It's A Summer Thing

 

"There is time in the last few days of summer 

when the ripeness of autumn fills the air,

 and time is quiet and mellow."

~Rudolfo Anaya

Bless Me, Ultima

What says, it's the last days of summer. quite like finding a gorgeous, Great Egret, sitting in a tree, waiting for a dragonfly to hop into it's mouth.

Shrug. I guess it's a summer thing.

Western Pondhawk

 

"Chasing dragonflies, like buying good books or eating gourmet food, can be a curiously addicting."

~Cindy Crosby

Chasing Dragonflies: A Natural, Cultural and Personal History

If I have ever seen this particular dragonfly before, I never saw it this green or this beautiful! It's the, Western Pondhawk dragonfly, and I found it at the Cosumnes River Preserve. We were just walking along and then suddenly there it was. It was so beautiful! I love discovering new things, or at least seeing them in a new light!

It's The Third Dragonfly, But There Could Be More

 

 
“It looked like the world was covered in a cobbler crust of brown sugar and cinnamon.” 

~Sarah Addison Allen,

  First Frost 

 

This the third dragonfly. I captured this beauty at Yolo Bypass Wilderness Area about a week ago. It's been a hot September, and the dragonflies are loving it, but as dragonflies go, I haven't seen a lot of varieties yet. I will keep looking, and hopefully be the time the weather changes to the cooler days of autumn, I will spot many more dragonfly colors and shapes. I love the blue ones, and the ones with double wings. Here's to the journey! 

 

Yet Another Dragonfly

 

“Fruitful. Lusty. Wild. Revealing. Every day a brilliant reminder of how nothing stays the same, every day an exercise in variability, resilience, and trust.

I love seasons, live for the changing seasons, could not imagine my life without seasons, but, I must admit--at the risk of offending the others-- autumn is my very favorite one.” 

 
~Shellen Lubin 

 

And there's only more dragonflies to come.

 And birds too.

 Just wait!

 There's much more to life then all this despair. 

 

 

Another Dragonfly

 

“There's a promise between
beginnings and end.
And, there's a hope between
end and beginnings..!!"

O' Autumn, you'll never stop,
singing your sanguine songs.”

 
― Monika Ajay Kaul 

 

Summer's dragonfly, meets autumn's beginning. So beautiful, and so emotional. I like the transitions of the seasons. How two moods share one space. Sometimes I can find lovely autumn leaves as late as March. Winter's sorrow blends with the earthly giggle of spring. I don't care much for spring and summer, but I appreciate the wildflowers, and the return of the Mexican Free-tailed bat. Maybe I am obsessive about the turn of the seasons, I get that, but they affect my creative side in all the best ways, and gives me a respite from the stresses of the moment. It's magic.

 

 By the way, I have more dragonfly pics to come!

 

 

On The First Day Of Autumn

 

Crimson Marsh Glider

Yolo Bypass Wilderness Area

Davis, Ca

September 22nd, 2025 

 

 “I wish autumn came around twice in a year

 — first as a season, then as an event.”

 
~Nkwachukwu Ogbuagu

 

What a beautiful little creature! Yesterday, as a way of celebrating the first day of autumn, we took a little trip to the Yolo Bypass Wilderness Area, and our time there was definitely not wasted! There were few birds, but the insect world was working overtime! There were tons of dragonflies, and yellow jackets, which could be a little intimidating at times. I didn't photograph any of the yellow jackets, but it was definitely not for lack of opportunity! The Mexican Free-tailed bats should have quite a banquet this fall. I did photograph some really pretty dragonflies, and I will be sharing them this week, plus a new bug that I have never photographed before. A funny fella with BIG eyes! You'll see! Yolo Bypass should be full of all kinds of birds in October, it should be downright glorious! There is a lot of natural beauty to look forward to!

 

It was a good day!

 

 

Dragons And Damsels And Autumn Leaf Of The Day #14

 

Summer leaves sulkily with rains.
Winter sets off gaily leaving spring behind.
Autumn walks a fine line.

(Haiku)
~Monika Ajay Kaul 

 

The cool days are here. Well, cool for the Central Valley. Some years it's well into October before I need a sweater, but hubby is helping me get all the warm stuff washed and put on standby. Yes, I even get excited about washing my favorite autumn and winter sweaters for the season. I am hoping to still be able to catch a few more dragonflies and damselflies before the rains come in. They are an amazing challenge for me to photograph, but just look at them, so delicate and so beautiful I can't help but try.

Autumnal Sunshine

 

“I cannot endure to waste anything so precious

 as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house.”

 

 – Nathaniel Hawthorne

 

We have already turned a weather corner. There is an really big, early Autumn storm slamming California tonight and tomorrow. Another Atmospheric river like the ones that plagued us earlier this year! Fortunately for us, it will be mainly well north of the Golden Gate. I am trying to not think about what lies ahead when it comes to weather this autumn and winter. We have officially entered another El Nino, so that means another pattern of wetter than usual conditions, and if it is already beginning up north, well, hold onto your hats and umbrellas because your gonna need them! I am trying to not think about it too much. Like that dragonfly, I just want to enjoy the last of the warmth while we have it. It was in the mid 80s today, and there is a little wind outside, so it's just about perfect. I am putting an extra blanket on the bed tonight, which is about as delicious as it gets!

Happiness!

 

 

Dragonflies Damselflies And Sunflowers

 "Dragonflies are reminders that we are light and we can reflect light in powerful ways if we choose to do so."

~Robyn Nola

We visited Yolo Bypass Wilderness area yesterday, and while there wasn't a lot of birds to be found, it was great for finding out about the timetable for when it will be ready for the aquatic birds heading our way. There were definite designed water ways ready to go. Islands of reeds for the wrens and blackbirds, and everything mowed deeply for better viewing. Like everything good heading our way, it will happen soon. I just wish soon was now.

There wasn't many birds, but there were gardens of yellow sunflowers to see and photograph, and more dragonflies and damselflies then I have seen in previous summers/autumns. Good eating for the bats that roost under the overpass that borders the wilderness are along HWY 50. One thing is there to eat the other I guess, I am not fond of the system, but that's how things work. Ugh, duck hunting season is about to begin. November I think. And I am dreading it. Some of the hunters aren't fond of the birders and can be downright rude. Shrug. It's only a few bad apples, so we ignore the ignorant.

 

I simply go about my business of photographing whatever my camera sees. It's hard to explain, but I think dying weeds are kinda pretty. It's all about the story of the year, or maybe just the summer. Either way, I enjoy sharing that story. And while I don't hate dragonflies, in fact I look forward to photographing them, I don't really want one in the car with me while I am at Yolo. LOL. There were so many creatures flying about that some of the larger of them were pacing my car, if not making serious efforts to become passenger. Basically they thought I was their UBER.

 

It all worked out. We finally moved passed the areas with large groupings, and few of them actually posed for me, as did a particular White-faced Ibis. There was a small flock of juveniles. They fly in tight flocks, so spotting them coming in was easy and a happy sight. All in all it was a very pleasant adventure. It wasn't too hot, we learned about scheduling, and there was plenty to photograph. I am glad we made the trek to Davis. And we picked up free sandwiches from Jersey Mikes, which was a perk of T-Mobile Tuesdays. I hope there will be more of that in the coming months. Birding is an amazing hobby, but there is some work involved and having a free sandwich to look forward to means a lot. But even if there is no free sandwich, you will never keep me away from the birds and bats. I can always sleep in the car on the way home.

 

I love naps at the end of a happy day!

 

 

The Red Dragonfly Of Summer And The Autumn Leaf Of Late September

 

"Autumn was San Francisco's summer. The days were bright and warm, scented with drying leaves and fading flowers and the ever-present salt air."

 

~Susan Wiggs

The Lost and Found Bookshop

 

 Finally, a dragonfly. I hoped to be able to photograph one over the summer, but either it was too hot to think about venturing outside to do some photography, or when I did get out to the delta and it's sloughs, there was nary a one to be found. Ironic that I saw some along Desmond road yesterday, happily dancing about in the late afternoon sun. Autumn isn't exactly their season. Or is it? I don't know much about them, except that they are pleasant little creatures to photograph, and they eat nasty things like mosquitos. Anyway, I have had several days in a row of happiness, and I hope to keep up that momentum. I just want to be happy again, which I think I will be, I just need more time I guess.

 

~Me 

Round Robin Challenge: Heads Or Tails?

"It gets you nowhere if the other person's tail is only just in sight for the second half of the coversation."

~Winnie the Pooh

RRC: Heads Or Tails

I choose Tails...

First, Lets Look At My Dragonfly (Tails) Collection...





 

 

 

 

A Mermaid, And Her Tail, Soak Up The Sun...

 

And From The Undersea World Comes Many A Tail...

NOTE: Yes, I know the Jellyfish don't actually sport tails, I just included them because they are pretty, and tentacles kinda look like tails... right? ;)







Tail Of The My Favorite Alarm Clock...



Tail Of A Furry Resident Of Golden Gate Park...



Cat Tails...

Dylan


And Elvis's Friend Ernie...



Two Friends Who Live In A Window In San Francisco...



And Now, How About My Favorite Faces...

Dylan (R) Hendrix (L)



Okay, you've seen my post for this round of RRC. Now, go see what the other Robins have chosen for their "Heads Or Tails" post. You can find the complete list of participants by visiting the official Round Robin blog by clicking the link at the top of the post. By the way, there is still time to join in. You will find all the information at the Round Robin blog!

~Me :)