Mighty Dragons

These photos were taken several weeks ago at Cho Lae and Doi Inthanon. I am getting more and more interested in dragonflies. I was walking around the rice field looking for birds and saw these small insects flying and perching all around in great number. I started to notice that there were so many different kinds of them, and each has its own beautiful characteristics. I photographed and identified by looking through online galleries and by asking a friend of mine who's an expert on the dragons. My favourite one, which is the one that first got me interested, is the one in the picture above, the blue and yellow Potamarcha congene.

Potamarcha congene

Scarlet Skimmer (Crocothemis servilia); the yellowish ones are females
Chalky Percher (Diplacodes trivialis)

Green Marsh Hawk (Orthetrum sabina)

Oethetrum luzonicum
Blue-tailed Forest Hawk (Orthetrum triangulare)

Red Grasshawk (Neurothemis fluctuans)

I now really enjoy photographing and identifying these transparent-winged fliers. They are much more abundant and easier to approach than birds. Too bad, I don't see much variety like this in Japan, maybe I'll have to look for them harder. There'll sure be more of these mighty insects to come.