Long Lens Macro

Early Friday morning, I set off for Great Meadows with the intent of using my long lens to get some more photos of Goldfinches and Hummingbirds on the Evening Primrose plants. You know the expression, "Want to know that God has a sense of humor, just make plans."? Well today he was laughing.

The number of American Lotus that are blooming each day has started to decrease. They still blanket the impoundments. The open water is difficult to see. Much of the wildlife that is in them are difficult to see. For example, this Canada Goose was landing. In the next frame, it disappered for view.




An almost perfectly formed lotus blossom


The refuge was crawling with Goldfinches. They just weren't feeding on the Evening Primrose. There was a lot of flying and calling, but not many photographic opportunities. All was not lost. This Goldfinch did settle down for a few moments, in an area with a pleasing background.






Lately I've been frustrated some beautiful photography opportunities that were missed because the subject was inside the minimum focusing distance of my lens. Unfortunately, the surroundings prevented me from backing up to get the shot. The solution for that problem is, off course, more equipment, namely extension tubes. Mine arrived by UPS yesterday, so I was interested in giving them a try.

They day was hot and humid. There wasn't a lot of activity so my choices were shooting bees or dragonflies. Since I was going to be carrying this heavy long lens with me, I figured I would test out shooting dragonflies with the extension tubes. The results were often frame filling images, with beautiful backgrounds. So I expect taht I'll have to lug the tubes around the refuge in the future.


Slender Bluet


Common Whitetail


Female Common Pondhawk


Male Common Pondhawk












Common Green Darner


I have noticed that the flowers that are starting to bloom now fade oh so quickly. During the late spring and early summer they seemed to last forever. One flower that seems to be an exception to this is the Swamp Rose Mallow. These large pretty flowers have been blooming for a couple of weeks.




In photography you often have happy accidents. I was shooting these flower and did not notice the tiny bee that arrived until I got home and uploaded my photos. It makes what would otherwise be a boring photo.

Potpourri

Wednesday evening I wandered over to Great Meadows hoping for a spectacular sunset. Lately I haven't had much luck with sunsets and this evening was not about to break that streak. Of course, I wouldn't know that until later.

Here are a few of the sights that caught my eye as I waited for the sun to drop towards the horizon.


I love the banding of purple and white


The remains of a dead carp. I don't know what dragged the head onto the path. I liked how the sun was shining through the skull look like a death mask.


I loved the ways the berries gradually fade from the green of the leaves to darker blue.



Of course there were dragonflies. It appears that they prefer sun to shade. There weren't hanging out if their favorite morning spots. There were some new ones that I hadn't photgraphed before.


Twelve-spotted Skimmer


Female Common Pondhawk


Ruby / Cherry-faced Meadowhawk


As the sun started to set it was apparent that there wasn't going to be much color reflecting off of the clouds. A person walking on the cross dike trail started waving towards me to come. At the water control gate between the impoundments there was a beaver swimming back and forth eating some of the aquatic vegetation. As the sun continued to drop on the horizon, the warm light started to reflect off of the reeds causing these wonderful colors in the water.




It was the evening for hot tips. As I hung out on the observation deck with Will Martens watching the last of the light disappear a lady came up and told us about this interesting bird down by the canal. Wandering back I had to us my pop-up flash to photograph this juvenile Black-crowned Night-Heron. (Thanks to Will for the identification.)

There Be Dragons ...

Since I have been away for almost a week, I couldn't wait to get to Great Meadows early Saturday morning to see what has changed since my last visit. One thing that has changed from all the rain we had in the last 2 weeks is the water level in both the upper impoundment and the Concord River.

Another is the transformation of the Tick Trefoil from pretty purple flower, to those velcro like seeds that stick to your clothing. Fall at GMNWR would be much more pleasant without them. In fact, I wonder if this moth is actually stuck to them.

>


Today's title comes from all the dragon-flies that call Great Meadows home. Today, I tried to see how many different types I could photograph on natural surfaces (no paths allowed). It's amazing the diversity in size and coloration that you find.


Female Ruby Meadowhawk


Lake Darner


Blue Dasher


Whitefaced Meadowhawk


Blue Dasher


Unidentified


In addition to the dragonflies, there were most of the "usual suspects". Several other things caught my eye.


Great Golden Digger Wasp on Downy Swamp Milkweed


A Cedar Waxwing from a flock of about 10 feeding on bugs on the Concord River near the "holt"


Great Blue Heron headed to deep water to fish


Occasionally when you arrive in the morning you may find a splattered watermelon at the base of the tower. (Youths are rumored to be involved.) Well it appears that chipmunks appear to like watermelon. I wonder if they spit out the seeds?


As I was walking back towards my car on the Cross Dike Trail, I saw this photo. It is my favorite from the morning; the perfect end to an enjoyable day at Great Meadows.





As always these are my best identifications based upon my limited (but growing) naturalist knowledge. Feedback and corrections are always appreciated...but please be gentle.