Very briefly, I thought about joining the crowds at the beach but it would have meant having to leave the van closed up in the open sun. I just didn't think it was worth it. A nice breeze would make its appearance every now and then and as the sun made its way across the sky, the shade lengthened in the campsite cooling the area off just a little.
At one point I noticed something on the picnic table nearby. I couldn't quite make out what it was and it stayed there for quite some time. Eventually, I got up and took a look and saw what it was and grabbed the camera.
Go ahead, double-click on the image to view a larger version. You know you want to. The wings are pretty amazing, so thin and delicate.
The dragonfly patiently waited while I moved in closer and closer with the camera. Finally, after half a dozen shots it jumped up, landed on my hand for an instant and was off to explore its own little universe. It was doing its job well – that of eating mosquitoes and other small bugs – so I wasn't bothered too much by them.
In between wiping the sweat (and it was sweat, not simply perspiration) off my brow (and elsewhere) I sipped a tall glass of a cool beverage and waited out the sweltering night, hoping that the next night would be just a little cooler! The temp when I crawled into the van for the night at 10:30 pm was 96 degrees. When I got up the next morning at 6:30 am it was 84 degrees. It was a rather uncomfortable night, to say the least. Not complaining. Just saying ;-)
4 comments:
One word for future 96 degree nights:
HOTEL!!!
LOL
Dragonflies and damselflies are such an interesting bunch! You got me wondering again whether the wing patterns are unique like fingerprints, so I googled the question and found this [http://tinyurl.com/wingprints]: "Insect wings represent one of the primary ways in which many insects are classified and identified. Of special importance is the pattern of veins (venation) of the wings which are distinctive for a specific species and act as "finger prints" to identification." I'm not overly fond of insects in general, but dragonflies are so colorful and willing to hold still for pictures, it's hard not to be drawn in.
What a great photo! And I agree with Carol about future 96 degree nights. I can't imagine sleeping in that kind of heat!
I can't imagine how uncomfortable you were, but I hope the weather has cooled down a bit (think of your Alaska trip last year, hum cool).
Whenever I see dragonflies, I think of the famous Tiffany lampshades, they were simply beautiful
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