I just submitted my first record to Odanata Central. (for someone who doesn't keep any type of "life list" this is a pretty big step!)
This female Racket-tailed Emerald is pretty common but as far as I can tell only three other records have been submitted for Cook County, Minnesota and they are museum specimens from 1970. We found this one while hiking during a July camping trip in the Grand Portage State Forest.
Overall, Racket-tailed Emeralds are found throughout the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada and frequent lakes and boggy areas. The ID points on this one are the slightly bisected yellow band and a clear forewing triangle (no cross-vein). They land more frequently than other emeralds which, according to one of my reference books, "makes them the most easily-photographed Emerald."
I'm still happy that I got a nice photograph of one before it darted off after one of the millions of blackflies that were swarming around us!
cool critter :O)
ReplyDeleteThat's a beauty!
ReplyDeleteTami:
ReplyDeleteYou nailed those wings!. I love them, they look like fine embroidery.
Congrats! Beautiful dragonfly! Happy Weekend!
ReplyDeleteGreat catch! A beauty!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting everyone! And you're right, Maria - they're so pretty in person - I feel like the camera just doesn't do them justice. Or at least my use of it! ;-)
ReplyDeleteI just read that you "read thru my Dad's entire Enc. Brit" and about your favourite book when younger. I'm impressed with your CV as well as your photos.
ReplyDeleteIt's always fun to locate a rarity isn't it?
ReplyDeleteWOW!
ReplyDeleteIt is always a must to spot and photograph a member of the corduliidae family!
It looks much like the Cordulia aenea (Downy emerald) we have in northern Europe but with yellow markings on S2:
Le coup de coeur d'Aénéa!
Congratulations for this" catch"!!
Congratulations on photographing a rare dragonfly! Nice photo of it!
ReplyDeleteinteresting shape!
ReplyDelete