This dragonfly closely resembles the equally red but more widely distributed flame skimmer, but has less amber tinting on the base of the wings.   Neon skimmers are common in southern California in spring and summer.   Like most dragonflies, they are are highly alert and have excellent vision (a close-up of a male's face, showing the huge, intricately faceted eyes, is below).   A picture of a mating pair (upper right) shows the slightly duller colors of the female, and also the typical dragonfly behavior of males attaching themselves to females, presumably to guard them from mating attempts by rival males.   He uses the pinchers at the tip of his abdomen to grasp the female's 'neck'.   I got these pictures around my small backyard ponds in Riverside, California.