Flame Skimmer Dragonfly hanging onto a branch with its mandibles. LA Arboretum, Arcadia, California, USA. October 2025. OM System OM-1 M.Zuiko 300mm F4. #laarboretum #dragonfly #flameskimmer #insect #insectphotography #nature #naturephotography #amateurphotography #photography #omsystem #om1 #mzuiko300mmf4

Flame Skimmer Dragonfly hanging onto a branch with its mandibles. LA Arboretum, Arcadia, California, USA. October 2025. OM System OM-1 M.Zuiko 300mm F4. #laarboretum #dragonfly #flameskimmer #insect #insectphotography #nature #naturephotography #amateurphotography #photography #omsystem #om1 #mzuiko300mmf4

Flame Skimmer dragonfly resting on a green branch. LA Arboretum, Arcadia, California, USA. #laarboretum #dragonfly #flameskimmer #insect #insectphotography #nature #naturephotography #amateurphotography #photography #omsystem #om1 #mzuiko300mmf4

Flame Skimmer dragonfly resting on a green branch. LA Arboretum, Arcadia, California, USA. #laarboretum #dragonfly #flameskimmer #insect #insectphotography #nature #naturephotography #amateurphotography #photography #omsystem #om1 #mzuiko300mmf4

Flame Skimmer dragonfly resting on a green branch. LA Arboretum, Arcadia, California, USA. #laarboretum #dragonfly #flameskimmer #insect #insectphotography #nature #naturephotography #amateurphotography #photography #omsystem #om1 #mzuiko300mmf4

Flame Skimmer dragonfly resting on a green branch. LA Arboretum, Arcadia, California, USA. #laarboretum #dragonfly #flameskimmer #insect #insectphotography #nature #naturephotography #amateurphotography #photography #omsystem #om1 #mzuiko300mmf4

Small wildlife seen on a hike near a stream. The main trail mostly ran along the chaparral-covered hillside just outside the riparian zone, but a few branches went down through the trees to the stream.

The lizard was well-camouflaged as it skittered around the tree trunk, in contrast to the two #dragonflies (a vivid blue dancer and a flame skimmer -- you can probably guess which is which!) There were quite a few *small* blue dancers (like half this length!) flying around the trail uphill from the stream bed. This one was resting on a wooden beam placed across the stream as a bridge. Finally, a checkered white #butterfly in front of the invasive mustard plants that were all over the lower parts of the chaparral.

#nature #wildlife #photo #photography #insects #dragonfly #lizard #WesternFenceLizard #VividBlueDancer #FlameSkimmer #CheckeredWhite #butterflies