A summer drive through Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge brought an unexpected find. On June 22, 2023, I was out with my friend Mia McPherson when we spotted a Halloween Pennant Dragonfly near the road to Moody Boat Ramp.
It was perched in the tall grass, right where a careful look can turn a routine drive into a good wildlife moment.
Halloween Pennant Dragonfly Along the Roadside
Mia noticed the dragonfly first from her side of the pickup. She recognized it as a Halloween Pennant Dragonfly, a species with bright, patterned wings that fit its name well.
This dragonfly was using the tall roadside grass as a perch. That gave us time to look at its shape, color, and markings before it moved.
Halloween Pennants are tied to open wetland habitat and areas near water. Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge has plenty of that, with fields, roadsides, marshy areas, and nearby water all close together.
The wings stood out right away. The orange and dark pattern gave the insect a bold look, even while it rested on a thin stem.
Photographing a Halloween Pennant Near Moody Boat Ramp
After we saw the dragonfly, I pulled over safely along the road. Mia photographed it first, then we drove on to the Moody Boat Ramp parking lot and turned around.
When we came back, the dragonfly was still in the area. That gave me my chance to make a few images of my own.
I photographed from the pickup, using the vehicle as a steady shooting position. That helped me keep some distance and avoid disturbing the dragonfly.
The tall grass made the setting feel natural. It also showed the kind of roadside habitat where small wildlife can be easy to miss.
Camera settings:
- Camera: Canon EOS R5
- Lens: Canon RF 800 mm F11
- Location: Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma
- Aperture: f11
- Shutter speed: 1/2000
- ISO: 3200, Auto
- Exposure compensation: +0.7
- Focal length: 800 mm
Why This Oklahoma Dragonfly Encounter Stayed With Me
Small wildlife often creates the best surprises. This Halloween Pennant Dragonfly was not something we planned to find, but it became the highlight of that stretch of road.
Encounters like this remind me to slow down and keep looking. A thin grass stem, a patch of roadside cover, and a flash of color can all lead to a photograph worth remembering.
I have photographed this species before, including another Halloween Pennant Dragonfly, but this one stands out because of the shared moment with Mia and the location near Moody Boat Ramp.
Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge keeps giving me reasons to pay close attention.
That Halloween Pennant was such fun to photograph with you!