Meadowhawks

It was a bright, cool day at Great Swamp NWR on Saturday. Insect life was particularly subdued; it is almost December, after all. I saw a fly and heard a cricket. There were a few Autumn Meadowhawks (Sympetrum vicinum), though, and presumably they are eating something. Above is a male.Here’s a a female, not nearly as autumnally red.One of her hind wings is missing a chunk. Here she perches on my pants.

The Sympetrum are late season fliers, and boy, even in this record-breakingly — every month is now record-breaking — warm month, is it late.