Cow elk feeding on aquatic lotus leaves while standing in French Lake at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma

Egg-Laying Dragonflies and Elk Feeding at Wichita Mountains

by
Dragonfly laying eggs by dipping its abdomen into the water at Lake Quanah Parker in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
A dragonfly dips its abdomen into the water while laying eggs at Lake Quanah Parker in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.

On Day 9 (September 16) of my stay at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma, I had an early start. I parked in a turnout near the admin buildings before sunrise to listen to several bull elk bugling nearby. The sound of them calling in the stillness of the morning was incredible. As soon as the light broke, I spotted a bull elk feeding in a field. While this one wasn’t bugling, several others were still deep in the trees, making their presence known even if they couldn’t be seen. The morning sounds of these magnificent animals were unforgettable.

Bull elk feeding in an open field at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma
A bull elk feeds quietly in an open field at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge during an early September morning.

After taking a few shots of the feeding elk, I decided to move on. I headed southwest of the refuge, driving a few miles until I spotted some white-tailed deer near the road. One of the does caught my attention, and I started photographing her. The photo I’m sharing below shows her peeking out from beneath a canopy of tree branches, giving me a perfect composition.

White-tailed doe peeking through oak branches at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma
A white-tailed doe peers out from behind oak branches near the road at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.

As the temperature started to rise, I returned to camp for an early lunch and some time with the lizards around the area. They’ve been my little companions and never fail to entertain.

Collared lizard resting on a rock at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma
A collared lizard pauses on a sun-warmed rock near camp at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.
Collared lizard sheltering beneath a rock at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma
A collared lizard takes cover beneath a flat rock near camp at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.

Photographing Dragonflies at Lake Quanah Parker

In the early afternoon, I strolled down to Lake Quanah Parker, next to the Doris Campgrounds. I’d noticed plenty of dragonflies around, so I thought I’d try to capture one in flight. While focused on this challenge, I spotted two dragonflies mating. It was fascinating to watch, and even more so when they separated, and one began laying eggs by dipping its tail into the water. I managed to photograph the whole event. To make it even better, I got a shot of a larger dragonfly in flight, something I’ve been working on for a while.

Dragonfly flying just above the water at Lake Quanah Parker in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
A dragonfly flies just above the water at Lake Quanah Parker in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.

Curious about the egg-laying behavior, I did some research when I returned to camp, and I thought I’d share what I learned below:

Dragonfly Egg-Laying Behavior

Egg Types:

  • Endophytic Eggs: Long and inserted into plant material by damselflies and hawkers, often laid in plant stems, rotten wood, or mud near water.
  • Exophytic Eggs: Round and laid directly into the water by species like emerald dragonflies, skimmers, and darters. They dip their abdomens into the water repeatedly to lay them.

Egg-Laying Locations:

  • Dragonflies prefer shallow water for laying eggs and may use aquatic plants. Interestingly, some have been seen trying to lay eggs on reflective car surfaces!

Male Behavior:

  • In many species, males guard the females during egg-laying to ensure their offspring are fertilized by them. They either stay linked with the female or fly close by as she lays her eggs.

Back to French Lake for a Cow Elk Sighting

Later that evening, I took a drive over to French Lake. It was still blazing hot, with temperatures in the 90s, so I hoped the elk I’d seen feeding on aquatic lotus leaves a few days earlier would be back in the water. Sure enough, there was a cow elk wading in the lake, feasting on the aquatic lotus leaves. This time, she was in a much better spot for me to photograph, and I could remain hidden behind some brush while parked in my truck.

Cow elk feeding on aquatic lotus leaves while standing in French Lake at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma
A cow elk wades into French Lake to feed on aquatic lotus leaves during a hot September evening at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.

It was incredible to witness this unique behavior again, especially since I couldn’t find anything online about elk feeding on aquatic lotus leaves in the water. I feel so lucky to have seen this twice and to have captured it so well with my camera.

Day 9 turned out to be another fantastic day at the refuge. Photographing a dragonfly laying eggs was a first for me, but capturing that elk in the lake again made it even more special. I shared more final thoughts while wrapping up my time at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.