This is an Eight-spotted Skimmer Libellula forensis that emerged on our pond on May 10, 2003. The picture was taken at ~7 pm. It finally warmed up enough for it to fly off at ~11 the next morning.
Below the photo is a scan of its exuvia, the shed skin it emerged from. It emerged just 8 inches away from the pond edge amid plantings, clinging about 3 inches up on a piece of manzanita drift wood I had placed there for the Cardinal Meadowhawks and other dragonflies to perch on. After it emerged it climbed to the spot where the photo was taken, and where it frew away from the next morning. I was glad that no raccoons visited the pond that night. He would have been a nice midnight snack! :-(

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