damselfly

All posts tagged damselfly

Damselflies, Wildflowers and Fungi in Cedar Glades Park

Posted by Lee Hiller on June 24, 2014

Posted in: Cedar Glades Park. Tagged: Bee Balm, Black-Winged Damselfly, Cone Flower, damselfly, Dragonfly, Fungi, Fungus, Hiking Trails, Horsemint, Nature Blog, Nature Photography, Photo Blog, Photography, Wildflowers. 1 Comment

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My husband and I realized we had not been out to Cedar Glades Park in Garland County Arkansas since the government shut down in 2013 that locked us out of Hot Springs National Park. If you like tall Trees, Fungi, Wildflowers and Insects you will enjoy the various park trails.

I love the Fungi but have no clue the names for the majority of them. The variety of shapes and colors are wonderful. It is like an Easter egg hunt in the Forest trying to spot all the unique shape and color combinations. The numerous rainy days and higher temperature have created a bountiful crop throughout our area in Arkansas.

Love to ALL!
Lee

: Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Black Fungus Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Black Fungus Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Black-Winged Damselfly Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Black-Winged Damselfly Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Black-Winged Damselfly Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Black-Winged Damselfly Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Black-Winged Damselfly Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Blue-Tailed Damselfly Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Bronze Fungus Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Smooth Petunia Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Cone Flower Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Cone Flower Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Coral Fungus Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Creamy Fungus Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Creamy Fungi Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Dragonfly Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Eastern Bee Balm Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Eastern Bee Balm Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Eastern Bee Balm Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Eastern Bee Balm Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Eastern Bee Balm Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Eastern Bee Balm Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Eastern Tailed Blue Butterfly Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Eastern Tailed Blue Butterfly Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Forest Meadow Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Forest Meadow Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Forest Meadow Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Forest Meadow Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Forest Meadow Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Trail Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Trail Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Gray Fungus Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Orange Fungus Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Orange Fungus Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Orange Fungus Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Orange Fungus Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Pale Yellow Fungus Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Peace Symbol Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Peach Fungus Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Trail Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: White Fungus Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Red Fungus Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Red Fungus Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Trail Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Tan Fungus Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Tan Fungus Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Tan Fungus Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Tan Fungus Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Odd Insect Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Odd Insect Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: View Sugarloaf Mt Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: View Sugarloaf Mt Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: View Sugarloaf Mt Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: white Fungus Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: white Fungus Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Woodland Sunflower Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Yellow Fungus Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Yellow Fungus Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

: Yellow Fungus Cedar Glades Park, Arkansas

Hot Springs Mountain Road – Lost Puppy

January 16 2010 – Lost shot conceals a hidden treasure

This was the first day I blogged about a hike in Hot Springs National Park. I saw the puppy above on the Hot Springs Mountain Road and after failing to catch it I thought posting a photograph might let the owner know it was still alive. The blog got the attention of my Twitter and facebook friends so I decided to continue posting my adventures. I backed dated and added images and information from my notes to create posts going back to first day I hiked in Hot Springs National Park in November 2009. Over the past year I have posted 8,665 images, made 251 blog entries and begun making videos as well. I am thankful to have been able to upgrade from using a compact camera to a DSLR this past November.

To those who have read my blog this past year I am grateful for your company as I hike 😉 You kind thoughts and comments are a treasure beyond words.

January 2010 –Ice, Snow, New Friends and Baxter the Beagle

Hot Springs National Park Ice Snow HS Mountain Trail

February 2010 – The Lovely Creatures of the Forest on the Hot Springs Trails

Hot Springs National Park Pagoda Cedar Waxwing

March 2010 – Peregrine Falcon, Wildflowers, Lovely Birds and Small Mammals

Hot Springs Mountain Trail Birds-Foot Violet and Hornet

April 2010 – Snakes, Lizards and a Turtle Happy Earth Day!

Upper Dogwood Trail Texas Rat Snake

May 2010 – Lovely Dragonflies, Butterflies, Moths, Bumble Bees and Wildflowers

Floral Trail Blue Moth

June 2010 – Bunnies, Baby Birds and a Sweet Chipmunk

Tufa Terrace Chipmunk

July 2010 – Baby Birds on Soul Day

Superior Bathhouse Northern Mockingbird Chick

August 2010 – The Glorious Wings of Summer

Promenade Butterfly Weed Brown Orange Moth

September 2010 – Winging My Way Through the Park and Twilight Snakes

Hot Springs Mountain Road Copperhead

October 2010 – Testing new camera among the Autumn Leaves

Arlington Lawn House Sparrow

November 2010 – Beautiful Birds of West and Music Mountains & Woodpeckers, Chickadees and Who is the Rock Stacker?

West Mountain Oak Trail Autumn

West Mountain Canyon Trail Seed Pod

December 2010 – A Mixed Flock Of Little Birds and a Near Miss

Hot Springs Mountain Top Red Breasted Nuthatch

Field Notes: Turkey Vultures
Field Notes: Wild About Mockingbirds
Field Notes: Ice Ribbons and Frost Flowers
Field Notes: Damselfly Dragonfly its in the Wings and Eyes
Field Notes: Mixed-Species Foraging Flock Robins and Waxwings
Field Notes: Woodpeckers Of Hot Springs National Park

The Best Of: Trails and Paths
The Best Of: Butterflies and Moths
The Best Of: Birds
The Best Of: Squirrels
The Best Of: Chipmunks

Field Notes: Damselfly Dragonfly its in the Wings and Eyes

Posted by Lee Hiller on September 19, 2010

Posted in: Hot Springs National Park. Tagged: Anisoptera, Black Wing Damselfly, Blue Dragonfly, Common Blue Damselfly, damselfly, Dragonfly, ebony jewelwing damselfly, Green Dragonfly, Odonata, Southern Spreadwing Dragonfly, Zygoptera. 9 Comments

In May I posted a photo on Twitter I figured it was just another Dragonfly, fortunately for me Nature photographer Kerri Far (@KerriFar) let me know it was it fact a Damselfly. Thus began my fact finding journey into determining the difference between the two.

A quick glance at my photographs and it is the wings. The Damselfly wings lay parallel their body when at rest, Dragonfly wings stay out stretched. On closer inspections the hindwing of the Dragonfly broadens at the base and is stubbier, while the hindwing of the Damselfly is similar to the forewing. It is however when you look into their eyes you see the Dragonfly eyes a set together, but the Dameselfly eyes are set apart.

Insect Group Odonata
The group is divided into two distinct sub-orders, Zygoptera/Damselflies and Anisoptera/Dragonflies.

Zygoptera/Damselflies – Means paired-wings’ i.e. All four wings are for the most part equal in size and shape. Damselflies are small, delicate flying insects that usually stay near to the water.
Anisoptera/Dragonflies – means ‘unequal-winged’i.e Rear or hind wings are generally shorter and broader than forewings. Dragonflies are much larger than the damsels and can often be found flying far from water.

I Love learning new things, Nature has so much to teach us all.
Much Love,
Lee

Southern Spreadwing (Lestes australis), male Dragonfly

HSNP Ricks Pond Blue Dragonfly

Tufa Terrace Rose Hips Blue Dragonfly

HSNP Ricks Pond Green Dragonfly

Hot Springs Mountain Trail Dragonfly

Dead Chief Trail Dragonfly

Floral Trail Common Blue Damselfly

Floral Trail ebony jewelwing damselfly

Gulpha Creek Black Winged Damselfly

Floral Trail ebony jewelwing damselfly

Carriage Road Asiatic Dayflower

My beloved fiance’ Rick and I are getting married on June 18th :o)

Ahhh the humidity and 70 degrees at 5 am and 80 by the time I was out the door at 7:30. It appeared everyone had the same idea, get a hike in before it really heats up. For the first time since I began hiking in Hot Springs National Park my lens is fogging over from the heat. I am beginning to understand why the fungi are doing so well in the park.

On the Tufa Terrace I see a little fungus that looks like a fortune cookie and another that is like an umbrella. I head up to the Carriage Road and see a sweet Squirrel sitting in a Tree watch a Male Cardinal below gathering it’s breakfast. As I near the place where steam is normally venting, I look at the area to see why it is not visible. What I find are beautiful Asiatic Dayflowers growing in the warm earth around the vent site.

I hike up the Peak Trail and enjoy the green wrapping around me and the songs of the many birds high in the canopy. Each step is deep mediation and I become one with the forest with every breath I take. I Love the quiet of the early morning. When I reach the top a sweet Squirrel is leaping from branch to branch. It was a beautiful acrobatic feat!

I headed over to the Hot Springs Mountain Trail and I am delighted to see so many beautiful wildflowers. Purple and White Carolina Wild Petunias, Scaly Blazing Star and Lance Leaved Coreopsis line the Trail edges. It’s a glorious feast of color against the layers of green against the trail.

“When you’re spinning round things come undone, welcome to earth 3rd rock from the sun…” It is now I pause to explain a series of events that occurred as I neared the end of the east side of the trail. A Pileated Woodpecker landed on a dead log and I took a couple of photos. As I was creepy forward I notice a chipmunk only 5 feet from the Woodpecker. Cool I thought maybe I can get them both in the same frame. The Pileated Woodpecker suddenly flew to a Tree near me, oh WOW I thought. As I am focusing the Chipmunk screams thinking the Woodpecker is a bird of prey. The scream scares the Woodpecker it spreads it’s large wing and flies down the trail. This in turn sends a Deer that was strolling down the trail toward me and it leaps into the Forest out of sight. I in turn stood mesmerized unable to focus on anything.

I continued my hike on the west side of the trail trying to process the domino effect I have witnessed. From there I hike to the Upper and Lower Dogwood Trails to connect with the Floral Trail. As I teach the bottom of the trail a black shadow zooms past my face. I try to keep it in my sight until it lands. It is an amazing black Dragonfly Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly with neon blue head and body (Thank You Kerri for the correct name). It’s sheer black wings look spectacular in the bright sunlight. As I exit the park I feel blessed to have had this beautiful morning in the Forest.

Treat your soul to a day in Nature!
Love to You ALL!
Lee