SATURDAY JUNE 7th, 2014
I've been keeping an eye on the pond up the street where the dragonflies played last year. For me, a dragonfly is a sure sign that summer is nearby. On a bright, sunny Saturday I saw them. Mostly they were mating, laying eggs and flying madly around in packs, looking for females.

Caution to Arachnophobics - # 10 and 11 are spiders. (but very cute)


The bright Cardinal Meadowhawk announced its presence.


Flaked out on a branch, a Common Whitetail (?) dried her wings...


then quietly moved to a branch.


It didn't take the males long to find her. They followed her in packs.


The Cardinal Meadowhawks tried out different perching spots.


I loved watching them testing the branches.


Mating has happened and now it's time to lay the eggs.
The male flies holding the female's head while she drops the eggs.


It seems like a group activity.

On my way home I saw a green streak flash by me and land in some leaves.
I blindly pointed and shot a picture and there it was - a Pale Snaketail.
Pretty good camouflage, eh?


Special mention goes to this Crab Spider eating a bumblebee.
They like to sit on the flowers and ambush visiting insects.
This particular kind (Misumena vatia) can change color.

SUNDAY JUNE 8th.

I returned to look for the Crab Spider on Sunday. Wow, the whole rose had vanished. I found the spider hiding under some dead petals and we played cat and mouse for a while. He is very tiny but his legs are long.


I haven't identified this one yet. Help is welcomed.


Here's a lovely Blue-eyed Darner.
 

This might be a Western Forktail.


And this guy waited silently in the reeds for Lunch On The Wing.

 Corrections are welcomed.  

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