Started the day with a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast and doing crossword puzzles at the same time. Yes, that is another of my favourite things to do! And I can easily get quite engrossed with it and totally forget the time... like this morning.
When I finally looked up and looked out the window, "Wow! It's a beautiful morning! Bright and sunny!"
This must be one of the brightest mornings for the week thus far! So I grabbed my bag and headed out to the park expecting to see the usual species of dragonflies and damselflies. What does it matter when I will still have a good field day out there, right? After all, it's been ages since I last had a date with these dragonflies.
When I was nearing the first pond, I could see what looked like one of the Neurothemis dragonflies fluttering up and down over the length of the pond. But when I got closer, I realised it is a much larger dragonfly. This dragonfly is huge in comparison! And the way it was fluttering about patrolling its territory was slightly different as well, not the usual 'mannerisms' of the Neurothemis dragonflies that I have watched so many times before. I waited... hoping it would perch on one of the lilies so that I can have a good look at it.
Instead, it flew off to perch on a twig high above the water. I was certainly piqued by now. That is definitely quite unlike the behaviour of the Neurothemis species I have been observing! By now, I was absolutely certain this would be another species to add to the checklist for Langkawi.
And I was right! This beautiful, dark-reddish dragonfly is not a Neurothemis after all! I had certainly been fooled by its similar colour and pattern!
When I finally looked up and looked out the window, "Wow! It's a beautiful morning! Bright and sunny!"
This must be one of the brightest mornings for the week thus far! So I grabbed my bag and headed out to the park expecting to see the usual species of dragonflies and damselflies. What does it matter when I will still have a good field day out there, right? After all, it's been ages since I last had a date with these dragonflies.
When I was nearing the first pond, I could see what looked like one of the Neurothemis dragonflies fluttering up and down over the length of the pond. But when I got closer, I realised it is a much larger dragonfly. This dragonfly is huge in comparison! And the way it was fluttering about patrolling its territory was slightly different as well, not the usual 'mannerisms' of the Neurothemis dragonflies that I have watched so many times before. I waited... hoping it would perch on one of the lilies so that I can have a good look at it.
Instead, it flew off to perch on a twig high above the water. I was certainly piqued by now. That is definitely quite unlike the behaviour of the Neurothemis species I have been observing! By now, I was absolutely certain this would be another species to add to the checklist for Langkawi.
And I was right! This beautiful, dark-reddish dragonfly is not a Neurothemis after all! I had certainly been fooled by its similar colour and pattern!
This large dragonfly is quite appropriately named the Camacinia gigantea, of the Libellulidae family. The male has hindwing length of 44-47 mm. According to the Pocket Guide, this dragonfly can be found at ponds and lakes in open areas, especially along the landward margins of mangroves, widespread but rare in the Indo-Australian tropics.
I stalked this dragonfly until I was satisfied that I have at least a few good photos. I had observed only two males of the C. gigantea dragonflies at the pond this morning... where are all the ladies?
I stalked this dragonfly until I was satisfied that I have at least a few good photos. I had observed only two males of the C. gigantea dragonflies at the pond this morning... where are all the ladies?
In the earlier part of the morning, this male dragonfly frequently left its perch on the twig to patrol over the pond and chase the other male dragonfly away, showing dominance over his territory. Some time later, I had observed both male dragonflies perched within a foot of each other on the same twig. Interesting!
It has certainly been a great morning with an unexpected bonus!
It has certainly been a great morning with an unexpected bonus!
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