I've been enjoying learning about Odonates--dragonflies and damselflies. About 70 species have been documented in Douglas County (Valley and Johnson). Not only are many of them readily distinguishable visually, they have habitat associations, behaviors, and flight styles that make them all unique. Some species mostly breed in and along streams, while others are primarily near pond habitats. Some perch often on the ground and are not very skiddish, whereas others are more easily startled and rarely land. The way they interact with their environment, with each other, combined with their diverse colors, shapes, sizes, and behaviors makes them fascinating to study.

I recently went to where I knew there were lots of odonates: my mother's pond on her private property in Umpqua. I was not disappointed. In a couple hour's time I was able to photograph 9 species of dragonflies, and I wouldn't be surprised if I missed a couple. I left without giving any time to photographing damselflies. That will be my plan for next time. Click on any of the observations below to access more photos of these critters from various angles.

Posted on June 27, 2017 07:50 AM by umpquamatt