Comet Darner Anax longipes

A truly magnificent dragonfly. Fast flying and elusive. I have never captured a male. And they are not common in our state or any state. I have seen them lift Saddlebags out of the air and make feints toward small birds. This is a female. The males are a vibrant red on the abdomen and a similar green forward. Long legs in both sexes. Females could be mistaken for the Common Green Darner female but have more thoracic marking and larger abdominal spots.

A flight shot (and a damn good one) of the male Comet. I am still not sure I have ever seen one at rest. This is from the Jasper area. Nothing else looks like this in flight.