Tag Archives: Craig Tooley

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Craig Tooley has been at Bower Park, on the Gualala Ridge, photographing Dragonflies. He captured this female Western Pondhawk laying her eggs.

An action shot that not many photographers would be able to capture. Thank you, Craig, for allowing me to share it here.

Here's a photo that was published in yesterday's Press Democrat with an article I wrote. It's a Flame Skimmer. These beauties are easier to spot than some of the other species of dragonflies.

If you'd like to read my article, here is the link to the PD's website: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/lifestyle/7372464-181/sonoma-countys-amazing-dragonflies?artslide=0

To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is his website: www.ruffimage.com

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Craig Tooley was out photographing dragonflies when he came across a tiny toad, only the size of a quarter. It's a Western Toad.

Peggy Berryhill was alongside the Gualala River one summer day when she spotted hundreds of juvenile Western Toads. You can see how tiny they were by the one in her hand.

The second photo shows four tiny toads, looking like pebbles in the river. I show this photo to children as one of many reasons why people should never drive in a river or along its banks. You'd never spot these little guys.

Thanks to Craig and Peggy for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

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Craig Tooley has been at Bower Park on the Gualala Ridge photographing Dragonflies and a Damselfly. Bower Park has a large pond/lake that the Dragonflies love. Here is an Eight-spotted Skimmer.

They are hard to photograph - well, at least for me! I went there last week and tried for some nice photos but had no luck. I did get this photo of some interesting clouds.

And here is the lake.

With warm weather in the forecast, a visit to Bower Park will certainly bring you sightings of dragonflies. Here's a fun fact about dragonflies: They have four wings that can operate independently of each other. As you might imagine, they are excellent fliers. They can fly up, down, sideways, backwards, and they can even hover like a helicopter.

Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share his photo with you here. I will be sharing more of his photos soon! To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is his website: www.ruffimage.com

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I've been working on an article about dragonflies and I've learned so many interesting facts about them. They evolved over 300 million years ago, long before dinosaurs. Craig Tooley sent along several photos that he has taken over the years. One of them was this beauty, which Kathy Biggs identified as a Variegated Meadowhawk.

My, what purple eyes you have, Variegated Meadowhawk Dragonfly!

Here's a photo I took of a Flame Skimmer, which landed on top of a sprinkler head in my garden, and posed long enough for me to get a photo.

Then the dragonfly, moved, turned around, and let me get a photo of the back.

I love these creatures! Kathy Biggs has a great booklet out entitled "Common Dragonflies of California, a Beginner's Pocket Guide." I highly recommend it.

Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share his photo with you here. You can see much more of Craig's nature photography at www.ruffimage.com

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Craig Tooley took this photo of a tiny Mouse, and it sure does look cute!

 

I think Craig photographed a House Mouse, Mus musculus. However you feel about rodents, you have to admit this is a sweet photo.

Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is his website: www.ruffimage.com