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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
It was incredible to witness this unique behavior again, especially since I couldn’t find anything online about elk feeding on 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. Stay tuned for what I experienced on Day 10!