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larose forest photos | all galleries >> INSECTS (INSECTA) (28 Galleries) >> Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata) >> Skimmers (Family: Libellulidae) (9 Galleries) >> Four-spotted Skimmers (Libellula quadrimaculata) > Fallen: (Libellula quadrimaculata)
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17-MAY-2010 Christine Hanrahan

Fallen: (Libellula quadrimaculata)

Marlborough Forest. This Four-spotted skimmer suddenly dropped into the water in front of me and lay on its back. I got a stick and held it out and he reached up and grasped it. I gently lifted him to shore where he climbed onto a blade of grass and began the process of drying himself. After he curled his abdomen up like this, he straightened it out and then lay there until I rescued him.

Canon PowerShot SX10 IS
1/320s f/5.7 at 100.0mm iso80 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
LynnH28-May-2010 01:16
I have rescued them from the lake many times. They ride on our boat until dry. Great "action" shot!
Patrick Goossens18-May-2010 19:05
Great that you captured this moment. He probably fell into the water during a territorial fight with an other male. It happens frequently, also with other species. I had today also a dragonfly that dropped in the water. Unfortunatly it was a broad bodied chaser that was emerging. Due to a sudden wind he lost grip and tumbled down. I could not rescue the dragonfly, because the wings were not dry yet, so it would never be able to fly. Nature can be cruel sometimes
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