Photographs by Frank

6 August 2011

A “Stolen” Hour at Bass Farm

Filed under: Odontates,Other Insects,Wildlife — Tags: , , , — Frank @ 6:00 PM

Yesterday, I “stole” an hour a midst the wedding preparations to wander the meadow and pond at the Bass Farm.

There were many male common white-tails patrolling territories along the shore of the pond and, although I spent quite some time stalking them, I did not get even a single shot of them. I also saw a small number of spreadwings along the pond.

There where large numbers of a small very nondescript brown dragonfly (which I have not had time to identify)  in the meadow grasses. There were also many pollinators (mostly bees but also some butterflies) among the wild flowers in the meadow. These were much easier to photograph!

The last two photos are of blossoms in the flower beads around the house

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Another Romp in the Swamp

Filed under: Odontates,Other Insects,The "New" Yard & Environs — Tags: , , — Frank @ 1:00 PM

I had not been down to the beaver swamp behind our house for a few weeks so, a couple of days ago I donned “swamp gear” (long sleeve shirt, green “wellies” and a heavy coat of insect repellent) and headed off for a few hours.

As expected there were many meadowhawks (the exact species I can not say), lots of small damselflies along the edge of the open water and lots of large darners cruising over both the water and the wet meadow.

On the way down to the swamp I noticed a bee of some sort on a daisy-like flower and got a couple of shots of them while experimenting with a stack of two extension tubes. I went quickly back to my usual single (36 mm) tube as the stack make for very difficult focusing… the zone is very narrow, probably too narrow for hand holding.

When I got to the swamp I finally got a photo of a darner (they are some of the largest, showiest dragonflies) perched on a tree. These critters have been a great source of frustration as I see them often cruising their territories, but they rarely perch and when they do they are in poor locations for photography. This time, I got a number of shots as I closed the distance between “him” and I but, as always happens the critter flies off eventually.

As I looked up from the viewfinder to see if I could locate him again, I was greatly surprised to find that he had landed on the right side chest pocket of my shirt! Of course, he was way too close to get a shot of there but I watched him for a minute or two before brushing him off.

The other “big finds” for the day were two mating pairs of meadowhawks (within about a dozen feet of each other) deep in the grasses of the meadow. Getting an unobstructed shot was a challenge. I also  a pair of  spreadwings flying in tandem (whether pre- or post-mating, I do not know).

The meadowhawks all seemed to be the same species (to my un-expert eye); there are two or three species that the books say are difficult/impossible to distingush without having caught them. The darner will need a bit of work to identify as I an not, at all, familiar with this group. Finally, I think that the spreadwings were spotted spreadwings but again, that is my un-expert opinion.

Anyway, here are the images:

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31 July 2011

Around the Yard

Filed under: Odontates,Other Insects,The "New" Yard & Environs — Tags: , , — Frank @ 12:00 PM

Yesterday morning, I spent a couple of hours roaming the yard with camera (rigged for odes)  in hand.

I was amazed at the variety of odes (and other insects) to be found. I captured images of ten different species including a twelve-spotted skimmer, a dragonfly that I had not seen before.

All-in-all a successful morning!

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29 July 2011

July Odes

Filed under: "Camp",Odontates — Tags: , , — Frank @ 12:00 PM

Between the recent heat wave and a hectic life, I have not done much photography (or blogging) in the past few weeks.

The first set of photos were taken the weekend of 16 and 17 July. I took a very hot and buggy hike at the McCabe Forest on Saturday. On Sunday, I took a kayak out and spent the afternoon at camp.

Just back in the woods, along the Contoocook River at McCabe Forest, there were many female ebony jewelwings feasting away on the abundant mosquitoes. I did not see a single male anywhere. Along the lake at camp there was quite a variety of odes with  variable dancers seemingly the most abundant.

Here are the photos:

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Yesterday evening Joan and I took a canoe ride over to camp. I was probably too late in the day for good ode watching but I did manage to find and photograph two different species of clubtails.

I was a little surprised at the lack of vesper bluets which, I think, were beginning to appear by late July in years past.  I guess that I’ll just have to go back again!

The frog (an immature bullfrog, I think) in the first photo was on the beach as we arrived.

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8 July 2011

Ebony Jewelwings at Loveren’s Mill

Filed under: Nature Conservancy properties,Odontates — Tags: — Frank @ 6:00 PM

Yesterday (i.e. Thursday) afternoon I headed to Loveren’s Mill, a nearby Nature Conservancy property. In previous years I had found ebony jewelwings to be common along the river there and I was not disappointed on this trip. The numbers of individuals was not large but they were, by far, the most common species present. Interestingly, I saw only males.

I also noted an occasional dragonfly out cruising over the river but they were too far away and moving too fast to identify much less photograph. I was surprised by the lack of odes on my walk back to the cedar swamp. Often there are darners in the woods and other dragonflies along the road but I saw none this trip. I did see one small brown damselfly on the boardwalk that extends out in to the swamp but the photograph I got is uninteresting.

Around six, I headed back to the truck as the mosquitoes were beginning to get bothersome. Whether it was the hour or the fact that my “woodsman’s cologne” (i.e. ” bug dope”) was wearing off I can not say… most probably a combination of the two!

At the edge of the parking area I noticed two ebony jewelwings actively feeding on mosquitoes and spent some time photographing them. Of course, the mosquitoes were also actively feeding…on me!

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The First Week of July

Filed under: Odontates,Other Insects,wildflowers — Tags: , , , — Frank @ 12:00 PM

The first week of July saw photographic opportunities during an afternoon on Gregg Lake, a late afternoon kayak jaunt on a nearby beaver swamp and around the yard.

The most common, by far, odes on the Lake that afternoon were lancet clubtails. I also saw (but did not get photographs of) a couple of damselflies, including one variable dancer.

The beaver swamp was teeming with two species: frosted whitefaces and swamp spreadwings. The flowers were also found in the swamp.

The butterfly was very interested in nectaring on the flowers in Joan’s garden and kept returning despite my scaring it off a number of times.

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26 August 2010

Loveren’s Mill Cedar Swamp

Filed under: Odontates,Other Insects — Tags: , , — Frank @ 8:00 AM

In the interest of exploring new ecological niches, a few weeks back Joan and I took a hike at the Loveren’s Mill Cedar Swamp. This large preserve, in the northern part of Antrim, is owned and maintained by the Nature Conservancy.

The trail winds its way along the North Branch river which was loaded with Ebony Jewelwings, a damselfly that prefers fast running water. In the sunny spots along the roads we often saw white-faced meadowhawks; these were also present in the cedar swamp proper. In the pine woods we saw (but could not photograph) at least two different darners. I’m not sure if they were different species or male and female of the same species… the darn things (I know, bad pun) did not sit still long enough to get a good look at them. Lastly, we also saw a butterfly that makes a good demonstration of camouflage.

We also scared up a young bull moose while we were walking down the trail. We were about 50 feet away when he jumped up from behind a large rock where he was taking a siesta. He paused briefly (trying to decide which way to go?) before taking off down the trail away from us. I’m still not sure who was more surprised… the moose or Joan!

No moose photos though! One of the “problems” with the odonate rig is that with the lens mounted on the extension tube you can not focus more than about six feet away. So, by the time I got the tube off and the lens remounted, the big fellow was long gone. I can hear Joan now. “Excuses… excuses, a real photographer would have gotten the shot’!

Anyway, here are the photos, that I did get:

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24 August 2010

Dana’s Vist to Camp

Filed under: "Camp",Amphibians,Odontates — Tags: , , — Frank @ 7:47 AM

My friend (and fellow photographer) Dana Lipp came to camp for a day trip about a week ago.

As we usually do when we get together, we chat about many things, even photography on occasion. We also often find time to make some photographs.

This day we haunted, as is my habit, the lake shore near camp. The lake as been dropping all summer and so by mid-August there was a bit of dry(ish) land all along the shore. Thus Dana did not get the “full effect” but I am sure that he’ll agree he got the essential felling of the experience!

It was very interesting to see Dana’s photographic take on an area where I have spent an extensive amount of time; he saw subjects that I have overlooked for months and made some very nice photographs. Dana posts his photos on Flicker and so I will just link to his “Antrim Camp” set there.

And here are a few of the photos I took that day:

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30 July 2010

Late July’s Crop (of Photographs)

Filed under: "Camp",Odontates — Tags: , , — Frank @ 3:30 PM

The corn is in a Tenney’s farm stand, so it must be late July!

We’re back in Bridgewater — briefly — Katrina spent the past week with us up at camp and need to get to the airport early this morning. Thus, here are a dozen and a half images from the past couple of weeks.

The first two photos — of “damsels in distress” — were taken the same afternoon within about 50 yards of each other. Some days you just get lucky… unless you were one of the odontates!!!

The first two frog photos were taken on the beach just outside of the cabin… I got very wet getting the one of the bullfrog.

Joan spotted the wood frog while we were walking the road up on Patten Hill. I stayed behind to make photographs while Joan wandered ahead. After a bit I wander off in the direction that she had gone but Joan had wandered into the woods and I went past her. When she reemerged she headed back to where the frog had been. She could tell the exact spot even though neither the frog or I were there as there was a large patch of flattened ferns… I can’t imagine how such a small frog flattened so so many ferns!

Anyway, she eventually caught up to me and as we were walking near the top of the hill, I stopped to stalk a dragonfly… I watched it take a couple of hunting forays from a perch as I tried to get near enough for a photo… just as I was getting ready to take a photo it took off on another hunt — nothing unusual there — but instead of going back to it regular perch, it alit right on the top of my lens… with a big old horsefly in its mouth!!! Needless to say I did not get a photograph as it fly off to parts unknown as Joan approached to get a look!

The reminder of the photos were taken down in the beaver swamp near the public beach. Upon my arrival, I stepped onto the bog mat at the edge and scared a big bullfrog into the water. After sometime, I was crouched down stalking odonates when I noticed the frog reappear. I got  a couple of photographs and then I spooked him again. Off he took with a great leap and I could not find him among the grass and reeds. I went back to the odontates and some minutes later I spotted the frog again… just his eye!

Along a stretch of bog shore not more that 20 feet long, I got some nice shots of a number of species that do not hang out on the more open lake shore. Different environments (ecological niches) = different species… basic biology. Note to self:  stray away from the lake shore more often!

Here are the images:

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13 July 2010

Late June and Early July at Camp

Filed under: "Camp",Odontates — Tags: , , , — Frank @ 4:34 PM

Well, we have spent the last three weeks or so (minus two days, including today) in NH.

Our days have been spent doing small projects intended to keep the place standing, some reading and thinking, some boating (sailing, rowing, canoeing and kayaking) and maybe a bit of napping, too!

In addition, I still have managed to find time to roam the lake shore in search of odontates. As many of you know, I do this by wading in the shallows… never more than five or ten feet from shore and  in water that is rarely more than knee-deep.

Some photos are taken standing up as odontates like to perch on the shrubs along the shore. Others are taken kneeling, squatting or sitting  — laying, too, but not recently — in the water.

I have, on many occasions, put the lens of the camera six or eight inches off of the water. Whatever it takes to get the “eye-to-eye” view that makes for strong photographs of other creatures!

The first gallery has photographs from before 1 July. I did not have time to upload them when we were last home.  You will note that the images are mainly of damselflies, especially variable dancers… there did not seem to be much variety this early in the season. There were a few dragonflies of the type that rarely perch; rather they are constantly on the move hunting and defending their territory. They are very hard to take photos of!

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The second gallery contains photos taken between 1 July and 12 July. Now you will see a bit more variety in the odontates around the lake.

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In addition, we have had  “interesting” sun sets on a few occasions and I have taken the opportunity to make some ‘cloudscapes”.

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What do you think?

Comments/critiques on any or all of the images are greatly appreciated… thanks!

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