Blue-Eyed Darner Dragonfly |
It was indeed a real dragonfly, a Blue-Eyed Darner (Rhionaeschna multicolor), just sort of hanging out in the shrubbery.
Side View |
The dragonfly didn't seem to mind having us take its picture. I was amazed at how big it was--its body was about three inches long--and how elaborate and beautiful the markings on its body were. The wings were so delicate they were barely visible.
I felt very fortunate to have been able to see it so closely; I usually only see them in flight and it's difficult to see any detail as they fly.