Large Shadow, on Powdery Alligator-flag Leaf
Dragonfly on Pondside Vegetation
Dragonfly on Pondside Vegetation

Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
April 12, 2023

Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly, Open And Shut

If you wait long enough an Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly will open and close its wings.

Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly
Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly

Their outsized heads tend to make nice shadows in the right light.

Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly
Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly

Wings closed is their most common position when I have seen them.

Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly
Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly

They do chose some interesting leaves to land on, including this poison ivy.

Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly
Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly

Francis Beidler Forest, SC
March 31, 2023