{"id":104416,"date":"2022-07-20T04:41:25","date_gmt":"2022-07-20T10:41:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=104416"},"modified":"2022-07-20T06:11:07","modified_gmt":"2022-07-20T12:11:07","slug":"female-eight-spotted-skimmer-dragonfly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/07\/20\/female-eight-spotted-skimmer-dragonfly\/","title":{"rendered":"Female Eight-spotted Skimmer Dragonfly"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"RestingResting female Eight-spotted Skimmer dragonfly \u2013 Nikon D500, f9, 1\/1000, ISO 800, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Earlier this week my last subject of the morning was a female Eight-spotted Skimmer<\/span><\/a> dragonfly that landed in front of me next to a creek in the mountains. I can’t resist photographing dragonflies or damselflies. Having this female skimmer in my viewfinder delighted me.<\/p>\n

Before I acquired the gear that allowed me to become a bird photographer I focused on dragonflies quite often with my best friend, Patty, in Florida. Back then we wandered through botanical gardens, state and county parks and other natural areas looking for insects and flowers to photograph. We called it “splorin” together.<\/p>\n

Today I am still splorin and looking for insects like this female Eight-spotted Skimmer to photograph. Dragonflies and damselflies eat flying insects and anything that eats mosquitoes and biting flies is fantastic in my mind.<\/p>\n

This female skimmer didn’t stay very long on her perch because a man and his two Brittany Spaniels walked by.<\/p>\n

\"MaleMale Eight-spotted Skimmer at Glover Pond \u2013 Nikon D500, f9, 1\/1000, ISO 800, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Male and female dragonflies of the same species can look quite different from each other. I decided to include a photo of a male Eight-spotted Skimmer (Libellula forensis<\/em>) that I took at Farmington Bay WMA in 2016 for comparison.<\/p>\n

In the past two weeks or so I have noticed more dragonflies, bees and other insects in the Wasatch Mountains than I have seen since spring arrived. For weeks and weeks I was concerned because I wasn’t seeing as many of them as I normally do this time of the year. I hope to photograph more dragonflies before the summer is over and fall arrives.<\/p>\n

I adore having “other things with wings” in my viewfinder!<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my insect and spider images.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Earlier this week my last subject of the morning was a female Eight-spotted Skimmer dragonfly that landed in front of me next to a creek in the mountains.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":104386,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1022,5363,697,1731,26,773],"tags":[4004,3940,4366,5366,2204,5364,10239,4070,715,5365,4062,4094,4069,2558,4104,1984,4156,9626,4697,5117,2315,4095],"class_list":["post-104416","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-davis-county-utah","category-eight-spotted-skimmers","category-farmington-bay-wma","category-summit-county-utah","category-utah","category-wasatch-mountains","tag-adult","tag-canyon","tag-cattails","tag-dragonflies","tag-dragonfly","tag-eight-spotted-skimmer","tag-eight-spotted-skimmer-dragonfly","tag-female","tag-glover-pond","tag-libellula-forensis","tag-male","tag-marsh","tag-mountains","tag-odonata","tag-perched","tag-pond","tag-resting","tag-riparian-habitat","tag-skimmer","tag-skimmers","tag-summer-3","tag-wetlands"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Eight-spotted-Skimmer-Wasatch-Mountains-mia-mcpherson-6272.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-ra8","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":71991,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/07\/17\/twelve-spotted-skimmer-dragonfly-other-things-with-wings\/","url_meta":{"origin":104416,"position":0},"title":"Twelve-spotted Skimmer Dragonfly – Other Things With Wings","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 17, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Five days ago I photographed a lifer dragonfly when I found a male Twelve-spotted Skimmer that was hanging around a spring-fed seep next to a gravel road in Box Elder County.","rel":"","context":"In "Box Elder County"","block_context":{"text":"Box Elder County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/box-elder-county-utah\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Resting male Twelve-spotted Skimmer dragonfly, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/twelve-spotted-skimmer-dragonfly-male-mia-mcpherson-3231.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/twelve-spotted-skimmer-dragonfly-male-mia-mcpherson-3231.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/twelve-spotted-skimmer-dragonfly-male-mia-mcpherson-3231.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/twelve-spotted-skimmer-dragonfly-male-mia-mcpherson-3231.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":53106,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/07\/15\/head-on-eight-spotted-skimmer-dragonfly\/","url_meta":{"origin":104416,"position":1},"title":"Head On Eight-spotted Skimmer Dragonfly – Other Things With Wings","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 15, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Two days ago at Glover Pond there were several Eight-spotted Skimmer dragonflies that I aimed my lens at and of those I liked this head on shot the most.","rel":"","context":"In "Davis County"","block_context":{"text":"Davis County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/davis-county-utah\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Eight-spotted Skimmer Dragonfly Head On, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/eight-spotted-skimmer-farmington-bay-mia-mcpherson-4307.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/eight-spotted-skimmer-farmington-bay-mia-mcpherson-4307.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/eight-spotted-skimmer-farmington-bay-mia-mcpherson-4307.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/eight-spotted-skimmer-farmington-bay-mia-mcpherson-4307.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":40913,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2016\/08\/13\/male-eight-spotted-skimmers-at-farmington-bay\/","url_meta":{"origin":104416,"position":2},"title":"Male Eight-spotted Skimmers at Farmington Bay","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 13, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"A few days ago I discovered several male Eight-spotted Skimmers close to the edge of Glover Pond at Farmington Bay and was delighted to photograph these beautifully patterned Odonata.","rel":"","context":"In "Davis County"","block_context":{"text":"Davis County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/davis-county-utah\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Eight-spotted Skimmer on a cattail stalk, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/eight-spotted-skimmer-mia-mcpherson-8876.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/eight-spotted-skimmer-mia-mcpherson-8876.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/eight-spotted-skimmer-mia-mcpherson-8876.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/eight-spotted-skimmer-mia-mcpherson-8876.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":47598,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/07\/06\/eight-spotted-skimmer-variegated-meadowhawk\/","url_meta":{"origin":104416,"position":3},"title":"Eight-spotted Skimmer & Variegated Meadowhawk","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 6, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"I enjoyed photographing the Eight-spotted Skimmer and Variegated Meadowhawk while also taking photos of Red-tailed Hawk juvenile.","rel":"","context":"In "Box Elder County"","block_context":{"text":"Box Elder County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/box-elder-county-utah\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Eight-spotted Skimmer on a rusty wire, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/eight-spotted-skimmer-dragonfly-on-wire-mia-mcpherson-8705.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/eight-spotted-skimmer-dragonfly-on-wire-mia-mcpherson-8705.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/eight-spotted-skimmer-dragonfly-on-wire-mia-mcpherson-8705.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/eight-spotted-skimmer-dragonfly-on-wire-mia-mcpherson-8705.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":129942,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/07\/02\/slaty-skimmer-dragonfly-photos\/","url_meta":{"origin":104416,"position":4},"title":"Slaty Skimmer Dragonfly Photos","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 2, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"I took photos of Slaty Skimmer dragonflies the other day at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma and wanted to share them with you all.","rel":"","context":"In "American Lotus"","block_context":{"text":"American Lotus","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/trees-shrubs-and-flowers\/wildflowers\/american-lotus\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Lotus flower bud and male Slaty Skimmer dragonfly, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/slaty-skimmer-dragonfly-adult-male-mia-mcpherson-6475.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/slaty-skimmer-dragonfly-adult-male-mia-mcpherson-6475.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/slaty-skimmer-dragonfly-adult-male-mia-mcpherson-6475.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/slaty-skimmer-dragonfly-adult-male-mia-mcpherson-6475.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":50771,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/01\/26\/scarlet-skimmers-other-things-with-wings\/","url_meta":{"origin":104416,"position":5},"title":"Scarlet Skimmer Dragonflies – Other Things With Wings","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 26, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Scarlet Skimmer dragonflies were one of the dragonfly species I spent time stalking in Florida because I loved the bright red coloration of the males and the golden colors of the females.","rel":"","context":"In "Florida"","block_context":{"text":"Florida","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/florida\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Scarlet Skimmer male, Sawgrass Lake Park, Pinellas County, 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