The Bar-sided Darner (Gynacantha mexicana) is a rare dragon which has only been found in the U.S. a few times, always in deep south Texas. Martin Reid and I were walking along a trail at Santa Ana N.W.R., Hidalgo Co., Texas in October, 2004, when we found this individual patrolling along our path. The dragon eventually "hung up" and we were able to get a few shots before it left again. Note the very narrow, pinched-in area on the upper part of the abdomen. The top 2 shots here were digital captures taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark II and EF 300 mm F/4 L IS lens with 2X extender and 550 EX flash.

Since the two images above, The Bar-sided Darner has proven to be more common than initially thought. Some observers have found as many as 15 to 20 hanging up in a relatively small area in the late summer. In September, 2008, I spent some time at Santa Ana N.W.R., with Dennis Paulson, the Dauphins, Tom Pendleton and others and we saw perhaps a dozen individuals over a 3 day period. The next 8 images were taken in September, 2008, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 EX II flash.

The pair of Bar-sided Darners in copula on the left and in the 2 shots just below were at Santa Ana N.W.R., Hidalgo Co., Texas, in October, 2008. These shots were taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and flash.

The next 2 shots of a hanging male Bar-sided Darner were taken in June, 2009, at Santa Ana N.W.R., Hidalgo Co., Texas. These shots were taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 l IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.

The male Bar-sided Darner on the left was at Santa Ana N.W.R., Hidalgo Co., Texas, in October, 2009. This image was taken with the same gear as above.