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Roseate Skimmer
Orthemis ferruginea
The Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea) is a common southern dragonfly, and a really beautiful creature. This lavender colored insect is quite eye-catching as it flies through your field of view. The male here was photographed in Uvalde Co., Texas, in May, 2003, with a Canon EOS 10D and EF 70-200 F/2.8 L IS lens and 2X extender.
This female was photographed in Austin, Travis Co., Texas in July, 2003, with the same gear as the previous shot. Roseate Skimmers sometimes perch vertically like this, or horizontally.
The young male on the right was a digital shot in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in July, 2003, with a Canon EOS 10D and EF 70-200mm F/2.8 L IS lens and 2X extender and 550 flash. The next three shots of female Roseate Skimmers were all digital images taken in Austin, Travis Co., Texas. The 1st shot is from July 2003, the next shot with the out-of-focus sunflower is from July, 2004, and the bottom shot is from August, 2005. Note the variation of the color of the flange on segment 8. On some individuals it is brownish but on others it is almost black.
 
The male shown here was at Fort Clark Springs, Kinney Co., Texas, in September, 2006. It was photographed with a Canon EOS 1D Mark II and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 580 flash.
The male Roseate Skimmer shown here was in southern Tamaulipas, Mexico, in May, 2007. It was shot with a Canon EOS 1D Mark II and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender.
The female shown here, which shows more color on the abdomen than is normal, was in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in August, 2007. It was shot with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.
The male shown here was also in Austin in August, 2007, and was shot with the same gear as previously described.
The female Roseate Skimmer shown here was near Mission, Hidalgo Co., Texas, in May, 2008. This image was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.
The young male Roseate Skimmer shown here was in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in May, 2009. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 50D and an EF 70-200mm F/2.8 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.
The next 2 shots of female Roseate Skimmers were taken in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in August, 2009, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and an EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash. The shot shown here shows 2 females perched together which is unusual.
The male Roseate Skimmer shown here was at Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co., Texas, in October 2009. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and an EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.
The female Roseate Skimmer shown here was at High Island, Galveston Co., Texas, in November, 2009. The same photo gear as above was used.
The next 2 shots of male Roseate Skimmers were both taken in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in September, 2010, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and a Sigma 50-500mm lens and Canon 580 flash.
The male Roseate Skimmer on the right was in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in November, 2010. This "hanging perch" is a little unusual in this species, but they certainly do this from time to time.
This shot shows a female (above) and a male (below) Roseate Skimmer at Bentsen State Park, Hidalgo Co., Texas, in December, 2010. This image was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and a Sigma 50-500mm lens and Canon 580 flash.
The male Roseate Skimmer on the right was in Victoria, Victoria Co., Texas, in September, 2011. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and a Sigma 50-500mm lens and Canon 580 flash.
The young male Roseate Skimmer on the right was in Dripping Springs, Hays Co., Texas, in July, 2012. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and an EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 1.4X extender.
The female Roseate Skimmer on the right was in Dripping Springs, Hays Co., Texas, in July, 2012. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and an EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 1.4X extender.
The image on the right was taken in July, 2012, in Dripping Springs, Hays Co., Texas. The exuviae of a Roseate Skimmer is at the top. Arrarently, another larva crawled out of the water at a future time and attached itself to the exuviae and the 2nd Roseate Skimmer started to emerge. During the emergence process, something went wrong and the emerging dragonfly died. I just thought it created an interesting image.
Roseate Skimmer
Orthemis ferruginea
young male
Independence Park,
Gonzales, Gonzales Co., Texas
2 August 2013
Roseate Skimmer
Orthemis ferruginea
male
Hornsby Bend,
Austin, Travis Co., Texas
6 August 2013
Roseate Skimmer
Orthemis ferruginea
male
Hornsby Bend,
Austin, Travis Co., Texas
13 September 2013

Roseate Skimmer
Orthemis ferruginea
male
near the Gila River,
Yuma Co., Arizona
4 October 2013

32.7071
-114.3185

Roseate Skimmer
Orthemis ferruginea
male
near the Gila River,
Yuma Co., Arizona
4 October 2013

32.7071
-114.3185