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We were all stopped in our tracks by an enormous dragonfly maneuvering like a Blackhawk over the banks of Toxaway Creek. Forward, hover and pivot. Backwards, hover and pivot. Four individually muscled wings steering it in any direction it needs to go. The flight system engineered by nature is so efficient for its purpose, it has been mimicked by humans in the helicopter. The hundreds of lenses on the dragonfly’s dome shaped eyes shimmered in the sun. Just seeing this incredible insect would have been enough to keep our simple convex lenses glistening with wonder. But we soon noticed the dragonfly was on a mission. It had a tiger swallowtail on its radar. We all gasped in delight and then horror as we watched it chase and then devour the beautiful yellow and black wings. Dragonflies are among the world’s most formidable predators, with an accuracy rate of 95%! Witnessing this hunting prowess was the kind of typical day of astonishment that keeps me coming back to the Jocassee Gorges. We never know what marvels of nature we will encounter. ~Tricia Kyzer, JLT guide