After a dry beginning to March (and no rain since then, but at least the heat’s moderated a bit for the past few days), the odonates have started returning to the yard, just in time for the equinox!
One or two of them run into mishaps:
but by and large they are still the most formidable airborne insect predators out there. Most of them sprint to safety as I approach, although the Blue Dasher is often more docile,
as is a chilly Eastern Pondhawk in the early morning:
The smaller and daintier damselflies are generally more approachable with a camera even after the sun has warmed them up a little; after the “chill” of the morning burns off, most of my dragonflies sprint away as I approach. Damselflies, on the other hand, sit still so you can sneak up on them. And, if you look at the bottom of the photo below, other creatures have little difficulty approaching as well.
Since I didn’t notice the spider until after I’d come inside to view the photos on the screen, I have no idea what kind it is. Presumably a flower spider of some sort; it’s quite small, given that the damselfly is no colossus itself.
Happy first day of spring!