California's Year 2005 Dragonfly Sightings
in order
from MOST recently to LEAST recently seen!
Please
send your sightings, with date, county and location as displayed
below to
date
County
your name
place, etc.
species common name &/or scientific name - #s & other
data, comments
species common name &/or scientific name - #s & other
data, comments
etc.
THANKS!
Species will be posted using either the Common Name or the Scientific Name,
whichever the sender uses (inc. using both), but all first sightings of the
year, county records, and new flight data will be posted using both names. To
contact the person making the sighting, see the key at bottom of this site.
COUNTY
RECORDS are underlined and in red text
*= first/last sighting of species
of year in CA
**= possibly new flight data for species in CA
#= possibly a migratory event
As of the most
recent date below
105 species (out of 109 known species) were reported to this site as
flying in CA in 2005.
This is the MOST
species ever reported from any one year in CA since I started tracking the data
in 1998 kb.
~68
new county
records &/or upgrades to county records were made this
year (this # includes upgrades of previous 'sighting only' records, newly
accessed museum collections and new reports of prior years data).
`Sighting only' records need further documentation, but please report them so
we can try to get substantiation. There may be some upgrades of previous
`sighting only' records and new specimen records from recently examined
museum/private collections listed. If you find such a record, please email it
to Kathy Biggs <bigsnest@sonic.net>
County records should be substantiated with specimen (preferable) or photo
and notes.
Contributors
emails listed at end of document
December
2005
December 29, 2005
Imperial County
Bob Miller
Salton Sea
I photographed a male Variegated Meadowhawk* near the Salton Sea.
December 28, 2005
Sacramento County
Art Shapiro
West Sac.
.
saw a Sympetrum
December 9, 2005
Santa Clara County
John Hall, David Edwards
Monte Bello OSPpond
Spotted Spreadwing** 3 [new late flight data kb] - 2m,1f in ovipositing
position
Female was alone but arching abdomen in an ovipositing position
although we never actually saw
any eggs being placed. She was doing
this on dead brown leaves of
reeds about 1 meter above ground. She
flew from leaf to leaf and repeated this posture. She and one male
appeared fairly fresh. The other
male was worn with somewhat tattered
wings.
December 5, 2005
Alameda County
John Hall, David Edwards
Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area
Familiar Bluet* 2
Pacific Forktail* 5
December 2, 2005
Alameda County
John Hall, David Edwards
Sunol Regional Wilderness
American Rubyspot** 5 [new late flight data kb]
Variegated Meadowhawk
3
-----
Imperial County
Bob Miller
Common Green Darners*
November
2005
November 29, 2005
Doug Aguillard
San Diego County
I saw at least 3 Blue-eyed
Darners Rhionaeschna multicolor** (newest latest date;-) in the
Tijuana River valley, 2 at previously described area, and one at Dairy Mart
Pond, also in the valley.
Common Greens were abundant.
November 26, 2005
Santa Clara County
John Hall, David Edwards
Monte Bello OSP - Pond
Spotted Spreadwing** 2 [new late flight data kb]
Familiar Bluet 1
Striped Meadowhawk** 1 [new late flight data kb]
We also walked around Horseshoe
Lake in Skyline Ridge but no dragonfly activity was noted.
November 25, 2005
Tim Manolis
Orange County
We found the following
around the marshy ponds in the drainage basin below a new housing development,
Ladera Ranch:
Common Green Darner -- 4, 2-3 of these males patrolling territorially
along marshy drainage channels.
Blue-eyed
Darner Rhionaeschna multicolor** -- 1 male at these same ponds (newest latest date;-). We
also saw a female mosaic darner in foraging flight over the trail on our walk,
probably also a Blue-eyed (?)
Wandering
Glider* --
3 males (orange abdomens, no visible wing spots) seen, also another Pantala
sp?, duller, might have been spot-winged, but not seen well enough to be sure).
Variegated
Meadowhawk --
5, all appeared to be males, some behaving territorially, e.g., chasing each
other, around the marshy ponds.
November 20, 2005
Doug Aguillard
San Diego County
I went back to the small pond in the Tijuana River Valley to see the 3 Blue-eyed
Darners** that I had yesterday, and I saw as many as 5 today, [new late
date for CA kb] along with 3 common Green Darners. I then went up to
Escondido to Oak Hill Cemetery and saw 2 Red-tailed Pennants** ( new
Late Date), 2 Flame Skimmers* (fresh), and 2 Familiar Bluets.
November 19, 2005
Doug Aguillard
San Diego County
Today, at a small pond in the Tijuana River Valley near Sunset Rd. &
Hollister, I had up to 4 Blue-eyed Darners [tied for latest date ever
reported in CA] and 5 Common Green Darners.
-----
Imperial County
Bob Miller
Various places
.
Blue-ringed Dancer Argia sedula** [new late flight data by 2 days]
Desert Forktail, Ischnura barberi** only one male! [new late
flight data by 2 days]
Familiar Bluet
several
Roseatte Skimmer Orthemis ferruginea * last date reported in 2005
Wandering Glider Pantala flavescens
November 7, 2005
Paul Johnson
San Benito County
Temperatures around 70 are keeping the Odes going here at Pinnacles
National Monument. I just saw my first immature gynomorphic female Pacific
forktail. What a color combination!
I should have captured more of these to confirm IDs, but here's my list
of recent observations. Photos of all the reservoir species can be viewed at:
http://www.photoworks.com/share/shareLanding.jsp?shareCode=AA251C1BF0E&cb=PW
November 6. 2005
San Benito County
Paul Johnson
North Wilderness Trail
variegated meadowhawk - 1
CA spreadwing* - 1
vivid dancer* 1
November 5, 2005
San Benito County
Paul Johnson
South Wilderness Trail
mosaic darner - 1
CA spreadwing - 1
vivid dancer - 1
American rubyspot 1
November 3, 2005
Yolo County
Greg Kareofelas
Nothing of interest Odon wise lately other than I saw a Wandering
Glider Pantala flavescens last week (3rd of Nov which is later than
I normally see them) [last date reported in 2005] here in Yolo County, The only
other Ode is Sym corruptum now and then.
November 1, 2005
Alameda County
J Hall, D Edwards
Sunol Regional Wilderness
American Rubyspot 12
California Spreadwing 35
California Dancer* 2
Vivid Dancer 25
Familiar Bluet 6
**Northern Bluet 3 [new late flight data by two weeks! - kb]
Arroyo Bluet* 2
Pacific Forktail 1
Western Forktail* 3
Walker's Darner* 2 [last date reported 2005]
Mosaic Darner,sp 2
Variegated Meadowhawk 10
Striped Meadowhawk
October
2005
October 31, 2005
Paul Johnson
San Benito County
Bear Gulch Reservoir
blue-eyed darner - 3
cardinal meadowhawk* - 1 [last date reported in 2005]
variegated meadowhawk - 1
CA spreadwing - 2
spotted spreadwing - 1
familiar bluet
tule bluet*
(bluets abundant)
vivid dancer - 1
Pacific forktail - 3
Western forktail - 1
black-fronted forktail* 1
October 29, 2005
Santa Clara County
J Hall, D Edwards
Monte Bello OSP pond
Northern Spreadwing* 1
Familiar Bluet 4
Mosaic Darner,sp 1
Blue-eyed Darner 1
Striped Meadowhawk 3
October 13, 2005
Alameda County
John Hall, David Edwards
Sunol Regional Wilderness
American Rubyspot 30
California Spreadwing 20
California Dancer 7
Vivid Dancer 25
Familiar Bluet 8
Bluet,sp 20
Northern Bluet 5
Arroyo Bluet 10
Pacific Forktail 2
Western Forktail 2
Desert Firetail* 2
Walker's Darner 5
Mosaic Darner,sp 7
Common Green Darner 2
Variegated Meadowhawk 8
October 10, 2005
Shasta County
Ray Bruun
I went looking for Autumn Meadowhawk in Shasta County. I checked several
places and finally found them at Crystal Lake near the town of Cassel. I got
pix and netted a female for county voucher. Crystal Lake has lots of really
nice ode habitat.
Seen at Crystal Lake were:
black-fronted forktail - several (pix)
western forktail - several
spotted spreadwing - abundant
california spreadwing - at least one
western meadowhawk* - several males [last date reported in 2005]
white faced meadowhawk* - one male [with unusual red wing venation!- kb]
autumn meadowhawk Sympetrum vicinum* common NEW COUNTY RECORD with voucher specimen [last
date reported in 2005]
aeshna sp. (at least one--that landed--looked like variable
darner) - several
blue-eyed darner (probable) - several
A small pond along Hwy 89 had:
female spreadwing - spotted?
variegated meadowhawk - one male
aeshna sp. - one flying
October 6, 2005
San Benito County
John Hall, David Edwards
Coalinga Road and Laguna Creek
American Rubyspot 2
California Spreadwing 3
California/Aztec Dancer 1
Vivid Dancer 5
Tule Bluet 3
Northern Bluet 2
Arroyo Bluet 1
Western Forktail 5
Walker's Darner 1
Mosaic Darner,sp 2 (one newly emerged on rock)
Common Green Darner 1
Variegated Meadowhawk 1
San Benito River at Clear Creek Road Crossing and a spot about 12 miles
upstream
American Rubyspot 15
California Spreadwing 52
California Dancer 1
California/Aztec Dancer 14
Sooty Dancer* 4
Vivid Dancer 10
Bluet,sp 10
Northern Bluet 5
Arroyo Bluet 8
Walker's Darner 2
Mosaic Darner,sp 5
Common Green Darner 1
Variegated Meadowhawk 7
October 5, 2005
Lassen County
Bruce Deuel
Lassen Volcanic National Park,
.I saw four mosaic darners at
Summit Lake, including a pair in wheel. They didn't stick around for me to
identify them, though.
Tehama County
Then we visited Wilson Lake, seeing a few more mosaic darners and
4 male Saffron-winged Meadowhawk*. I'm sure there were a lot more, as I
only checked about 100 feet of shoreline. [last date reported in 2005]
October 2, 2005
San Diego County
Douglas Aguillard
. while watching the Navy
Fleetweek Sea & Air Parade on San Diego Bay (ocean saltwater), I watched a
male Red Rock Skimmer * [last date reported in 2005] flying out over the
bay and then landing on the jetty-type rocks. There is no fresh water creek
with rocks near this location.
September
2005
September 30, 2005
Siskiyou County
Kathy & Dave Biggs
Dave and I took one last Ode outing. We especially wanted to look for
the Lance-tipped Darner, as it was found in Oregon, less than 20 miles from the
border. We were netting all that we found for Albert Burchsted in New York who
is doing DNA studies. Since it was the end of the flight season, we werent
taking any out of the breeding population for long; in fact, it went below
freezing the next two nights. Mt. Shasta was glorious and white with snow!
Heres what we did find:
Meiss National Wildlife Area:
Lestes congener Spotted Spreadwing several netted 3 kept, others released
Enallagma carunculatum Tule Bluet 2 males collected
Ischnura perparva Western Forktail - a few females & males
Aeshna palmata Paddle-tailed Darner* several netted, 2 males
kept [last date reported 2005]
A. umbrosa Shadow Darner several netted, 3 males kept
Sympetrum pallipes Striped Meadowhawk several netted, 3 females
& 1 male kept
Juanita Lake:
Lestes congener Spotted Spreadwing several netted and released
A. umbrosa Shadow Darner* several flying, one netted and released [last date
reported 2005]
Sympetrum pallipes Striped Meadowhawk several flying, one male
netted
Orr Lake:
Lestes congener Spotted Spreadwing several netted and released
A. umbrosa Shadow Darner 1 male found floating dead on the water, another caught and
released
Aeshna sp several seen flying; presumed to be Shadow Darners by
appearances
Sympetrum pallipes Striped Meadowhawk - one female collected
Sympetrum danae Black Meadowhawk* one male seen [last date reported in 2005]
September 29, 2005
Marin County
J Hall, D Edwards
Rodeo Lagoon
Tule Bluet 1
Familiar Bluet 15
Bluet,sp 2
Northern Bluet 17
Arroyo Bluet 1
Pacific Forktail 6
Mosaic Darner,sp 1
Common Green Darner 1
Variegated Meadowhawk 10
Cardinal Meadowhawk 3
---
Sonoma County
Lichau Road and Copeland Creek
Great Spreadwing* 2 (m&f) [this makes 104 species seen by
John & David a new CA record!
kb] [last date reported 2005]
Vivid Dancer 7
Mosaic Darner,sp 2
Common Green Darner 1
Flame Skimmer
Striped Meadowhawk 2
September 28, 2005
Butte County
Tim Manolis
Lake De Sabla
I arrived at the lake earlier than we did last week, at about 10:30. I
walked around the east side of the lake near the road, where we were last time,
as well as across the dam at the south end. As I had suspected last time, the
opposite (west) shore is private and marked no trespassing, so I didn't check
it out. Anyway, between about 10:30 and 11:30 I walked around as much of the
lake as I could, as well as into some weedy clearings in the surrounding woods,
and saw no vicinum (did see S. corruptum, A. junius, damsels,
etc.). At 11:30 I saw my first Sympetrum vicinum, a female over
shallow water on a weedy/sedge covered bench along the lakeside of the earthen
dam. It tapped around the water with its abdomen a few times and then took off.
A few minutes later I spotted a probable male perched in the top of a small
willow near the SW corner of the dam, and then about 15 minutes after that,
another apparent male perched in the top of a small oak near the SE corner. I
didn't see any in the weedy open areas along the road where we saw them last
week. At about noon I walked back over to the shallow bench at the top of the
dam where I had seen the female, and found a number of males apparently on
territory in the veg there, sedge beds with considerable patches of bidens
(sticktight) intermixed and some small willows. The males typically were
perched about a 1-2 up atop bidens stems. All I saw there were mature males
(about half a dozen or so, I collected 4 of them), in about an hour of
watching. I left the site at 1 p.m. with males still there, but never saw any
other females. Anyway, I think I am finally getting a better feel for these
guys.
September 27, 2005
Santa Clara County
J Hall, D Edwards
Monte Bello OSP
seep area
Vivid Dancer 15
Mosaic Darner,sp 1
pond
California Spreadwing 1
Spotted Spreadwing 2
Northern Spreadwing 2
Tule Bluet 2
Familiar Bluet 2
Bluet,sp 20
Arroyo Bluet 13
Pacific Forktail 3
Paddle-tailed Darner 3
Mosaic Darner,sp 4
Blue-eyed Darner 1
Variegated Meadowhawk 3
Cardinal Meadowhawk 1
Striped Meadowhawk 14
---
San Mateo County
J Hall, D Edwards
Skyline Ridge OSP
Alpine Pond
California Spreadwing 4
Northern Spreadwing 1
California Dancer 10;presumed
Arroyo Bluet 1
Pacific Forktail 11
Mosaic Darner,sp 1
Striped Meadowhawk 9
Horseshoe Lake
California Dancer
Arroyo Bluet 2
Pacific Forktail 1
Western Forktail 3
Mosaic Darner,sp 3
Blue-eyed Darner 1
Cardinal Meadowhawk 3
Striped Meadowhawk 55
September 25, 2005
San Diego County
Douglas Aguillard
Today, after some morning birding, I went looking for bugs. I had the
following usual suspects:
Mission Gorge/Mission Trails Regional Park
Blue-eyed Darners
Blue Dasher* [last date reported in 2005]
Flame Skimmers
Variegated Meadowhawks
Cardinal Meadowhawks
Black Saddlebags* [last date reported for 2005]
Wandering Glider
Vivid Dancer
Pacific Forktails
Tule Bluets
Lindo Lake, Lakeside
Common Green Darners
Blue-eyed Darners
Blue Dashers
Variegated Meadowhawks
Cardinal Meadowhawks
Mexican Amberwings* [last date reported in 2005]
Blue Dashers
Tule Bluets
Black-fronted Forktails
Western Forktails
_______
San Benito
County
Paul Johnson
Pinnacles National
Monument, South Wilderness
-American
Rubyspot
-desert
firetail
-vivid dancer
-CA spreadwing
-co. green
darner
-mosaic darner
(Walker's?)
-variegated
meadowhawk
-flame skimmer
September 23, 2005
Sonoma County
Kathy and Dave Biggs
Species seen, Lichau Rd, 4 pm - out of Rohnert Park
Great Spreadwing - 1 f
Vivid Dancer - a few of each sex
Bluet sp. - 1 f, probably no/bo type
Co. Green Darner - 1-2 'fresh' females/young males
Variegated Meadowhawk - ~12
We also hiked into Crane Creek Regional Park, just a little further up
Roberts Rd from the Lichau Rd turnoff. We saw a few more Variegateds, a Com.
Green Darner, and what was perhaps a Blue Dasher male.
-------
Alameda County
John Hall, David Edwards
Sunol Regional Wilderness
American Rubyspot 20
California Spreadwing 5
California Dancer 2
Emma's Dancer* 2 * [last reported 2005]
Sooty Dancer 4
Vivid Dancer 60
Bluet,sp 5
Boreal/Northern Bluet 7
Arroyo Bluet 15
Pacific Forktail 4
Western Forktail 6
Walker's Darner 3
Mosaic Darner,sp 5
Common Green Darner 15
Flame Skimmer 2
Variegated Meadowhawk 5
September 21, 2005
Butte County
Bruce Webb and Tim Manolis
We headed for the mountains of Butte County for a half day or so in the
field. I had some hopes of finding a species or two that should be there, but
have yet to be detected, such as Paddle-tailed Darner (Aeshna palmata)
or Black Meadowhawk (Sympetrum danae). Instead I found something that
was only barely on my radar screen.
Much of the high country was disappointing, with very low or no water in
a couple of the larger reservoirs, but one spot, the rather small reservoir at
De Sabla, along the Skyway above Paradise, was productive. One of the first
odes we saw when we got out of the truck was a small, non-descript meadowhawk
in a weedy patch between the road and the water. my first impress was a
possible Striped Meadowhawk (Sympetrum pallipes) but then it dawned on
me that I could see the ovipositor quite nicely. But I shouldn't be able to see
the ovipositor of a Striped Meadowhawk that well! Unfortunately, my attempt to
net the critter failed. Fortunately, we saw few more in brush and weeds
bordering the reservoir and I eventually caught one, a male Autumn Meadowhawk (Sympetrum vicinum). This
is a first record for Butte County.
________
Kern County
Steven Summers
Kern N.W.R.
Desert Forktail* males
and females seen [last date reported 2005]
-------
Colusa County
Greg Kareofelas
Goat - found both Archilestes calif & grandis flying - both
males and females. There were a number of "tandem pairs". The
surprising one was a female A grandis that I caught quite a ways from
their normal habitat (it was in a Juniper/scrub habitat quite a ways from any
water).
Others out:
Hetaerina americana
Archilestes californium
Archilestes grandis
Argia vivida
A lugens
A junius (lots & lots - at any time there were at least
5-10 in view!)
S corruptum
S pallipes
September 19, 2005
San Benito County
Paul Johnson
San Benito River 0.5 mile upstream
of confluence with Sawmill Creek (area closed to public)
lat/long: N 36.34° W120.65° Elevation: 1220 m
Argia hinei (Lavender
Dancer) specimen record to upgrade
his prior photo record (August 22nd)
Paul collected a single male and a pair in
tandem. Stream is sunny with small bank vegetation and a rocky/gravelly
substrate (serpentine). Lat/long and elevation estimated from map. Papered
specimens will eventually be housed at Essig Museum of Entomology, UC Berkeley.
Note that these specimens resemble some I saw a few weeks earlier in Laguna
Creek a few miles away. Also seen:
-pacific
forktail
-CA spreadwing
-mosaic darner
(Walker's?)
-co. green darner
September 16, 2005
Contra Costa County
Chris Heaivilin
Contra costa country seems to be winding down pretty fast. Easily, the
dominant ode these days is E. carunculatum. They're still emerging and
doing there thing. I saw...
E. carunculatum
S. corruptum 1
A. junius >10
A. multicolor 1
T. lacerata 4
L. saturata
.
Kings County
Paul Saraceni
Eric Preston, Luke Cole and I ventured from SF to Kings County for some
birding and ode-ing. Luke, who has birded that area many times, arranged access
for us to some private property that proved to be excellent for odes. In the
course of 9 or so hours, we found 5 new species for the county (4 documented)
and, thanks to Eric's efforts with his camera, upgraded another 10 species from
sight records. [ one of these turned out to already have been photo vouchered
kb]
Location Key:
"TC" = Tar Canyon (various seeps & stock ponds) [PRIVATE
PROPERTY]
"AC" = Avenal Creek @ Avenal Canyon [PRIVATE PROPERTY]
"NAC" = Nevada Ave. Canal near Corcoran
"CO" = various ponds near Corcoran
Species List:
American Rubyspot Hetaerina americana 10+ AC
California Spreadwing Archilestes californicus 3 AC [new species --
photographed]
California Dancer Argia agrioides 1 m. AC [new species --
specimen collected]
California/Aztec-type Dancer 20+ TC, AC [1 m. specimen
we collected @ TC may be an Aztec; need to further study]
Vivid Dancer 10+ TC, AC
Tule/Arroyo-type Bluet 10+ TC
Familiar Bluet 50+ TC, AC, NAC
Black-fronted Forktail 10+ TC, NAC
Desert Firetail Telebasis salva 20+ TC, AC [new species --
specimen collected]
Common Green Darner Anax junius 20+ TC, AC, CO [photo
upgrade (dead individual floating on pond)]
Giant Darner Anax walsinghami **1-2 AC [new species --
photographed in flight] [new late flight data too!]
Blue-eyed Darner Rhionaeschna multicolor 20+ TC, AC, CO [photo
upgrade]
Variegated Meadowhawk Sympetrum
corruptum 50+ TC, AC, NAC, CO [photo upgrade]
Western Pondhawk Erythemis collocata* 7 AC, NAC [photo upgrade]
[last date reported in 2005]
Blue Dasher Pachydiplax longipennis 2 NAC [photo upgrade]
Common Whitetail Libellula lydia* 8 TC, AC [photo upgrade]
[last date reported for 2005]
Flame Skimmer Libellula saturata 20+ TC, AC [photo upgrade]
Pale-face Clubskimmer Brechmorhoga mendax* 1 AC [new species -- sight
record] [last date reported in 2005]
Black Saddlebags Tramea lacerata 10+ TC, NAC, CO [photo
upgrade]
Wandering Glider Pantala flavescens 20+ TC, NAC, CO [photo
upgrade (dead individual floating on pond)]
Spot-winged Glider* 10+ TC, CO [last date reported in 2005]
-------
San Benito
County
Paul Johnson
Pinnacles National
Monument, Bear Gulch Reservoir
-tule/CA bluet
-desert
firetail
-western
forktail
-black-fronted
forktail
-co. green
darner
-mosaic darner
(blue-eyed?)
-black
saddlebags
-STRIPED
MEADOWHAWK (2nd obs. in county)
-cardinal
meadowhawk
-variegated meadowhawk
September 12, 2005
Yuba County
Douglas Aguillard and Pat
# After leaving the Modoc County Ode Blitz, my girl and I drove down to
Susanville, where we ended up staying in the same Motel that CalOdes members
Hall and Edwards stayed at recently. What a small world this is. Anyway
yesterday, we drove westbound Hwy 49 through the Sierra's to Sacramento. All
along the South Yuba River were THOUSANDS & THOUSANDS of Common Green
Darners!!!!! They were following both the river downstream (westbound), and
the Highway (also westbound). We stopped at one point and counted at least
100/minute for about 30 minutes flying by. There were no other species
involved.
Plumas County Also in the Gold Lake/Lakes Basin area above
Bassetts Station, Blue-eyed Darners were common.
September 11, 2005
Monterrey County
Steve Rovell
along the lower Carmel
River:
Flame Skimmer, 1
Common Green Darner, 3-4
Blue-eyed Darner, 5-6
Variegated Meadowhawk, 7-10
Cardinal Meadowhawk, 3
All of these species were seen between the Highway 1 bridge and the
ocean. I specifically looked for damsels, but didn't see any.
_______
Modoc County
CAs 1st Annual Dragonfly Blitz (see also http://bruunphotography.com/blitz/OdeBlitz2005.html)
Ray Bruun, Kathy & Dave Biggs, Doug Aguillard & Pat
1030
Lily Pad Lake Snow and 38°F
Aeshna sp. 1
flew up from lake into trees while it was snowing!!
---
1200
Goose Lake State Park east of New Pine Creek
black meadowhawk many
striped meadowhawk several
**western red damsel* several, m * [last reported
2005, new late flight data]
alkali bluet* many,
m/1,f [last date reported 2005]
western forktail several,
m/f
--
Ray Bruun, Kathy & Dave Biggs
1300 North Fork Pit River, Hwy
395, ~8 miles north of Alturas lat/long:
N 41.355° W 120.1°
Hetaerina americana (American
Rubyspot) - 5; male specimen caught by Ray Bruun - an upgrade from a previous
Modoc Co., CA sighting only record.
spotted spreadwing 2
bluet sp 1, m
western forktail 1, f
Aeshna sp 1, m
Common Green Darner - many
Striped Meadowhawk many
--
1400 North Fork Pit River, several miles
north of Alturas but south of previous spot; only Kathy & Dave Biggs
present at this point
American Rubyspot - 2
Familiar Bluet one male in hand
Sooty Dancer several
Common Green Darner - many
Striped Meadowhawk -- many
September 10, 2005
Modoc County
CAs 1st Annual Dragonfly Blitz
Ray Bruun, Kathy & Dave Biggs, Doug Aguillard & Pat,
Joseph H. Smith, Tim Manolis
0900
Lily Pad Lake
western meadowhawk 1 dead
striped meadowhawk 1 dead
Lestes disjunctus (Northern Spreadwing) 3 - male specimen caught by Ray Bruun; new record
pacific forktail 1, m
---
1100
Very small pond approx. 2 mi. west of Lily Pad Lake on south side of County
Road 2
striped meadowhawk several
spotted spreadwing 1, f
no/bo bluet 1
western forktail 1, f
---
1140 unnamed pond, west side of County Road
2, ~2 miles before Lily Pond Lake, New Pine Creek N 42° 00.268' W 120° 13.886'
striped meadowhawk several
variable darner* many, m/f kept specimens of dying
individuals [last date reported 2005]
paddle-tailed darner several, m/f came out later
than variable, kept specimen of a dying female (photos
taken)
**lyre-tipped spreadwing* 1, m (photos taken) new late flight
data, previous late date 8/16/99!
tule bluet 1 dead
bluet sp 1
---
1330 Goose Lake, eastern
shoreline @ Stateline Rd., New Pine Creek lat/long: N 42° W 119°
spreadwing sp 2
Western Red Damsel several (photos taken)
Alkali Bluet - many,
m/1,f (photos
taken) [Pat, our novice was catching them in her bare fingers!]
Western Forktail several,
m/f [Pat, our
novice was catching them in her bare fingers!]
Sympetrum danae (Black
Meadowhawk) pair caught in cop by
Kathy Biggs, many flying there; new record; (photos taken)
Variegated Meadowhawk 1
Striped Meadowhawk
many
---
1600
Small cattle pond between Hwy 299 and Fort Bidwell
striped meadowhawk several
spreadwing sp 2 probably lyre-tipped
---
1630
Pond east of Fandango Pass
striped meadowhawk several
variable darner 1, m
western forktail 2
September 9, 2005
Modoc County
CAs 1st Annual Dragonfly Blitz
Ray Bruun, Kathy & Dave Biggs, Doug Aguillard & Pat,
Joseph H. Smith
1130
Adin @ Ash Creek & 299
western meadowhawk several
striped meadowhawk several
black saddlebags 1, m
common green darner 2
blue-eyed darner 1, m
spotted spreadwing several kept specimen
pacific forktail 1, m
also saw Purplish
Copper and other butterflies
---
1200 Rush Creek @ Highway 299
bridge, Gaging Station, ~.5 miles north of Adin, lat/long: N 41.315° W 120.5°
blue-eyed darner 2
Aeshna sp 1
Anax
junius
(Common Green Darner) 2 female specimens caught by
Joe, upgrade from a previous Modoc Co., CA sighting only record.
american rubyspot 2 attempt to grab specimen
unsuccessful
spotted spreadwing 4
vivid dancer many
dancer/not vivid 1
tule bluet 1
western forktail 1
Libellula nodisticta Hoary Skimmer* one old and ragged female caught by Ray Bruun (photos
taken). Specimen kept for scanning. [last date reported for 2005]
flame skimmer 1
variegated
meadowhawk 1
Striped Meadowhawk abundant (photos taken)
*Western Meadowhawk several, (photos taken) new late flight
data, previous late date 9/6
Tramea lacerata (Black
Saddlebags) - male specimen caught by Joe, upgrade from a previous Modoc
Co. CA photo only record
---
1340
Rush Creek
Lower
campground
striped
meadowhawk many
flame skimmer 1, f
paddle-tailed darner 1, m
spotted
spreadwing many
---
1730 unnamed pond, west side of
County Road 2, ~.5 miles before Lily Pond Lake & 3 m west of Cave Lake
Campground, New Pine Creek N 42° 00.268'
W 120° 13.886'
Variable Darner several (photos taken)
Shasta County
McArthur
Striped Meadowhawk one
in town, photos taken
_______
Plumas County
John Hall, David Edwards
Willow Lake
Spotted Spreadwing 5
Northern Spreadwing 7
Vivid Dancer 2
Tule Bluet 3
*Canada Darner* 25 [only date reported 2005]
Variable Darner 1
Paddle-tailed Darner 15
Shadow Darner 1
Mosaic Darner,sp 25
Common Green Darner 80
Black Meadowhawk 5
White-faced Meadowhawk* 120 [last date reported in 2005]
Striped Meadowhawk 3
*Autumn Meadowhawk 4
A Variegated Meadowhawk was also seen at the beginning of the
road to Willow Lake.
Lassen County
John Hall, David Edwards
Willow Creek Wildlife Area
Spotted Spreadwing 15
Northern Spreadwing 2
River Bluet 1 (female, presumed to be this species) [last date
reported 2005]
Tule Bluet 3
Bluet,sp 3
Pacific Forktail 7
Western Forktail 4
Paddle-tailed Darner 2
Mosaic Darner,sp 5
Blue-eyed Darner 1
Black Meadowhawk 1
Cherry-faced Meadowhawk* 1 [last date reported in 2005]
White-faced Meadowhawk 1
___
Plumas County
Rock Creek, HWY 36
Northern Spreadwing 1
Bluet,sp 1
Western Forktail 3
Paddle-tailed Darner 1
Shadow Darner 7
Mosaic Darner,sp 8
Common Green Darner 10
White-faced Meadowhawk 1
Striped Meadowhawk 6
Western Meadowhawk 2
___
Tehama County
John Hall, David Edwards
Wilson Lake
Northern Spreadwing 1
Canada Darner 3
Variable Darner 1
Paddle-tailed Darner 1
Shadow Darner 2
Mosaic Darner,sp 10
Common Green Darner 20
Variegated Meadowhawk 1
White-faced Meadowhawk 1
Striped Meadowhawk 12
September 3, 2005
Contra Costa County
Chris Heaivilin
Los Vaqueros Res.
T. Salvas have always been rather hard to find in this county, but I
found the motherload at this reservoir. There were hundreds of them. Easily the
most I've ever seen at a single site.
T. lacerata
L. saturata
S. corruptum (very common)
A. junius
A. multicolor
I. civile
September 2, 2005
San Mateo County
John Hall, David Edwards
Skyline Ridge OSP
Alpine Pond
California Spreadwing 2
Northern Spreadwing 1
California Dancer 15
Arroyo Bluet 2
Pacific Forktail 3
Common Green Darner 4
Blue-eyed Darner 1
Flame Skimmer 2
Blue Dasher 3
Striped Meadowhawk 19
Horseshoe Lake
California Dancer 7
Tule Bluet 2
Arroyo Bluet 3
Pacific Forktail 1
Desert Firetail 1
Mosaic Darner,sp 2
Common Green Darner 5
Blue-eyed Darner 1
Western Pondhawk 2
Flame Skimmer 20
Blue Dasher 5
Cardinal Meadowhawk 1
Striped Meadowhawk 27
Black Saddlebags 1
Santa Clara County
Monte Bello OSP
Monte Bello Seep
Northern Spreadwing 6
Vivid Dancer 20
Paddle-tailed Darner 3
Mosaic Darner,sp 80
Common Green Darner 10
Pacific Spiketail* 2 [last date reported in 2005]
Wandering Glider 2
Spot-winged Glider 1
Glider,sp 5
Monte Bello Pond
California Spreadwing 4
Tule Bluet 3
Familiar Bluet 1
Bluet,sp 30
Boreal/Northern Bluet 1
Arroyo Bluet 15
Pacific Forktail 10
Western Forktail 1
Desert Firetail 15
Paddle-tailed Darner 1
Mosaic Darner,sp 5
Common Green Darner 30
Blue-eyed Darner 3
Flame Skimmer 6
Blue Dasher 30
Cardinal Meadowhawk 8
Striped Meadowhawk 40
Black Saddlebags 1
September 1, 2005
Alameda County
John Hall, David Edwards
Sunol Regional Wilderness, Alameda Creek
American Rubyspot 14
California Spreadwing 10
California Dancer 1
California/Aztec Dancer 70
Emma's Dancer 7
Sooty Dancer 70
Vivid Dancer 40
Tule Bluet 1
Bluet,sp 20
Northern Bluet* 2 [last date reported 2005]
Boreal/Northern Bluet 15
Arroyo Bluet* 10 [last date reported 2005]
Pacific Forktail 3
Western Forktail 5
Desert Firetail 5
Walker's Darner 4
Mosaic Darner,sp 5
Common Green Darner 2
Blue-eyed Darner 1
Flame Skimmer 2
Blue Dasher 1
Red Rock Skimmer 1
Variegated Meadowhawk 3
Cardinal Meadowhawk 11
Black Saddlebags 3
August
2005
August 30, 2005
San Francisco County
Paul Saraceni
I observed a new species for odes-poor San Francisco County. At midday a
male EIGHT-SPOTTED SKIMMER Libellula forensis*
[last date reported for 2005] was perching in and
flying about the shoreline vegetation at the NE corner of North Lake in Golden
Gate Park (near 43rd Ave./Fulton St.). [1st sight record]
North Lake has undergone a restoration during the past several years and
the emerging vegetation is producing a good location for odes (as well as birds
and leps). Other species present today included: Familiar Bluets, Pacific
Forktails, Blue-eyed Darners (including an ovipositing female), Cardinal
Meadowhawks (incl. tandem pairs), and an ovipositing female Flame
Skimmer (uncommon in SF).
Elsewhere in SF, the recent hot weather has brought in some of the
wandering species, especially along the eastern bayshore (e.g., Heron's Head
Park, India Basin Open Space Preserve), including Common Green Darners, many
Variegated Meadowhawks, Wandering & Spot-winged Gliders, and Black
Saddlebags.
August 28, 2005
Alameda/Santa Clara/Stanislaus Counties
Paul Saraceni, Eric Preston, Kevin McKereghan,
We headed east from SF out of the fog and into the heat in search of
odes. When we arrived at the entrance of Sunol Regional park (Alameda Co.) we
learned, unfortunately, that the park was closed due to fire danger. So we
drove further east to Mines Rd. & Del Puerto Canyon Rd. in Alameda/Santa
Clara/Stanislaus Cos., where we found some pretty good diversity wherever the
streams were still flowing or there was other accessible surface water.
Species list keyed by location:
"M" = Mines Rd. (stops in Alameda & Santa Clara Cos.)
"SA" = San Antonio Valley Rd. (Santa Clara Co.)
"DP" = Del Puerto Canyon Rd. (stops in Santa Clara &
Stanislaus Cos.)
American Rubyspot -- M (ALA) 3, DP (STA) 5+
California Spreadwing -- M (ALA/SC) 5+, DP (SC) 4 (incl. tandem pair)
Spotted Spreadwing -- DP (SC -- just a few miles w. of STA Co. line) 3
(incl. tandem pair)
California Dancer -- M (ALA) 1 m., DP (STA) 1 m. (in-hand ID)
California/Aztec-type Dancer -- M (ALA/SC) 40+, DP (STA)
20+ (incl. many tandem pairs)
Sooty Dancer -- DP (STA) 5+
Vivid Dancer -- M (SC) 10+, DP (STA) 5+ (incl. tandem pairs)
Familiar Bluet -- M (ALA/SC) 10+ (incl. tandem pairs)
Tule/Arroyo-type Bluet -- M (SC) 5+
Black-fronted Forktail -- SA 1 m.
Western Forktail -- M (ALA/SC) 20+, SA 1 f., DP (STA) 1 m.
Desert Firetail -- M (SC) 4 (incl. tandem pair)
Common Green Darner -- M (SC) 3, DP (STA) 10+
Walker's Darner -- M (ALA/SC) 3 m.
Aeshna darner sp. -- DP (STA) 3 m.
Variegated Meadowhawk -- DP (STA) 2
Cardinal Meadowhawk -- M (ALA) 1 m.
Striped Meadowhawk -- M (ALA) 2, DP (SC) 2
Western Pondhawk -- SA 1 f.
Blue Dasher -- DP (STA) 20+
Flame Skimmer -- M (SC) 5+, DP (STA) 40+ (incl. tandem pairs)
Red Rock Skimmer -- M (ALA) 1 m.
Black Saddlebags -- M (SC) 4, DP (STA) 3
Other observations of interest: 1 Golden Eagle, 2 Black-chinned
Hummingbirds, 1 Lewis's Woodpecker, 2 Western Fence Lizards, 2 Western
Whiptails, 2 Aquatic Garter Snakes, numerous Foothill Yellow-legged Frogs, 1
Pacific Treefrog, 3 Western Toads.
August 27, 2005
San Diego County
Douglas Aguillard
Today was a BDB day (Birds, Dragonflies, Butterflies) I started off at
the Bird and Butterfly Garden in the Tijuana River Valley and I had large
numbers of Blue eyed Darners. I stopped at the Dairy Mart Ponds and had
Common Green Darners, and
Black Saddlebags.
After looking at other locations, I stopped at Greenwood Cemetery was
saw the following:
Common Green Darners,
Western Pondhawks (new for this location),
Blue Dashers,
Black & Red* Saddlebags [last date reported for
2005], and a
Wandering Glider (only the second one I've seen here). There were a
few
Pacific Forktails and
Vivid Dancers (new for this location)
# It seems that Dragonflies are everywhere in the Southern area of San Diego
County since the migration of 1 1/2 weeks ago. I'm seeing Saddlebags and
Gliders where I haven't seen them before.
-------
Calaveras Counties
Kathy and Dave Biggs
Carson Creek where it enters New Melones Lake, Glory Hole Campground
(south of Angels Camp)
Flame Skimmer 3
Striped Meadowhawk 3
Common Green Darner a few
Pacific Forktail Ischnura cervula one female collected as county voucher [this leaves only
Trinity County without a voucher or even a sighting! kb]
Tule Bluet
several, one male collected
Unnamed creek @ swimming beach for New Melones Lake, Glory Hole
Campground, Angels Creek Day Use Area (south of Angels Camp)
# Variegated Meadowhawk - ~ 20, possibly a migrating group
Flame Skimmer
several
Pacific Spiketail 2
males seen
Tule Bluet
several, 2 males collected
August 26, 2005
Tuolumne County
Kathy and Dave Biggs, Leanne Bryan
We were doing an informal survey for the Bureau of Reclamation, New
Melones Lake:
New Melones Visitors Center, off Hwy. 49, just south of the Stanislaus
River Bridge
Wandering Glider, Pantala flavescens 1 over parking lot, it evaded the net, only flying low when
the net was in the car! Photo taken too distant/blurry - first sight record.
Black Saddlebags 1 over parking lot
Common Green Darner - 1 over parking lot
Calaveras County
Kathy and Dave Biggs, Leanne Bryan
Natural Bridges, East of Angels Camp, off Parrots Ferry Rd.
This is a gorgeous spot where Coyote Creek passes thru 2 limestone caves
that you can swim thru!
Wandering Glider, Pantala flavescens 1 over dirt parking lot, Ό mile above the creek, it also
evaded the net! First sight record.
At the creek itself:
Pacific Spiketail at
least a dozen seen, occurring on both sides of the cave, one seen entering a
few feet into cave and then turning around and coming out. One male specimen
collected, see him and the limestone cave etc. at http://southwestdragonflies.net/caphotos/spiketail_calaveras05.html
Flame Skimmer 1-2
females seen; photographed
Darner sp. possibly a Blue-eyed seen
by Dave. Also one exuvia found, and lost!
California Dancer some,
1 male collected
Emmas Dancer 1
male collected
Sooty Dancer somewhat less plentiful
than Vivids
Vivid Dancer plentiful
Northern Bluet Enallagma cyathigerum 1 male collected
Western Forktail 1
female seen
Desert Firetail one
male collected
--
Kathy and Dave Biggs
Camp Nine Rd, East of Angels Camp, off Hwy 49, near Valecito
First Farm Pond on the left (No Trespassing so seen from roadside
only)
Common Green Darner
several
Western Pondhawk males
and females seen
Widow Skimmer* many
[last date reported for 2005]
Twelve-spotted Skimmer, Libellula pulchella* one male seen well. There is only a sight record for this
species, but we were not able to catch it in a [last date reported in 2005]
Blue Dasher males and females seen
Black Saddlebags
several seen
--
Camp Nine Rd, un-named creek to the left just before road/bridge over
the river/lake arm
Sooty Dancer- several
Vivid Dancer - several
Flame Skimmer at
least 3 males
Aeshna sp. 1
--
Calaveras/Tuolumne Counties
Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River, end of Camp Nine Rd: You go across
the outlet for the hydro plant, along a Ό mile path to the River. It is the
boundary line between the two counties, and thus any species encountered there
is counted for both counties. None of the dragonflies we saw there seemed to
migrating, all were seen as singles and in non-directional flight:
Pacific Spiketail 1
female seen along trail
Black Saddlebags many
Common Green Darner many
Vivid Dancer some
Sooty Dancer some
Emmas Dancer Argia Emma at least 5. Two males collected as Tuolumne County
vouchers.
Arroyo Bluet Enallagma praevarum one male collected as Tuolumne County voucher
August 25, 2005
Tulare County
Steve Summers
Stoil ponds
. a name I've made up
..[it is] along Hwy. 43 about 5 miles
north of Allensworth, it's an old Santa Fe railroad station. There are three
large ponds (reservoirs) here that I've found good for birds and odes for
Tulare Co.
Familiar Bluet (8),
Desert Forktail, Ischnura barberi photo of male taken, 1st county record
Western Forktail (1m),
Blue-eyed Darner (5),
Common Green Darner (4),
Western Pondhawk (10),
Blue Dasher (20),
# Wandering Glider Pantala flavescens (50), Photo upgrade of
prior sighting only record [~20 1st seen at this location on Aug.
16]
Spot-winged Glider (6),
Variegated Meadowhawk (75)
Black Saddlebags (100)
-------
Calaveras County
Kathy and Dave Biggs
Carson Creek @ New Melones Reservoir
Pacific Spiketail 1
female seen ovipositing by Ranger Leanne Bryan just prior to our arrival (darn
missed again!)
Vivid Dancer - several
Darner 1 exuvia
collected
Irongate Campground
Black Saddlebags
several seen flying around the hills of the campground
August 25, 2005
Stanislaus County
John Hall, David Edwards
We looked for dragonflies along Del Puerto Canyon Road mainly between PM
3 and 4 and near PM 18 along Del Puerto Canyon Road.. This last area is now
marked with an Adobe Springs sign and an address of 19000.
American Rubyspot 12
California Dancer 3
California/Aztec Dancer 40
Sooty Dancer 10
Vivid Dancer 50
Tule Bluet 2
Familiar Bluet 4
Northern Bluet 2
Boreal/Northern Bluet 10
Arroyo Bluet 1
Western Forktail 1
Walker's Darner 2
Common Green Darner 8
Giant Darner 1
Blue-eyed Darner 1
Western Pondhawk 5
Flame Skimmer 70
Blue Dasher 8
Red Rock Skimmer 20
Spot-winged Glider 2
Variegated Meadowhawk 7
Black Saddlebags 3
-----
Tulare County
Steve Summers
Ischnura barberi (Desert
Forktail) -
Photo record
Stoil ponds lat/long: N 35.909729° W -119.439172° Elevation: 63 m
August 22, 2005
San Benito County
Paul Johnson CA Chart #76
*Lavendar Dancer Argia hinei - Photo record
August 19, 2005
John Hall, David Edwards
San Mateo County
Skyline Ridge OSP
Horseshoe Lake
Time: 10:35AM to 12:30PM
California Dancer 25
Tule Bluet 6
Arroyo Bluet 1
Pacific Forktail 4
Western Forktail 2
Mosaic Darner,sp 10
Common Green Darner 1
Blue-eyed Darner 12
Western Pondhawk 5
Eight-spotted Skimmer 10
Flame Skimmer 30
Blue Dasher 7
Cardinal Meadowhawk 4
Striped Meadowhawk 1
Black Saddlebags 3
Alpine Pond
Time: 12:35PM to 1:47PM
Northern Spreadwing 1
California Dancer 20
Arroyo Bluet 3
Pacific Forktail 6
Western Forktail 1
Desert Firetail 1
Mosaic Darner,sp 3
Common Green Darner 3
Blue-eyed Darner 2
Western Pondhawk 2
Widow Skimmer 1
Flame Skimmer 5
Blue Dasher 7
Striped Meadowhawk 2
Santa Clara County
Monte Bello OSP
Monte Bello Pond
Time: 1:52PM to 2:58PM
California Spreadwing 1
Northern Spreadwing 1
Tule Bluet 2
Arroyo Bluet 8
Pacific Forktail 6
Western Forktail 5
Desert Firetail 1
Mosaic Darner,sp 3
Common Green Darner 8
Blue-eyed Darner 3
Western Pondhawk 1
Eight-spotted Skimmer 3
Widow Skimmer 2
Flame Skimmer 25
Blue Dasher 30
Cardinal Meadowhawk 2
Striped Meadowhawk 29
Black Saddlebags 1
Monte Bello Seep
Time: 3:02PM to 3:35PM
Northern Spreadwing
Vivid Dancer
Pacific Spiketail
August 18, 2005
Santa Cruz County
John Hall, David Edwards
Quail Hollow Ranch Time: 11:10AM to 2:30PM, no sunshine until 12:30PM
Vivid Dancer 8
Familiar Bluet Enallagma civile 1 (in hand, photographed-
upgrade of prior sighting only record)
Arroyo Bluet 6 (1 in hand)
Pacific Forktail 50
Western Forktail 12
Desert Firetail Telebasis salva 7 (photographed - upgrade
of prior sighting only record)
Mosaic Darner,sp 5
Common Green Darner 4
Blue-eyed Darner 10
Western Pondhawk 9
Flame Skimmer 10
Blue Dasher 1
Spot-winged Glider 1
Glider,sp 1 (probably Wandering)
Variegated Meadowhawk 3
Cardinal Meadowhawk 9
Striped Meadowhawk
Black Saddlebags
Felton and Big Trees Time: 2:40PM to 4:05PM
Vivid Dancer 12
Boreal/Northern Bluet 1
Arroyo Bluet 1
Pacific Forktail 1
Western Forktail 2
Desert Firetail 1
Mosaic Darner,sp 15
Common Green Darner 1
Blue-eyed Darner 3
Flame Skimmer 20
Blue Dasher 2
Wandering Glider Pantala flavescens 1 - new sight record
Spot-winged Glider 1
Glider,sp 4
Common Whitetail Libellula lydia 1 (photographed - upgrade
of prior sighting only record)
Cardinal Meadowhawk 3
August 18, 2005
Siskiyou County
Dave Payne
I floated the Klamath River on Thursday, August 18 from Ash Creek River
Access (6 miles west of I-5) to Gottville. The float was about twelve miles or
so. We did a river cleanup with a Goosenest YCC Crew. It was a great
opportunity to teach a few teenagers some common ode identification. We also
managed to pull nine tires out of the river. It was sunny with scattered
afternoon clouds and temps were in the low 90's. Lots of ode activity. We saw:
American rubyspot - 1 male perched on rock
Northern bluets - numerous pairs ovipositing
Emma's Dancers - numerous pairs ovipositing
Flame Skimmer - numerous males
Widow Skimmer - numerous, a few pairs in tandem
Blue Dasher- 2 males observed
Black Saddlebags - 3 males observed
aeshna sp - 1 male patrolling (first mile of river float)
#Common Green Darner - We evidently floated through an emergence swarm! I
noted only 2 mature males, everyone else appeared to be teneral male or female.
The numbers began to grow and surpass the widow skimmers only two miles into
our float. Near Skeanan Bar we figured we had easily seen over a thousand
darners. They were centered over the river. A few miles past Cayuse River Access
the numbers dropped back to nearly zero. It was pretty cool floating along and
being "escorted" by so many green darners. Cayuse River Access pond
may well be a source for such an emergence, this particular swarm seemed to be
located a few miles east and stretched maybe two miles west of the Cayuse pond.
On shuttle I noticed the pond to be totally covered with bright green algae.
The teenagers were even impressed with the numbers of the swarm.
August 17, 2005
Colusa County
Greg Kareofelas
Stony Creek
I just was up at Stony Creek and I got an *Great Spreadwing Archilestes
grandis, not used to finding these out so early. This one was a very
mature male, so he has been out for a while.
-------
Siskiyou County
Dave Payne
Happy Camp
My backyard pond is providing great opportunities for watching odes.
Here are today's highlights. High temps were in the low 90's.
Widow Skimmer - A female was flying about the yard near the pond;
a male showed up shortly thereafter. This occurred during the cool of the early
morning before 10 am. A male was the first ode to perch on the "preferred
reed" today.
Flame Skimmer - A male has been perching on same reed
("preferred reed") for the last two weeks. It usually shows up after
11 am and stays until sun leaves pool at 3:30 pm. I have seen it in tandem with
random females and witnessed ovipositing occurring on several occasions. There
was no ovipositing observed today.
Western Forktail - A male showed up and explored the pond habitat. It
was there during the heat of the afternoon.
Northern Bluet - A tandem pair was ovipositing on stems and vegetation
during the heat of the afternoon.
Striped Meadowhawk - A male competes with the flame skimmer for the
"preferred reed" to perch on. They have skirmishes and the meadowhawk
will actually attempt to land on top of the flame skimmer while it is perched
on the reed. Lots of oblisking during the heat of the day. They eventually
share the "preferred reed".
Emma's Dancers - A pair was ovipositing into floating veg during mid
afternoon heat.
Paddle-tailed Darner - A male showed up yesterday and returned today. He
patrols and searches. He appears after the pond has shaded over and temps have
cooled off a bit, usually after 5 pm.
Pacific Spiketail - A female showed up at 7pm and did some ovipositing on
shallow sand, floating veg, and a partially submerged leaf. She was a new
species for the yard list. She oviposited for about three minutes and then
disappeared. A beautiful bug!
Elsewhere in the county:
I went to China Point River Access this afternoon. The access is about
six miles east of Happy Camp. Ode activity was pretty good. It was sunny, hot,
low 90's. During the one hour I was there I saw:
Northern Bluet - Several males perched.
Eight-Spot skimmer - 1 male patrolling.
Common Green Darner - 1 male patrolling.
Western Forktail - 1 female ovipositing.
Widow Skimmer - The most common ode today, lots of males, 1 tandem
pair, and 1 male netted for fun.
Blue Dasher - A few males patrolling.
Emma's Dancer - Several couples ovipositing.
Flame Skimmer - 1 male pat patrolling.
The shoreline here is lined with willows, reeds, and grass. The river is
broad, shallow and swift as it breaks out of a half mile long pool. The eddies
along the shore are covered with floating veg and are magnets for odes.
August 16, 2005
San Diego County
Douglas Aguillard
# Well, the flight of Spot-winged & Wandering Gliders, along
with the occasional Red Saddlebags continued today, with about 5-6 per
minute flying from North to South in National City.
-------
San Benito County
Steve Rovell and Paul Johnson
We spent half a day at the Bear Gulch Reservoir at Pinnacles National
Monument, San Benito Co. We were greeted there by a male eight-spotted skimmer Libellula forensis.
It didn't stick around long enough to be photographed or captured, but I
believe it's the first reported sighting of the species in this county. [1st
sight record]
Seen at the reservoir:
-common green darner
-giant darner
-blue-eyed darner
-white-belted ringtail* [last date reported in 2005]
-eight-spotted skimmer
-flame skimmer
-black saddlebags
-common whitetail (female only)
-cardinal meadowhawk
-variegated meadowhawk
-desert firetail
-many blue damsels
And in the small streams near the Visitor Center:
-Walker's darner
August 14/15, 2005
San Diego County
Douglas Aguillard
# Yesterday, I noticed many Odes flying over my yard, but couldn't get a
positive ID on them. Today I'm watching Variegated Meadowhawks and the
occasional Red saddlebags flying from north to south following the
Interstate 805 through National City. I'm seeing about 5 per minute.
Add Spot-wing
Gliders to the mix, and I wouldn't doubt that there was some Wandering with
the mixed group. I added both Spot-winged and Red Saddlebags to my yard list
along with a flyover Long-billed Curlew (bird).
August 13, 2005
Contra Costa County
Robert Grahamjones
# I rode my bike to the top of Mt. Diablo. Towards the summit (after
3000') I saw clouds of dragonflies thicker than I have ever seen. It reminded
me of locust clouds growing up in Ohio.
August 12, 2005
Siskiyou County
John Hall, David Edwards
Pumice Stone Well Time: 9:25AM to 1:20PM
Spotted Spreadwing 7 (2 in hand)
Northern Spreadwing 10
Western Forktail 3
Variable Darner 15
Mosaic Darner,sp 200
Blue-eyed Darner 2
American Emerald* 4 [last date reported in 2005]
Mountain Emerald* 3 [last date reported in 2005]
Emerald,sp 10
Twelve-spotted Skimmer 1
Striped Meadowhawk 30
Western Meadowhawk 2
August 11, 2005
Siskiyou County
John Hall, David Edwards
Forest Road 26 at Gumboot Creek Time: 9:50AM to 10:07AM
Vivid Dancer 5
Black Petaltail 1
Emerald,sp 1
---
Trinity County
John Hall, David Edwards
Picayune Lake Area - See Kathy and Dave Biggs July 25, 2005 report for
location of the ponds Time: 10:35AM to 1:50PM
Northern Spreadwing 70 (2 in hand)
Emerald Spreadwing* 2 (1 in hand) [last reported 2005]
Lyre-tipped Spreadwing 1 (female photographed)
Pond Spreadwing, sp 10
Vivid Dancer 7
Boreal Bluet* 1 (in hand) [last date reported 2005]
Boreal/Northern Bluet 90
Western Forktail 3
Black Petaltail 1
Variable Darner 10
Mosaic Darner,sp 15
Common Green Darner 35
Pacific Spiketail 1
Ringed Emerald Somatachlora albicincta * 3 - new sight
record [last date reported in 2005]
Mountain Emerald 2
Emerald,sp 3
Hudsonian Whiteface* 15 [last date reported in 2005]
Twelve-spotted Skimmer 8
Four-spotted Skimmer* 10 [last date reported in 2005]
Common Whitetail 1
Black Meadowhawk 1 (photographed)
White-faced Meadowhawk Sympetrum obtrusum 3 (photographed)
Striped Meadowhawk 6
Mumbo Lakes - We visited Mumbo and Upper Mumbo Lakes Time: 2:15PM to
4:05PM
Northern Spreadwing 80
Emerald Spreadwing 1 (in hand)
Vivid Dancer 2
Boreal Bluet 1 (in hand)
Boreal/Northern Bluet 30
Western Forktail 3
Variable Darner 5
Mosaic Darner,sp 20
Common Green Darner 75
American Emerald 4
Mountain Emerald 2
Emerald,sp 3
Crimson-ringed Whiteface* 30 (1 in hand) [last date reported in 2005]
Twelve-spotted Skimmer 5
August 7, 2005
Santa Barbara County
Nick Lethaby
I spent about an hour looking for odes in the Cuyama Valley and
adjoining Santa Barbara Canyon in the NE corner of Santa Barbara county. A
number of desert birds and butterflies reach the edge of their range here and I
was hoping to find a couple of new odes for the county - specifically Desert
Firetail and White-belted Ringtail. I had no luck with either despite a 30
minute walk along the streambed looking for the ringtail.
Santa Barbara Canyon:
Sooty Dancer - 2
Vivid Dancer - 1
Red Rock Skimmer - 6
Black Saddlebags - few
Wandering Glider - 1
Pond near New Cuyama
W. Pondhawk - 2
Common Green Darner - several
Black Saddlebags - v. common
Flame Skimmer - v. common
Blue-eyed (?) Darner - v. common
Variegated Meadowhawk - 2
Bluet sp. - v .common
Wandering Glider - some
I didn't have time to check another pond or other spots on the creek as
it was dry. I could have easily missed some good species. Red Saddlebags was
noticeably absent. This species is common on the S. coastal plain of the county
but I haven't seen it inland yet.
-------
San Mateo County
Paul Saraceni and Eric Preston
We made a brief check of some ponds in Pescadero Marsh on Saturday
afternoon, with the following observations:
Northern Spreadwing 1 m.
spreadwing sp. 1 f. & 1 teneral
Pacific Forktail 30+
Swift Forktail* 1 m. [last date reported 2005]
Western Forktail 3 f.
Common Green Darner 1 m.
Blue-eyed Darner 5+
Wandering Glider 1 (briefly perched)
August 4, 2005
San Diego County
Nicole Ramirez
Lindo Lake
A female Mexican Amberwing photographed.
-------
Siskiyou County
Dave and Kathy Biggs
McCloud River, a delightful spot off the McCloud River Loop Rd, where we
took a little turn off between Cattle Camp and the Cattle Camp's Swimming Hole
areas.
The very cool, clear water, with a shoreline that was about 20% mud
banks hosted at least TWO Pacific Spiketails on the same 200 yd stretch!
They interacted many times, but the 'loser' always came back after a moment or
two and followed the 'winner' just a 50 ft behind him! Dave thinks there were
perhaps as many as 6!! At one point, a 3rd Spiketail came into our view, just
at the log jam that marked the apparent end of the territory. As the lead male
took off after it, Dave and I had hopes of finally getting to see a female
oviposit. But alas, it was not so. Also seen there were at least 2 large
darners. But darn it, they evaded the net repeatedly. One appeared to be
a Walker's Darner, and the other a Shadow, or perhaps even a Canada Darner.
During a short stop at 5:45 pm at Soda Springs off Squaw Valley Rd,
McCloud, we found
Western Forktails - being snatched up by red and black colored wasps! I
watched both a female and male get captured!
Variable Darner - at least one male seen well
Mosaic Darner sp.- several
Common Whitetails - common
August 3, 2005
Humboldt County
Ron LeValley
Ive had a computer crash and so I dont have access to the updated
county lists, but I think that this is a Gray
Sanddragon Progomphus borealis* [last date reported in
2005]. According to my old records, there were no Humboldt (or Mendocino)
records. If I had been better prepared I could have collected one. There were
two of them doing courting flights around each other along the Eel River just
about 3 miles north of Redway in Humboldt County. [photo accepted kb].
-------
Mono County
John Hall, David Edwards
Meadowcliff Lodge Time: 8:00AM to 9:00AM Temp. 75
While waiting for the high country to warm up, we wandered the grounds
of our overnight accommodation. This lodge is about 3 miles north of Walker on
Route 395. There is a nice short stretch of an irrigation ditch on the
property.
River Bluet 1
Alkali Bluet 1
Bluet,sp 3
Western Forktail 8
Paddle-tailed Darner 2 (perched males)
Eight-spotted Skimmer 1
Variegated Meadowhawk 3
Striped Meadowhawk 13
Western Meadowhawk 5
---
Alpine County
John Hall, David Edwards
Monitor Pass small pond on north side of highway just west of the pass
Time: 9:35AM to11:00AM Temp. 70
Northern Spreadwing 10
Emerald Spreadwing 70
Boreal Bluet 2 (in hand)
Boreal/Northern Bluet 15
Western Forktail 1
Mosaic Darner,sp 5
Striped Meadowhawk 10
Hope Valley Wildlife Area Junction of Routes 88 and 89 Time: 11:35
to12:20PM Temp. 75
Common Green Darner 1
Variable Darner (indeterminate) 1
Boreal/Northern Bluet 1
Junction of Route 88 and Blue Lakes Road Unnamed lake/reservoir . We made
a circle of the lake. Time 12:37PM to 14:15PM Temp. 75
Northern Spreadwing 200
Emerald Spreadwing 3
Boreal Bluet 1 (in hand)
Boreal/Northern Bluet 150
Mosaic Darner,sp 5
Common Green Darner 1
Blue-eyed Darner 1
American Emerald 4
Mountain Emerald 1
Emerald,sp 2
Four-spotted Skimmer 80
Variegated Meadowhawk 8
White-faced Meadowhawk 6
Striped Meadowhawk 15
Western Meadowhawk Sympetrum occidentale 9 photographed
Woods Lake Time: 2:35Pm to 3:20Pm Temp. 75
Boreal Bluet 1 (in hand)
Boreal/Northern Bluet 20
Mosaic Darner,sp 4
August 2, 2005
Mono County
John Hall, David Edwards
Dechambeau Ponds Time: 10:10AM to 2:40PM Temp. 80 clear skies, no wind
Western Red Damsel 5
Tule Bluet 50 (2 in hand)
Familiar Bluet Enallagma civile 10 (2 in hand) photographed
Alkali Bluet 10 (2 in hand)
Bluet,sp 1000
Boreal/Northern Bluet 2
Pacific Forktail 3
Black-fronted Forktail 3
Western Forktail 10
Paddle-tailed Darner 4
Mosaic Darner,sp 15
Common Green Darner 5
Blue-eyed Darner 5
Western Pondhawk 200
Bleached Skimmer* 40 (at least 12 tandem pairs ovipositing)
[last date reported for 2005]
Eight-spotted Skimmer 100
Hoary Skimmer 1
Flame Skimmer 15
Desert Whitetail Libellula subornata* 5 photographed [last
date reported in 2005]
Variegated Meadowhawk 30
*Saffron-winged Meadowhawk 30
Striped Meadowhawk 1
Black Saddlebags 30
Red Saddlebags 5
Dogtown site pond:
This pond is on the west side of Route 395 near the intersection with
Route 167 to Bodie. Look for the #4 marker (for points of interest along 395).
Boreal Bluet 2 (in hand)
Bluet,sp 40
Pacific Forktail 2
Western Forktail 15
Mosaic Darner,sp 5
Blue-eyed Darner 1
Four-spotted Skimmer 4
Striped Meadowhawk 1
August 1, 2005
Inyo County
John Hall, David Edwards
This day was to be a day to look for the Sierra Nevada Skipper in the
White Mountains. This elusive butterfly occurs above tree line on scree slopes
near the summits of mountains in a few known locales. We chose Campito Mountain
with a peak at 11, 560 feet. On our way we stopped at Tollhouse Spring. Time:
8:15AM to 8:55 AM and again from 3:35PM to 3:45PM
Vivid Dancer 15
Mosaic Darner,sp 3
Blue-eyed Darner 1
Pacific Spiketail 3
Flame Skimmer 1
Western Meadowhawk 1
Campito Mountain Time: 9:45AM to 1:25PM Temp. 65
Mono County
We parked at about the 10, 760 foot level of the road and hiked up to
the peak. We were amazed to see darners flying on the slopes and hill topping.
We identified 5 Blue-eyed Darners and had another 10 left unidentified. We were
also successful in finding the butterfly at the peak.
Irrigation Canal along Route 168 just east of Big Pine. Time: 4:05PM to
4:45PM Temp. 104
Variegated Meadowhawk 6
Tule Bluet 30
River Bluet 5 (1 in hand)
Bluet,sp 300
Common Green Darner 1
Black-fronted Forktail 1
July
2005
End of July, 2005
Michael J. Ellis
Great oding in the Lakes Basin region. I was in white face heaven!!!!.
Spotted Spreadwing
Emerald spreadwing
Northern Bluet (Enallagma cyathigerum)
Western Forktail (Ischnura perparva)
Common Green Darner (Anax junius)
Blue-eyed Darner (A. multicolor) (I THINK)
Western Meadowhawk (S. occidentale)
Striped Meadowhawk (S. pallipes)
Variegated Meadowhawk
Four-Spotted skimmer
Saffron winged meadowhawk
Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata)
Grappletail
American emerald
Mountain Emerald
Pacific Spiketail
July 30, 2005
Imperial County
John Hall, David Edwards
Vicinity of Sinclair and Montgomery Roads and Highline Canal
Besides walking alongside the Highline Canal we looked in a couple of
the lateral canals. These proved to be rewarding and provided many of the
observations.
Time: 7:30AM to 10:37AM Temp 106
American Rubyspot 25
Powdered Dancer* 100 [last date reported 2005]
Blue-ringed Dancer* 14 [last date reported 2005]
Familiar Bluet 20
White-belted Ringtail 7
Gray Sanddragon 1
*Brimstone Clubtail 1
Western Pondhawk 8
Comanche Skimmer* 2 [last date reported in 2005]
Roseate Skimmer 6
Wandering Glider 7
Spot-winged Glider 5
Black Saddlebags 2
Red Saddlebags 1
-----
Inyo County
Dirty Socks Spring
We observed dragonflies here between 8:30AM and 10:20AM. Skies were
clear, temperature 85, light breeze.
Paiute Dancer* 1 * [last date reported 2005]
Tule Bluet 5
Familiar Bluet 5
Alkali Bluet 4
Bluet, sp 25
Desert Forktail 30
Black-fronted Forktail 1
Common Green Darner 10
Blue-eyed Darner 5
*Olive Clubtail Stylurus olivaceus *1 (eating bluet) [only
date reported in 2005]
Western Pondhawk 4
Bleached Skimmer 1
Blue Dasher 1
Wandering Glider 1
Desert Whitetail 3
Variegated Meadowhawk 70
Black Saddlebags 1
Mazourka Springs - Time: 11:10AM to 1PM Temp. 95
Paiute Dancer 4
Aztec Dancer* 2 (in hand) [only one IDed all year kb]
Vivid Dancer 1
Pacific Forktail 7
Black-fronted Forktail 3
Desert Firetail 25
Common Green Darner 5
Blue-eyed Darner 3
Western Pondhawk 20
Bleached Skimmer 1
Eight-spotted Skimmer 1
Blue Dasher 50
Variegated Meadowhawk 25
Western Meadowhawk 7
Black Saddlebags 3
North McNally Canal
We walked along the canal on the north side of Silver Canyon Road. Take
Route 6 from Bishop to Silver Canyon Road. The canal is the second one a short
distance past the railroad museum. Time; 2:10PM to 4:10PM. Temp. 98
River Bluet 3
Tule Bluet 30
Familiar Bluet 1
Pacific Forktail 10
Black-fronted Forktail 2
Common Green Darner 10
Giant Darner 2
Blue-eyed Darner 1
Western Pondhawk 12
Eight-spotted Skimmer 2
Flame Skimmer 20
Blue Dasher 5
Variegated Meadowhawk 50
Western Meadowhawk 200
Black Saddlebags 10
Five Bridges Road and Owens River Time: 4:15PM to 4:45PM
Vivid Dancer 5
Tule Bluet 1
Familiar Bluet 1
Common Green Darner 2
Blue-eyed Darner 2
Eight-spotted Skimmer 2
Variegated Meadowhawk 5
Black Saddlebags 30
July 29, 2005
Santa Barbara County
Nick Lethaby
Spent about 30 minutes over lunch here today:
American Rubyspot - 1, a lifer for me
Sooty Dancer - 1-2
Dancer sp. - many Vivid/California/Aztec Dancers
*Serpent Ringtail Erpetogomphus lampropeltis* 2 [ONLY date reported in 2005]
W. Pondhawk - 1
Widow Skimmer - 1
Flame Skimmer - Many
Still no sign of Giant Darner or Gray Sanddraggon.
-------
Lassen County
Karen DeMello and Jan Hintermeister
(Warner Valley) - the full lifecycle of the Grappletail* -
[last date reported in 2005]
We went to the southeast corner of Lassen Volcanic National Park and
took the short 2 mile hike from Drakesbad to Devils Kitchen. We spent quite a
bit of time at the bridge leading to Devils Kitchen watching the full lifecycle
of the Grappletail. We saw several adults flying, and also perching on
shrubs and rocks in the creek. There was a female ovipositing. The highlight
was watching the end of an emergence on a blade of grass sticking out of the
stream: the new dragonfly had just emerged, and we waited patiently for its
glistening wings to pop open. It took 15 or 20 minutes for it to fly off into
the protection of nearby plants. Then the grand finale: a nymph started to
climb up the same blade of grass, but it changed its mind and went back into
the creek, possibly being a bit picky about where to emerge? Or perhaps it
wasn't quite ready yet. All in all, it was very exciting to witness all of
these facets of the lifecycle in such a short period of time. We also saw Pacific
Spiketail and Aeshna sp. (these darn darners never seem to
stop moving so we couldn't tell what kind it was).
Sacramento County
On the drive to Lassen we stopped at the Sacramento National Wildlife
Refuge off of I-5 to see what the 6 mile auto loop would be like in the middle
of summer. We saw hundreds of Variegated Meadowhawks (mostly female),
Eight-spotted Skimmer, Twelve-spotted Skimmer, Black Saddlebags, Common Green
Darner, and Blue Dasher. At the observation platform around mile 3
there were dozens of large dark spiders hanging in webbed colonies from the
trees. It looked like a scene from Arachnophbia!
Butte County
We also stopped at Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park 5 miles west of
Chico. At the boat launch area we saw Widow Skimmer, Black Saddlebags, Blue
Dasher, a female Western Pondhawk ovipositing, and Jan saw a
Pacific Forktail while he was sitting in the shade trying not to melt from
the scorching afternoon heat.
-------
Los Angeles County
John Hall, David Edwards
Frenchman's Flat
David and I walked alongside Piru Creek between the first bridge and the
narrows. Our search for the Ringtail was successful but we were unable to locate
any Lavender Dancers.
Time: 11:25AM to 2:22PM. Temp. 90
American Rubyspot 10
California/Aztec Dancer 10
Sooty Dancer 60
Vivid Dancer 30
Arroyo Bluet 1
Serpent Ringtail 18
Flame Skimmer 6
Red Rock Skimmer 15
Variegated Meadowhawk 1
July 23/24, 2005
Imperial County
Bob Miller
Salton Sea:
I photographed a female Marl Pennant* [last date reported in
2005] on Obsidian Butte, which is on the south east shore of the Salton
Sea, on Saturday , July 23. Was on a birding trip so did not have time to search
out others. The list below is of dragons and damsels that were numerous or
easily seen in the right habitats.
Other odes seen during the weekend, in no particular order :-)
Blue Dasher
Western Pondhawk
American Rubyspot
Powdered Dancer
Blue-ringed Dancer
Ramber's Forktail
Mexican Amberwing
Black Saddlebags
Red Saddlebags
Roseate Skimmer
Common Green Darner
Glider sp.
-------
Modoc County
Kevin McKereghan
I took a few days over the weekend to do some camping (and
Odeing/Birding etc) in the Warner Mountains with the family. The highlights
were the Great Basin Snaketails and the huge numbers of bluets at the Fandango
Pass pond (1.5 miles or so up Forest Road 9 from County Road 1, north of
Cedarville), look for a gate on the left signed "please close gate"
walk back along the road about 1/3 mile to the pond (hidden behind a dam) there
must have been thousands. Overall outstanding Ode activity, I wish I'd had
longer, and was going back in September. Following is my trip list
Location: Soup Spring Campground and Pine Creek Trail
Spotted Spreadwing
Common Spreadwing
Emerald Spreadwing
Western Forktail
Vivid Dancer
Boreal Bluet
Western Red Damsel
Striped Meadowhawk
Western Meadowhawk
Cherry-faced Meadowhawk
American Emerald
Great Basin Snaketail* [last date reported in 2005]
8-spotted Skimmer
Blue-eyed Darner
Variable Darner
California Darner
Aeshna sp.
Pacific Spiketail
Roadside pond along road to Fandango Pass
Common Spreadwing
Black-fronted Forktail
Western Forktail
Boreal Bluet
Tule/Arroyo Bluet
Striped Meadowhawk
Dot-tailed Whiteface* [last date reported in 2005]
Common Green Darner
Aeshna sp.
8-spotted Skimmer
12-spotted Skimmer
Common Whitetail
Blue Lake Campground
Spotted Spreadwing
Common Spreadwing
Western Forktail
Pacific Forktail
Boreal Bluet
Striped Skimmer
Western Skimmer
4-spotted Skimmer
8-spotted Skimmer
12-spotted Skimmer
Dot-tailed Whiteface
Aeshna sp.
Pacific Clubtail
July 23, 2005
Placer County
Bruce Webb
8204 Cantershire Way, Granite Bay
Neon Skimmer Libellula croceipennis* - on my pond, - photo by
Bruce Webb [last date reported for 2005]
The elevation here is about 260 ft in the Sierra Nevada foothills. A
large Blue Oak tree shades the pond. Other visitors to this (emphasized) small
pond this summer have included Desert Firetail, Spot-winged Glider and
Variegated Meadowhawk.
-------
Santa Clara County
John Hall, David Edwards
Monte Bello OSP
Seep
Northern Spreadwing 35
Vivid Dancer 20
Swift Forktail 4
Western Forktail 2
Walker's Darner Aeshna walkeri 2
Mosaic Darner,sp 4
Common Green Darner 1
Pacific Spiketail 4
Flame Skimmer 1
Cardinal Meadowhawk 5
Black Saddlebags 1
Pond
Northern Spreadwing 8
Bluet,sp 300
Arroyo Bluet 50
Pacific Forktail 1
Western Forktail 15
Desert Firetail 5
Mosaic Darner,sp 3
Common Green Darner 15
Blue-eyed Darner 2
Western Pondhawk 10
Eight-spotted Skimmer 20
Flame Skimmer 20
Blue Dasher 100
Common Whitetail 2
Cardinal Meadowhawk 8
Striped Meadowhawk 20
Black Saddlebags 5
-----
San Mateo County
John Hall, David Edwards
Skyline Ridge OSP
Alpine Pond
Northern Spreadwing 3
California/Aztec Dancer 20
Vivid Dancer 1
Arroyo Bluet 15
Pacific Forktail 1
Mosaic Darner,sp 2
Common Green Darner 5
Blue-eyed Darner 1
Western Pondhawk Erythemis collocata - PHOTO record, updates prior sight only record - 6
Eight-spotted Skimmer 15
Widow Skimmer 3
Flame Skimmer 8
Blue Dasher 100
Common Whitetail 1
Cardinal Meadowhawk 2
Striped Meadowhawk 7
Black Saddlebags 1
Horseshoe Lake
California Dancer 15
Tule Bluet 1
Bluet,sp 1500
Arroyo Bluet 20
Pacific Forktail 7
Western Forktail 3
Mosaic Darner,sp 3
Common Green Darner Anax
junius 25
- photo taken to update county record from sighting record only
Blue-eyed Darner 1
Pacific Spiketail 2
Western Pondhawk 10
Eight-spotted Skimmer 80
Widow Skimmer 2
Flame Skimmer 110
Blue Dasher 80
Common Whitetail 1
Cardinal Meadowhawk 1
Black Saddlebags 8
-------
Siskiyou County
Dave Payne
I floated the Klamath River from Rocky Point River Access to Sluice Box
River Access (6 miles through Seiad Valley). It was hot, high 90's once again.
Lots of odes.
Widow Skimmer - there were hundreds on the wing, one eddy easily
had a hundred patrolling. Females were ovipositing, tandem pairs were common.
Most abundant ode of the day.
Flame Skimmer - one male only!
Eight Spot Skimmer
Twelve Spot Skimmer
Sinuous Snaketail* - numerous, collected several "near
drownings". [last date reported in 2005]
Western River Cruiser* - about seven males [last date reported in 2005]
Common Green Darner - 1 pair ovipositing, several males
Northern Bluet
Emma's Dancer - lots ovipositing
Blue Dasher
American Rubyspot
Other highlights: Seiad Valley is home to lots of Canada Geese and
Common Merganser. Great blue heron, kingfisher, osprey and kestrel were also
seen
July 22, 2005
Siskiyou County
Dave Payne
Klamath River: I did a float July 22 from Happy Camp to Wingate Bar (7
miles). It was hot, high 90's.
Here is who I recall seeing.
American Rubyspot
*River Jewelwing Calopteryx aequabilis - 1 male [last date
reported in 2005]
Northern Bluet
Emma's Dancer - hundreds of pairs ovipositing on any floating
vegetation.
widow skimmer
flame skimmer
eight-spot skimmer
twelve-spot skimmer
blue dasher
black saddlebags
Sinuous snaketail
Bison snaketail* - first specimen I have found this far west along
the river. [last date reported in 2005]
Western River Cruiser
Common Green Darner
Other highlights include 1 mink; 1 adult bald eagle; and 1 immature bald
eagle; lots of nesting osprey.
Siskiyou Co
John Hall, David Edwards
Cedar Lake, Lower Cliff Lake, Cliff Lake
This day dawned totally cloudless and remained that way all day. Since
we had to drive back to San Francisco we left the area shortly after 2pm. We
drove back up towards Gumboot Lake but stopped at Forest Road 39N05Y. This is
on the left as you head up to Gumboot. It is about a mile down from the Gumboot
parking area. This is a 4 wheel drive road! Since we had a regular car
we parked at the beginning and walked in to the various lakes. This is an easy
walk. We went as far as Cliff Lake. Our walk started just after 8:30AM and
finished at 1:30PM
Road to Cedar Lake
Vivid Dancer 30
Boreal Bluet 50
Black Petaltail 2
Grappletail 2
Crimson-ringed Whiteface 1
*Black Meadowhawk Sympetrum danae 1 (adult male)
Cedar Lake
Emerald Spreadwing 2
Vivid Dancer 10
Boreal Bluet 4 (in hand)
Boreal/Northern Bluet 200
Black Petaltail 2
Common Green Darner 1
Blue-eyed Darner 2
Grappletail 3
American Emerald 2
Emerald,sp 1
Crimson-ringed Whiteface 50 (1 in hand)
Hudsonian Whiteface 15
Whiteface,sp 100
Twelve-spotted Skimmer 6
Four-spotted Skimmer 40
Lower Cliff Lake
Vivid Dancer 5
Boreal Bluet 2 (in hand)
Boreal/Northern Bluet 100
*Shadow Darner Aeshna umbrosa 1
Mosaic Darner,sp 2
Common Green Darner 1
Grappletail 8
Crimson-ringed Whiteface 300 (2 in hand)
Hudsonian Whiteface 20
Whiteface,sp 200
Twelve-spotted Skimmer 3
Four-spotted Skimmer 60
Cliff Lake
Vivid Dancer 5
Boreal Bluet 1 (in hand)
Boreal/Northern Bluet 150
Black Petaltail 1
Mosaic Darner,sp 2
Grappletail 3
American Emerald 2
Crimson-ringed Whiteface 1
Hudsonian Whiteface 5
Four-spotted Skimmer 10
-------
Santa Barbara County
Nick Lethaby
Santa Ynez River
Not much to report here but I did see a Widow Skimmer here
., my first for this location.
-----
San Benito County
Paul Johnson
For several years I've been occasionally seeing a dragonfly at Pinnacles
National Monument, San Benito County with white on its wings, but haven't been
able to confirm its ID. A couple weeks ago I was pretty sure I saw a widow
skimmer. Today was the first chance I had to get out and look for it again, so
I took an extended lunch break and went up to the Bear
Gulch Reservoir. Found one!
Here's a list of species seen there and en route:
-spotted spreadwing - 1 male (caught and released)
-vivid dancer - abundant
-Western forktail - 1 male
-desert firetail - 3 tandem pairs
-giant darner - 1 or 2 males
-common green darner - many, including many in tandem
-blue-eyed darner - many
- *Walker's darner Aeshna walkeri - 2 (1 caught and released)
-white-belted ringtail - 1
-Pacific spiketail - 1
-common whitetail - 1 female, 2 males
-widow skimmer Libellula
luctuosa - 1 male first county record
-flame skimmer - abundant
-variegated meadowhawk - 1f, 1m
-cardinal meadowhawk - 2m
-blue dasher - 1m
-black saddlebags - many males, 2f, 1 tandem pair
I don't think I've ever seen so many dragonflies flying here. Or maybe
I'm just more tuned in than before. Is anyone else seeing more than usual?
-------
Colusa County
Dave and Kathy Biggs
Bear Creek at Hiway 20
We also checked this site on the 16th - it was like 107 out, and the
ONLY thing we saw flying was one male Flame Skimmer!
It was 'only' 92 out and from 6:45 - 7:05 pm, we saw:
American Rubyspot
CA/Aztec Dancer
Vivid Dancer
Sooty Dancer
Giant Darners
White-belted Ringtail
Western River Cruiser
Flame Skimmer
Variegated Meadowhawks - on the barbed wire fences too
Striped Meadowhawks
Black Saddlebags
July 21, 2005
Siskiyou County
David Edwards and John Hall
There was very little sun and the occasional shower. We arrived at the
lake at 10AM. We had immediate success just below the dam where we had our
first sighting of Ringed Emerald. A very cooperative patrolling
individual. We looked for American Emeralds but were unable to get a positive
idea. The lighting was terrible. By noon it looked like there would be constant
cloud and showers so we headed down to see if conditions improved at Castle
Lake. We were fortunate to see some blue sky and have some sun for a minute.
Definite views of American Emerald.
Gumboot Lake
Boreal Bluet 5 (in hand)
Boreal/Northern Bluet 300
Common Green Darner 8
Blue-eyed Darner 1
American Emerald
*Ringed Emerald Somatochlora albicincta 3
Emerald,sp 5
Chalk-fronted Corporal 5
Crimson-ringed Whiteface 40
Hudsonian Whiteface 10
Whiteface,sp 50
Twelve-spotted Skimmer 5
Four-spotted Skimmer 50
----
Greg Kareofelas, Andy Rehn and Rosser Garrison [they arrived just as David
and John were leaving- kb]
Gumboot Lake
Enallagma boreale
Lestes dryas
Lestes unguiculatus
Tanypteryx hageni
Aeshna multicolor
Anax junius
Cordulia shurtleffi
Somatochlora albicincta
Somatochlora semicircularis
Leucorrhinia glacialis
Leucorrhinia hudsonica
Leucorrhinia intacta
Libellula quadrimaculata
Libellula forensis
Ladona julia Chalk-fronted Corporal* [last date reported for
2005]
Sympetrum corruptum
---
John Hall, David Edwards
Castle Lake
Vivid Dancer 8
Boreal Bluet 2 (in hand)
Boreal/Northern Bluet 200
Mosaic Darner,sp 1
Pacific Clubtail 1
American Emerald 6
Emerald,sp 4
We left Castle Lake at 3:20PM and headed north to Yreka where we were
staying overnight. We stopped for about 50 minutes along Slough Road. This is
just east of the interstate. Take the Louie Road exit and head east a very
short distance to Slough Road. Turn left. We followed this to a corral where we
parked and walked the road. This road is narrow and overgrown but offers no
problem to cars.
Slough Road
Bluet,sp 1
Blue-eyed Darner 2
Eight-spotted Skimmer 2
Twelve-spotted Skimmer 2
Blue Dasher 2
Variegated Meadowhawk 3
Red-veined Meadowhawk* 14 [last date reported in 2005]
Western Meadowhawk 7
Black Saddlebags 5
Four-spotted Skimmer 4
Cardinal Meadowhawk 1
July 20, 2005
Siskiyou County
Kathy and Dave Biggs
We drove into Pumice Stone Well in the Medicine Lake Highlands area
(from Hiway 89, ~27 miles N on Rd 15) in Siskiyou Co. This has always proven to
be a hot spot. We found
Lyre-tipped Spreadwing, Lestes unguiculatus - 3 males IDed in hand. Scans
up at http://www.sonic.net/~bigsnest/Pond/Lists/spreadwings.html
- LEUN
Emerald Spreadwing, Lestes dryas - numerous, 1 female specimen
kept and scanned: http://www.sonic.net/~bigsnest/Pond/Lists/spreadwings.html
- LEDY
Northern Spreadwing, Lestes disjunctus, 1 male specimen kept and
scanned: http://southwestdragonflies.net/damsels/cadamselphotos/lyreMt05spumice.jpg
Western Forktail Ischnura perparva - many, 1 male specimen kept
and scanned: http://southwestdragonflies.net/damsels/cadamselphotos/westfkM05.jpg
Bluets- 200-300 seen; 1 M collected - a Boreal: http://southwestdragonflies.net/damsels/cadamselphotos/borealM05pumice.jpg
Mt. Emerald, Somatochlora semicircularis - 5 in hand IDed
American Emerald Cordulia shurtleffii - ~12 in hand IDs
Emerald sp - ~50, assumed to be 75% Am. Emeralds [note- Emeralds are
GORGEOUS in hand, but often difficult to net, not so at this small pond- we
recommend it!]
Variable Darner Aeshna interrupta - We stayed an extra half
hour to collect one, only to find that when we returned to the car, our
windshield had collected one too! 2 in hand ID, one pair of floating wings with
3 cells
Blue-eyed Darner Rhionaeschna multicolor - 1 male seen
Aeshna sp - 50 seen, all but one presumed to be Variables. We
repeatedly saw pale colored female Aeshnas splashing their thorax into
the water, presumably to cool off. We saw none ovipositing.
Common Green Darner - one seen
Whiteface sp. - one seen, appeared to be Crimson-winged.
12-spotted Skimmer - ~12; 1 female collected and scanned: http://southwestdragonflies.net/caphotos/12sptFs05.jpg
http://southwestdragonflies.net/caphotos/12sptF05.jpg
8-spotted Skimmer - possibly seen
Striped Meadowhawk Sympetrum pallipes - 1 seen still emerging; 4+
adults seen
We returned via Tennant and at a stop at Lower Antelope Creek we found
Pacific Spiketail - 1 male patrolling
Aeshna sp. - 1
12-spotted Skimmer - 1
We made one last quick stop at Hammond Lagoon outside of Weed to see if
the Beaverpond Baskettails we'd seen there just two weeks ago were still out,
as it would have been new late flight season data, but we didn't' see any in
our 10 mins there at ~ 5:30 pm. We did find
Bluets- numerous
Co Green Darner- 3+
Aeshna sp. - some
Dot-tailed Whiteface* - (finally!) many [last date reported in 2005]
8-spotted Skimmer Libellula forensis - many
Western Meadowhawk Sympetrum occidentale - 1 male
4-spotted Skimmer some
July 18, 2005
Siskiyou County
Kathy and Dave Biggs
Wed heard from Greg Kareofelas that he and Andy Rehn and Rosser
Garrison were heading up to Gumboot Lake on Thurs. so we decided that with the
'big guns' heading that way just 2 days after our planned visit, that our time
would be better spent checking out new areas. We didn't' even know that John
and David would be there and doing the same too!
So, we drove up and passed by the exit to Gumboot Lake. We did stop at a
beautiful little spot a bit further up the road where Gumboot Creek (the
outflow from Gumboot Lake) crossed Rd. 26. It is a gorgeous little
seep/creek/meadow area full of Darlingtonia and wildflowers. There we saw:
Vivid Dancers - galore!
Dancer sp. - smaller than the Vivids
Black Petaltails - 2 males
Darner sp. - one male patrolling, possibly a Paddle-tailed
From there we continued up Rd 26 to just past the exit for Rd 40N45
where a small pond was formed - about a 30 ft diameter. It had a darner
patrolling - possibly a Paddle-tailed. It left the moment Dave took a
first swing at it!
------
Trinity County
Then we there we turned around and went down onto Rd 40N45 (gravel at
this point) which is just barely over the ridge of the Trinitys and crosses
into Trinity County. Along the road were many many seeps, and each one had a
few Petaltails in it. We have never seen so many. It actually got to the point
where we'd say, 'what was that? Oh, just another petaltail'!! We even
saw a 3-some. We assume it was a male in the lead, with a female in tow, and
with another male hanging on to her in hopes of getting to mate with her
too/instead! We tried to get a photo, but they disengaged just as Dave climbed
the hill to where they had perched. We were also able to watch a female
solo-ovipositing into a sheet of water that flowed over a rock just before the
water tumbled into the drainage ditch alongside the road. She might have been
putting her eggs into a tiny bit of vegetation that overhung the large rock,
I'm not certain.
There were also many Dancers at the seeps. I caught a smaller one that
appeared to be a Calif./Aztec type, but as I was putting him into an envelope,
he escaped. We tried to catch another, but mostly we saw Vivids. Then Dave
caught a pair in cop, and a quick look showed the split side thoracic stripe so
we enveloped them as either Calif./Aztec would be a record for Trinity Co. When
we got home and I got around to scanning them yesterday, I was surprised to
find that although the side stripe was "Y" shaped, the appendages
looked like Argia vivida and there were also the little black
triangles alongside the abdomen. The female's markings were quite odd, so I
sent the scan to Rosser and to Greg, and they both agreed that this was just an
odd looking Vivid pair! I've posted their scan at http://southwestdragonflies.net/damsels/cadamselphotos/viviprcop_unusual.jpg
We continued a mile or so down Rd. 40N45 to where Rd. 39N18 goes off to
the left. We found the road that leads to Picayune Lake and parked at the
locked gate. The Forest Service's pamphlet which is about the Alpine Lakes of
the Trinity Divide lists this lake as being at 6100 ft. (about the same as
Gumboot Lake). It says "It is is an easy 1/4 mile walk from the gate to
the lake. The land owner has a cabin on the lake and if guests are present at
the cabin please pass this lake by." From the road, we'd not only seen the
lake, but also a marshy area with ponds above it. It was to the ponds that we
went. They were clouded over with
dragonflies!! :-) We found:
Lyre-tipped Spreadwing, Lestes unguiculatus
- 2 males collected as the
Trinity Co. vouchers. Scans up at http://www.sonic.net/~bigsnest/Pond/Lists/spreadwings.html
- LEUN
Emerald Spreadwing, Lestes dryas - 1 female collected http://www.sonic.net/~bigsnest/Pond/Lists/spreadwings.html
- LEDY
Spreadwing sp. - 8 others seen and presumed to be Lyre-tipped
Vivid Dancer Argia vivida - many on the streams
into/out of the ponds
Northern/Boreal Bluets Enallagma cyathigerum/boreale-
numerous,
probably Boreals as that is what we've found nearby before
Western Red Damsel Amphiagrion abbreviatum - 1 female collected when
sweeping the sedges in hopes of finding Sedge Spites. Her scan is up at http://southwestdragonflies.net/damsels/cadamselphotos/wesredF7_05.jpg
Variable Darner Aeshna interrupta - one female was still on the
stalk where she had emerged. I used the net to slip her off the sedge and
placed her upon Dave's cap where we took photos, which I hope to post later. We
couldn't tell why she hadn't flown off yet - the day was warm and Darners
usually emerge during the night.
Black Petaltail Tanypteryx hageni - 1 male landed on
my net after I swiped at an Emerald!
Mountain Emerald Somatochlora semicircularis - 1 specimen taken, 7 others
IDed in hand http://www.sonic.net/~bigsnest/Pond/dragons/emeralds.html
- SOSE
Emerald sp. - 12 more seen - presumed to all be Mt. Emeralds
Crimson-ringed Whiteface Leucorrhinia glacialis - 2 IDed in hand
Hudsonian Whiteface Leucorrhinia hudsonica - 4 IDed in hand
Whiteface sp - 1000+, 90% appeared to be Hudsonians; no Dot-tailed
Whitefaces - darn! - they would have been new for Trinity County!
Twelve-spotted Skimmer Libellula pulchella - ~ 3 dozen
Four spotted Skimmer Libellula quadrimaculata - 1 seen at Picayune Lake,
but there were people at the cabin, so we left the area.
-------
Siskiyou County
On our return to our McCloud area home, we stopped first at a BEAUTIFUL
natural spring along Rd. 26, right where it makes a sharp hairpin turn. Dave
took about 30 pics - it was so pretty. There we saw Vivid Dancers, a Black
Petaltail and an Emerald sp.
Then we stopped at Gumboot Lake for just a short while at ~6 pm to see
how that lake level was. A very quick walk in the brisk wind revealed these
species:
Emerald sp - a few (not ringed)
Spreadwing sp - a few
No/Bo Bluets - some
Vivid Dancers - some
Co. Green Darner - a few
Black Petaltail - a male who tried to land in my hair, on my
shoulder, etc. Wonder if it was this species that started that old folklore
that dragonflies would get tangled in your hair!!??!!
Crimson-ringed Whiteface -a few
12-spotted Skimmer - a few
4-spotted Skimmer - a few
We were thinking of stopping at the Cliff Lakes, but didn't have time,
so were really glad to hear what David and Ed saw there!
July 14, 2005
Siskiyou County
Dave Payne
I did a short float on the Klamath River west of Happy Camp. I did
notice some nice odes. I did not keep numbers. We saw:
American rubyspot - male & females
River jewelwing - male & females
northern bluet - few males
Emma's Dancers - many couples ovipositing
flame skimmer - several males
eight spot skimmer - one male
widow skimmer - several males
Western River cruiser - one male patrolling
Sinuous snaketail - males patrolling
Blue Dasher - males patrolling
July 10, 2005
Sonoma County
Pine Flat Rd.
I had at least one and I think quite a few more California
Spreadwings Archilestes californicus at the pond at mile marker 10,
one of which I got photos of. I guess this is a young male, as it's eyes aren't
blue yet.
I also had the same Gray Sanddragon Paul had earlier in the week.
The thing almost landed on my foot. I had to backup to photograph it.
No Hoary Skimmers for me this day. No petaltails.
New photos are at the following:
http://www.ericwpreston.com/CaliforniaSpreadwing_1.html
http://www.ericwpreston.com/EmmasDancer_1.html
http://www.ericwpreston.com/GraySanddragon_2.html
July 9, 2005
Siskiyou County
Ray Bruun
Castle Lake East of Mt. Shasta City
American Emeralds many,
photographs taken [note, none were apparent, nor their exuviae on June 28 kb]
-------
Lassen County
John Hall/David Edwards
Cooper Swamp
We spent from 9am to noon here. It was totally cloudy until 10am when it
slowly cleared. The Whitefaces began flying shortly after 10am. Many were
clustered on logs and rocks. On one log alone we counted over 20. The most
numerous insect at the swamp was the mosquito!
Emerald Spreadwing 30
Western Red Damsel 1
Taiga Bluet 80
Boreal/Northern Bluet 3
Western Forktail 1
Sedge Sprite* 4 [last date reported 2005]
Crimson-ringed Whiteface 150 (1 in hand)
Hudsonian Whiteface 25
Whiteface, sp 200
Four-spotted Skimmer 3
--
Silver Lake and adjacent pond
We looked for dragonflies between 12:15pm and 1:30pm. Mostly cloudy and
breezy.
Emerald Spreadwing 1
Taiga Bluet* 8 [last date reported 2005]
Boreal/Northern Bluet 5
Mountain Emerald 1
Emerald, sp 1 presumably Mountain by flight profile
Crimson-ringed Whiteface 10
Hudsonian Whiteface 10
Whiteface, sp 10
Four-spotted Skimmer 8
--
Shasta County
Cow Creek and Highway 44
We walked upstream from the bridge from 3:25 pm to 4:38 pm. Sunny and
warm.
American Rubyspot 5
California Dancer 1
California/Aztec Dancer 4
Emma's Dancer 5
Sooty Dancer 100
Tule Bluet 3
White-belted Ringtail 1
Sinuous Snaketail 1
Gray Sanddragon 8
Pale-faced Clubskimmer 3
Western Pondhawk 3
Widow Skimmer 7
Flame Skimmer 4
Common Whitetail 2
Variegated Meadowhawk 3
Black Saddlebags 2
-------
Humboldt County
Bruce Deuel
Aldergrove Marsh north of Arcata
I caught, in flight (very proud of that!), a beautiful male *Paddle-tailed
Darner (Aeshna palmata)
July 8, 2005
Lassen County
John Hall/ David Edwards
After a night in Susanville we headed up to Blue Lake in the South
Warner Mountains. We arrived at 9:40 am and left at 11:35 am. The short time
there was rewarded with our first Spiny Baskettail. At 10 am it landed
on the front of a sleeve of my tee shirt. Fortunately it did not land on my
back. It spent a few minutes there. Unfortunately my camera was over the same
arm and was unavailable for picture taking. But we did try. There was probably
much more to see but we wanted to get to Ash Creek.
Blue Lake
Western Red Damsel 6
Vivid Dancer 5
Boreal/Northern Bluet 20
Pacific Forktail 20
Western Forktail 35
Mosaic Darner, sp 4
California Darner 3
Pacific Clubtail 2
Spiny Baskettail* ** 1 [last date reported in 2005, new late flight data]
Hudsonian Whiteface 3
Dot-tailed Whiteface 2
Four-spotted Skimmer 20
---
Modoc County
Intersection Blue lake Road and Jess Valley Road
We made a lunch stop where the South Fork of the Pit River passes under
Blue lake Road near the intersection of Jess Valley Road. There is easy parking
at this site. We spent just over an hour here.
Vivid Dancer 5
Tule Bluet 30
Pacific Forktail 3
Western Forktail 15
California Darner 4
Great Basin Snaketail Ophiogomphus morrisoni * 5 (county record- photographed) [last date
reported in 2005]
Eight-spotted Skimmer 12
Four-spotted Skimmer 2
Common Whitetail 5
Variegated Meadowhawk 2
Western Meadowhawk 1
--
Lassen County
Ash Valley Road where it crosses Ash Creek
Sightings here were hampered by very windy conditions. Thirty minutes
here produced the following:
California Dancer 1 (in hand)
Tule Bluet 40 (1 in hand)
Boreal/Northern Bluet 15
Western Forktail 5
Common Green Darner 1
Pacific Clubtail 2
Western Pondhawk 4
Eight-spotted Skimmer 20
Flame Skimmer 15
Variegated Meadowhawk 3
Western Meadowhawk 1
--
Ash Creek Campground
We walked both upstream and downstream here between 3 pm and 4: 40 pm.
River Jewelwing 3
American Rubyspot 40
Pond Spreadwing, sp 1
Emma's Dancer 30
Vivid Dancer 80
Tule Bluet 20
Boreal/Northern Bluet 20
Pacific Forktail 1
Western Forktail 30
California Darner 1
Pacific Clubtail 3
Grappletail 45
Great Basin Snaketail 7
Eight-spotted Skimmer 15
Four-spotted Skimmer 2
Common Whitetail 5
Variegated Meadowhawk 1
Western Meadowhawk 1
July 7, 2005
Plumas County
John Hall/ David Edwards
Willow Lake
The Mountain Emerald was a surprise. We saw two Emeralds on the ground
in what appeared to be a struggle. They were locked at the heads. We noticed
one had the appendages of a Mountain Emerald. We captured it to take photos and
by accident it became a specimen. We arrived just before 10:30 am and left at
2:45 pm. We spent the first part of this time at the outlet of Willow Lake. We
then spent time walking out over the sphagnum bog.
Emerald Spreadwing 1
Western Red Damsel 15
Vivid Dancer 4
Taiga Bluet 15
Boreal Bluet 1 (in hand)
Northern Bluet 2 (in hand)
Boreal/Northern Bluet 7
Pacific Forktail 8
Western Forktail 20
*Sedge Sprite Nehalennia irene 10
*Variable Darner Aeshna interrupta 1
*Mountain Emerald Somatochlora semicircularis 1 (photographed and
collected) new county record
Emerald, sp 3
Chalk-fronted Corporal 40
Hudsonian Whiteface 30 (1 in hand)
Dot-tailed Whiteface 25
*Belted Whiteface Leucorrhinia proxima* 2 (1 in hand) [only
date reported in 2005]
Twelve-spotted Skimmer 8
Four-spotted Skimmer 80
*White-faced Meadowhawk Sympetrum obtrusum 3
--
Highway 36/ Rock Creek
This location is west of the Plumas /Lassen County Line. Rock Creek
passes under Hwy 44 where it forms a pond before passing through a culvert
under the railroad tracks. Easy parking is available on the south side. We
searched the pond area and along the creek on the north side. Time: 3:30 pm to
4:25 pm.
Emerald Spreadwing 15
Western Red Damsel 2
Vivid Dancer b
Boreal/Northern Bluet 50
Western Forktail 25
Common Green Darner 1
Beaverpond Baskettail* 2 [last date reported in 2005]
Dot-tailed Whiteface 1
Eight-spotted Skimmer 2
Twelve-spotted Skimmer 5
Four-spotted Skimmer 8
Variegated Meadowhawk 1
White-faced Meadowhawk 4
Striped Meadowhawk 1
--
Lassen County
Clear Creek Park
Western Red Damsel 20
Western Forktail 15
White-faced Meadowhawk 20
July 5, 2005
Sonoma County
Paul Saraceni
I spent much of the day on July 5 visiting Pine Flat Road and a small
stretch of the Russian River in NE Sonoma County.
Species list keyed by location:
"MM4" = roadside seep ~0.2 mi. above MM4.5 on Pine Flat Rd.
(there is a gravel parking lot around the bend and just above
the obvious seep) [I believe this is the area referred to by others as
"Ferguson Springs"]
"RP" = Rebizzo Ranch pond (viewed from roadside)
"RS" = Rebizzo Ranch roadside seep (~0.1 mi. above pond,
across from pullout)
"MM10" = seep and seasonal pond accessed from small lot/dirt
track nr. Pine Flat Rd. MM 10.0
"MM9" = creek area just in from road past MM9 (there is a
service road with an area to pull off the main road; the creek
passes under Pine Flat Rd. here)
"MM1" = rocky creek below Pine Flat Rd. MM 1.0 (climb down
boulder pile to access creek)
"RR" = Russian River access @ Geyserville Bridge (Hwy 128 just
E of Geyserville)
American Rubyspot -- MM1 10+, RR 20+
Black Spreadwing -- MM10 4 (incl. tandem pair)
California/Aztec-type Dancer -- MM1 4, RR 10+ (incl.
tandem pairs)
Emma's Dancer -- MM1 5+, RR 10+ (incl. tandem pairs)
Sooty Dancer -- MM1 3, RR 2
Vivid Dancer -- MM4 5+, RP 5+, RS 10+, MM10 5+, MM1 2 (incl. tandem
pairs)
Boreal Bluet -- MM10 1 m. (in-hand ID)
Northern/Boreal-type Bluet -- RP 5+, MM10 10+, MM9 2, RR
5+
Tule/Arroyo-type bluet -- MM10 5+, RR 2
Familiar Bluet -- MM9 1 m., RR 2 m.
Pacific Forktail -- RR 3 m.
Western Forktail -- MM10 20+ (incl. tandem pairs)
Blue-eyed Darner -- MM4 2, RP 3, MM10 2
Aeshna darner sp. -- MM1 1 m. (flying stretch of rocky creek where I
observed Walker's Darner last year, but couldn't confirm)
Bison Snaketail -- MM1 3, RR 5
Gray Sanddragon -- MM10 1 m., MM9 1 m., RR 2 ( I was surprised to
observe at the 2 locations on upper Pine Flat Rd.)
Pacific Spiketail -- ~MM6.5 1
Western River Cruiser -- RR 2-3
Variegated Meadowhawk -- MM4 1
Cardinal Meadowhawk -- MM10 4 (incl. tandem pair)
Striped Meadowhawk -- MM10 2
Western Pondhawk -- plantings @ Jimtown Store (!) 1 m.
Blue Dasher -- RP 5+
Common Whitetail -- RP 2 m., MM10 10+ (incl. 1 f.), MM9 1 m.
Eight-spotted Skimmer -- RP 1 m.
Hoary Skimmer -- b/t MM 2.5/3.0 1 m. -- I missed at the traditional
site -- MM4 -- despite 2 thorough checks of the area (glad to see that one was
observed at this location over the weekend); the one I observed may have been
wandering from that location, as it did not stick around the roadside area
where I observed it
Twelve-spotted Skimmer -- RP 3 m.
Flame Skimmer -- MM4 2, RP 5+, MM10 10+, MM9 2, MM1 1, RR 2
Red Rock Skimmer -- MM9 1 m., MM1 1 m.
Pale-faced Clubskimmer -- RR 1
Black Saddlebags -- MM4 2, RP 2, MM10 2, MM9 2, RR 1 (incl. tandem pair)
Spot-winged Glider -- MM4 1
Also observed: 2 W. Pond Turtles @ MM9, 3 Aquatic Garter Snakes (MM10,
MM9)
July 3, 2005
Lassen County
Ray Bruun
I checked out the odes at Bathtub Lake, near Butte Lake in Lassen
Volcanic National Park. The variety of odes (14 species today) is greater than
you would expect from this small 5 or 6-acre lake. [Bathtub Lake, elevation
6047 ft, location: N40.5701° W121.29802°, WGS 84] An asterisk (*) indicates
photo taken.
emerald spreadwing* - several
taiga bluet* - one pair in tandem
boreal bluet* - many; most common damsel
pacific forktail* - approx. 10, all adult male
western forktail - many; more female than male
common green darner - several
unknown Aeshna - several; more than common green darner (saw side
stripes on an ovipositing female; definitely not variable, probably
paddle-tailed or shadow)
unknown emerald - at least two (probably american)
unknown whiteface - at least one; probably several (probably
crimson-ringed, male with red on thorax; abdomen completely black)
dot-tailed whiteface* - several
variegated meadowhawk* - one young male
western meadowhawk* - one young female
twelve-spotted skimmer - quite a few
four-spotted skimmer* - many; most common dragonfly
-------
Sonoma County
Alan Wight
Pine Flat Road saw the following:
Black Spreadwing - 1
Sooty Dancer - 1 male
Vivid Dancer - 1+
Bluet sp. - several
Eight-spotted Skimmer - 1
Common Whitetail - 5+
Hoary Skimmer - 1 male at Ferguson Springs
Twelve-spotted Skimmer - 2+
Flame Skimmer - 4+
Blue Dasher - 2+
Variegated Meadowhawk - 1
Cardinal Meadowhawk - 1+
Striped Meadowhawk - 1
Black Saddlebags - 2+
Darner sp. - 1
Bison Snaketail - 1
Pacific Spiketail - 1
July 2 (& 4th), 2005
Siskiyou County
Dave and Kathy Biggs
Old Stage Road ~ 2 miles south of Gazelle, at a 100 yd long pond formed
between the road and RR tracks:
Emerald Spreadwing 6+,
one male collected; this is only the 3rd site for this species in
the county, and one of the other sites no longer hosts them.
Vivid Dancer 6+
Boreal Bluet one male collected
Bluet sp. - many
Pacific Forktail 2+
Western Forktail
abundant
Common Green Darner 1M
Western Pondhawk 2M
Eight-spotted Skimmer - abundant
Flame Skimmer 1M
Blue Dasher 4+
Striped Meadowhawk 6
inc. tandem pairs and a teneral
Western Meadowhawk - 2
There was a lot of milkweed growing alongside the pond and we saw both
monarchs and tiger swallowtails there.
--
Creek out of Gazelle, bridge over Willow Ck, Hiway 9:
Grappletail 1 M
This site also had a Tiger Swallowtail and a Red Admiral.
--
Pond on Rail Creek Rd (into Kangaroo Lake) ~ .5 mi in from Hiway 9
(private pond viewed from rd.)
Tule Bluet
Western Forktail
Common Green Darner
Blue-eyed Darner
Beaverpond Baskettail
Eight-spotted Skimmer
Common Whitetail
Twelve-spotted Skimmer
Cardinal Meadowhawk
---
Lilypad Pond (Rail Creek Rd., just .5 east of Kangaroo Lake):
Western Forktail - some
*American Emerald Cordulia shurtleffi a mass emergence in progress, photos taken; 1 mature seen
flying (green eyes)
Blue-eyed Darner 2M
--
Kangaroo Lake:
This was our destination, and sort of a bust. There was a nice
Darlingtonia seep at the far end of the lake. Seen there were
Vivid Dancer 2 tenerals
American Emerald 2
mature males
--
Hammond Ranch Pond NE of Mt. Shasta City on Old Stage Road:
Tule Bluets
Western Forktails
Blue-eyed Darner
Common Green Darner
Beaverpond Baskettail
Dot-tailed Whiteface
Striped Meadowhawk
--
We returned to Hammond Ranch Pond and put our kayaks in on the 4th
of July. We saw all the species above except the Striped Meadowhawk and we
added:
Common Spreadwing many;
one male Ided in hand
Spreadwing sp. may have seen an Emerald Spreadwing, but couldnt
get it in hand
Vivid Dancer 1f
Northern/Boreal Bluet
thousands; the most wed seen in at least 5 yrs. One female found dead & we
collected her.
Pacific Forktail a few
Clubtail sp. probably a Pacific - very dark with yellow markings
Beaverpond Baskettail many;
we were able to watch a female oviposit and took pictures of the strings of
eggs she attached to pondweed.
Eight-spotted Skimmer- many
Common Whitetail a few
Twelve-spotted Skimmer - many
Variegated Meadowhawk 2
Black Saddlebags a few
Not a bad day considering our target destination was almost devoid of
Odonata!
-------
San Bernardino County
Chris
.at approx. 6:00PM, in our
backyard ( Victorville, CA) on tomato support.
A male Flame Skimmer interacted with hummingbird (species
unknown), left support 4 times and returned, hummingbird mistook dragonfly for
flower, most likely because of extreme reddish-orange color, tried to extract
nectar from between wings, dragonfly did not move while this was
occurring...WILD, WHAT A SHOW!!
-------
Monterey County
Paul G. Johnson
Arroyo Seco (Creek?), 5 km SW Junipero Serra Peak, at crossing of Arroyo
Seco Road. July 02, 2005 lat/long: N 36.14° W 121.46° Elevation: 690 m
Small, sluggish, shady stream. Specimen will be deposited in Essig
Museum of Entomology, UC Berkeley. Lat/Long estimated from a map.
Lestes stultus Hagen (Black
Spreadwing)
July 1, 2005
John Hall and David Edwards
For Canada Day, we went to Monte Bello and Skyline Ridge OSPs. Monte
Bello pond was witnessing the emergence of Striped Meadowhawks. We also spotted
a Red-veined Meadowhawk with a strange appendage.
Santa Clara County
Monte Bello OSP
Seep area along Canyon Trail
Northern Spreadwing 5
Vivid Dancer 20
Swift Forktail 8
Pacific Spiketail 1
Flame Skimmer 1
Cardinal Meadowhawk 7
--
Monte Bello Pond
Northern Spreadwing 10
Tule Bluet 1
Bluet, sp 100
Arroyo Bluet 50
Pacific Forktail 10
Western Forktail 5
Desert Firetail 1
Mosaic Darner, sp 10
Common Green Darner 5
California Darner 1
Blue-eyed Darner 3
Western Pondhawk 2
Eight-spotted Skimmer 20
Flame Skimmer 20
Blue Dasher 25
Cardinal Meadowhawk 15
Red-veined Meadowhawk 2 males, one with head of female attached at end of
abdomen
Striped Meadowhawk 15
---
San Mateo County
Skyline Ridge OSP
Alpine Pond
California/Aztec Dancer 20
Vivid Dancer 4
Arroyo Bluet 40
Pacific Forktail 25
Desert Firetail 1
Mosaic Darner, sp 2
Common Green Darner 1
Western Pondhawk 1
Eight-spotted Skimmer 10
Flame Skimmer 15
Blue Dasher 20
Common Whitetail 2
Cardinal Meadowhawk 3
Black Saddlebags 1
--
Horseshoe Lake
California Dancer 1
California/Aztec Dancer 20
Vivid Dancer 1
Boreal Bluet 1
Boreal/Northern Bluet 15
Arroyo Bluet 2
Pacific Forktail 4
Western Forktail 1
Mosaic Darner, sp 2
Common Green Darner 10
California Darner 1
Blue-eyed Darner 2
Pacific Spiketail 1
Western Pondhawk 6
Eight-spotted Skimmer 15
Flame Skimmer 25
Blue Dasher 15
Cardinal Meadowhawk 1
-------
Orange County
Lori Fraser
Anaheim
# I do not know anything about Dragonflies. I can report, however, that
100s of them were all over our yard, front and back, as well as the entire
neighborhood. This was noticed around 7:00 am this morning. The Dragonflies
appeared to be dying. We called around our city to see if anyone was interested
and no one was. Eventually, they 'woke up' and flew away. No one on our block
has ever seen this phenomenon before. Very interesting to say the least. Can
you explain this behavior? Would it be migration? [Laurie send a picture- the
species is Wandering Glider kb]
June 30/July 1
Alameda County
Anthony Fisher
Rifle Range flood control pond, Oakland:
Desert Firetail -2 (new to this location)
Common whitetail -2male, 1female ovipositing (new to this location)
Blue-eyed Darner -4
Common Green Darner -3
Flame Skimmer -5
Cardinal Meadowhawk ~5
Common Spreadwing -many
Arroyo Bluet -many
Western Forktail -lots
Upstream from the pond:
Mosaic Darner -7
Vivid Dancer -many
Pacific Spiketail -1 (or more?)
June
2005
June 30, 2005
Santa Cruz County
David Edwards and John Hall
We went to see if Waddell Creek might be productive for dragonflies. We
hiked up the road from Hwy 1 about 3 miles to the second bridge crossing. Much
of the creek is not accessible due to steep banks and fallen timber. This area
is part of Big Basin Redwoods State Park. There is no fee at this entry. The
picture of the spreadwing was not successful.
Northern Spreadwing Lestes
disjunctus 1 (new county record) [sighting only kb]
Vivid Dancer 75
Boreal/Northern Bluet 1
Exclamation Damsel* 3 [last date reported 2005]
Mosaic Darner, sp 25
Common Green Darner 1
California Darner 9
Blue-eyed Darner 14
Flame Skimmer 1
-------
Siskiyou County
Kathy and Dave Biggs
A few years ago, when Dave and I found Ringed Emeralds and Black
Petaltails at Gumboot Lake, we got some pretty good publicity for our favored
bugs in the local press. But in our northern 'hometown' of McCloud, folks told
us that we weren't the first to find them there after all - that a local guy,
named Perry Turner, had made that discovery years and years ago.
Perry is no longer there, and in fact I recently heard from his college
days professor at Cal Berkeley, that the FBI is looking for Perry for stealing
dragonfly specimens from museum collections and crossing state lines with them!
I hope all his specimens and wisdom come to some good someday, but I
fear I'll never meet him.
However, it turns out that the man who advised Perry about places to
look for these rare beauties is the same guy what Dave and I hired to burn our
piles of manzanita on our cabin site.
So, I asked him to show us some of these spots on the FS maps of the
area, and then Dave and I took off in pursuit!
The outcome was that one site had gone dry, but we found another site
with great potential for the Petaltail -however the only Odes flying were two 12-spots.
Perhaps it was too early at that elevation?? But if anyone else has time (and 4
WD??), here are the coordinates:
N 41-10-.75' W 121 48 225' Elev. 4870
This was on Sierra Pacific Tree Farm land off of FS road 39N05 (off
hiway 89) at approx., 4.5 MI. - near Dead Horse Summit and we think near
Moosehead Creek. It was a gorgeous hillside seep. I hope to post pictures of it
on the CalOdes site later.
If you get there, let us know!
June 28-29, 2005
Lassen County
Tim Manolis
I spent the last two days doing some field work in Lassen County. Some
of the highlights were--
River Jewelwing Calopteryx aequabilis --- a handful were along
Ash Creek at the Ash Creek Campground on 29 June. This is a great spot for
odonates, especially gomphids -- hordes of Grappletails and *Great
Basin Snaketails Ophiogomphus morrisoni , many Pacific Clubtails
-- that is easily reached by taking the Ash Valley Road east from Adin, Modoc
County, towards Madeline, Lassen County. About 8-9 mile from Adin there is a
turnoff to the campground. Ash Creek flows NE from the campground and
eventually passes through Adin on its way to the Ash Creek Wildlife Area and
the Pit River. This is a new location for the jewelwing in Lassen County,
though I have been expecting to find it somewhere in the Pit River drainage in
the county as it occurs along the Pit both downstream in Shasta and upstream in
Modoc. Previous records for jewelwings in Lassen are from the Susan River
drainage at and near Susanville.
*Lyre-tipped Spreadwing Lestes unguiculatus -- a teneral male
collected along Ash Creek along the Ash Valley Road just east of the eastern
edge of Ash Valley itself. A new location for the species in the county. There
are only a handful of prior records, but they are fairly widespread and it is
probably found throughout the county in small numbers, as is the case in NE
California in general. [this is the earliest this species has been reported
since at least 1998 when I began tracking dates kb]
*Spiny Baskettail Epitheca spinigera -- 4-5 were seen, one collected,
along the shore of Blue Lake in the south Warner Mts. Except for some nearly
100-year-old specimens from Donner Lake, this is only known location for the
species in the state. The species was first found here in 1999, based on large
numbers of exuviae I found around the edge of the lake in late June. In 2001, I
observed a massive emergence at the north end of the lake in early June. I know
of no reports there since 2001, and a big forest fire that burned through the
area around the lake a 2-3 years ago had me concerned that the species might
have been adversely affected by possible changes to the lake, e.g. increased
sedimentation due to soil erosion and runoff, possible changes in lake
chemistry, etc. Dave Edwards and John Hall visited the lake on 14 June of this
year and did not see the species nor report exuviae around the lake shore, but
their visit was somewhat hampered by cloud cover -- I've been there done that
too many times in the mountains so can sympathize. Anyway, I visited the area
at midday on 29 June and fortunately had very nice weather. However, there were
no sign of exuviae or baskettails around the north end of the lake, where I had
seen them before. I was about ready to give up when I spotted a baskettail
overhead at the entrance to the campground, a T in the road where it crosses
the creek, with a large kiosk-sign, along the east side of the lake. I followed
the flight of the critter down a trail marked for handicap access that runs
along the north side of the creek as it enters the lake in a nice boggy, marshy
area, and found a few more along this trail, one netted. A check of the
lakeshore in this area revealed a few exuviae, but no signs of a huge mass
emergence. The individual netted was not fully mature -- brown eyes instead of
bright green -- but was not a fresh teneral, either. It is possible emergence
began in the interval between Dave and John's mid-June visit and mine. And
perhaps a larger emergence can be expected to follow. In any event, it is nice
to know they can still be seen at one spot in California -- I encourage folks
to find some other spots in the state where Spiny Baskettail can be seen, as
this is a long ways to go for iffy results.
Cherry-faced Meadowhawk Sympetrum internum -- On the same mid-June
visit, Dave and John reported about 10 immature S. internum at Willow Creek
Wildlife Area, along Hwy 139 between Susanville and Eagle Lake. On 29 June I
found clouds of 100s of these at this site. I had hopes they might have
'colored-up' in the interim, but only some of the males were starting to show
red, and none were in full 'bloom.' This species has been recorded rather
widely in the Sierras and NE California, but is only really known from a few
sites in the state. Willow Creek is the only Lassen County site of which I am
aware, but they have been seen here in large numbers on a number of occasions
going back to the 1970s. No doubt they occur elsewhere in the county. The Modoc
National Wildlife Refuge in Modoc County is another good spot for them.
Anyway, those were the highlights. Wish I could get up in that area more
often and for longer visits.
June 26, 2005
San Benito County
Steve Rovell
Finally ditched domestic chores and got in some odeing today. I visited
East Pinnacles, the San Benito River 5-6 miles downstream (north) of Hernandez
Reservoir, one short stop near the San Benito County Fairgrounds along Hwy 25
and finally another short stop at Anzar Pond along Anzar Road which is to the
north of Highway 101 between Highways 156 and 129. List is below. Pictures are
posted at:
http://homepage.mac.com/tapaculo/PhotoAlbum7.html
East Pinnacles:
Blue-eyed Darner, 1
Flame Skimmer, 4
Pacific Spiketail, 3
San Benito River:
American Rubyspot, 20+
CA/Aztec Dancer, 5-10
Vivid Dancer, 8
Northern/Boreal Bluet, 5-10
Black-fronted Forktail, at least 3
Desert Firetail, 4
Bison Snaketail, Ophiogomphus bison 6 photo taken
White-belted Ringtail, 8-10
Blue Dasher, 1
Flame Skimmer, many
near Fairgrounds:
Black-fronted Forktail, 1
Blue-eyed Darner, 2
Flame Skimmer, 3
Anzar Pond:
Blue-eyed Darner, 1
Blue Dasher, 1
June 26, 2005
Stanislaus County
Doug Aguillard
I started to head back home to SoCal, and stopped at Del Puerto Canyon
once more and went directly to Milepost 18 and stated looking. the weather was
great, and I found Sooty Dancers, Vivid Dancers, American Rubyspots, Flame
Skimmers, Red Rock Skimmers, and then, as I was about to leave, a single Grappletail
was suddenly sitting in front of me, and I almost missed it.
June 25, 2005
Shasta County
Koen G. H.
Breedveld
After my sighting of the alleged petaltail in the Pit River earlier this
week I had to go back and I did this morning. This morning I set out to collect
petaltail adults and larvae, hopefully some gomphids (Stylurus
spp possibly) and whatever else would be flying.
Unfortunately I did not plan for a whole lot of time and the time I
allotted myself was in the morning. Turns out the few odonates were out and for
sure no sign of the petaltails. So I tossed the net down in search of
larvae...after digging and exposing some of the tiny burrows in the mud and
moss I found my first petaltail larva. I collected three larvae. I was
stoked!!! ! [this updates the Black Petaltail Tanypteryx
hageni record to a larvae record and their larva found in
that habitat are unmistakable kb]
-------
Sonoma County
Doug Aguillard
I checked out Pine Flats Rd, and could only find Vivid Dancers,
Common Whitetails, Cardinal Meadowhawks, and Flame Skimmers at the
pond near mile marker 10 as the weather was cloudy and cold.
-----
Mendocino County
Anthony Fisher
Orr Creek: Saw a Pacific Spiketail that had recently emerged,
hanging from a little stick in the sedges. The mud-caked shell of his former
self lay below. I picked up the stick and sat with the animal for an hour in
the sun while he dripped dry. A swarm of tiny flies were landing the dragonfly,
perhaps lapping some nutritive residues from his cuticle(?). I shooed them
away. He eventually flew off in that glistening teneral way. I later saw a
Grappletail a little further downstream.
A pond off 3rd Gate Road: I wandered away from the wedding party to
check out the pond. Western Pondhawks, Eight-spotted Skimmers, Flame
Skimmers, Vivid Dancers, Pacific Forktails, Western Forktails and a few
unidentified others (I thought I might distract from the festivities by wildly
waving my net in an effort to make positive ids) were in attendance. One
8-spot was laying motionless in the water. I towed it in with a piece of
grass (real grass!) and found it to be barely alive. So I carried it around for
the rest of the afternoon hoping it would revive. No luck...but a perfect
specimen!
June 24, 2005
Butte County
David Edwards & John Hall
Upper Bidwell Park, Yahi Trail
American Rubyspot (25)
*California Spreadwing Archilestes californica (1)
California/Aztec Dancer (6)
Emma's Dancer (120)
Sooty Dancer (30)
Vivid Dancer (10)
Bison Snaketail (15)
Western River Cruiser (2)
*Neon Skimmer L. croceipennis (1)
Twelve-spotted Skimmer (1)
Flame Skimmer (7)
Red Rock Skimmer (3)
Butte Creek Ecological Reserve, Honey Run Unit
American Rubyspot (1)
California Aztec Dancer (2)
Emma's Dancer (5)
Boreal/Northern Bluet (2)
Pacific Forktail (1)
Bison Snaketail (1)
Western Pondhawk (2)
Twelve-spotted Skimmer (3)
Pond and seep along Willow Spring Rd - Accessed a short distance along
Centerville Rd after Honey Run Rd.
California/Aztec Dancer (3)
Vivid Dancer (1)
June 25, 2005
Shasta County
Koen G. H.
Breedveld
After my sighting of the alleged petaltail in the Pit River earlier this
week I had to go back and I did this morning.
This morning I set out to collect petaltail adults and larvae, hopefully
some gomphids (Stylurus spp possibly) and whatever else would be
flying.
Unfortunately I did not plan for a whole lot of time and the time I
allotted myself was in the morning.
Turns out the few odonates were out and for sure no sign of the
petaltails. So I tossed the net down in
search of larvae...after digging and exposing some of the tiny burrows in the
mud and moss I found my first petaltail larva.
I collected three larvae. I was
stoked!!! ! [this updates the Black Petaltail Tanypteryx
hageni record to a larvae record and their larva found in
that habitat are unmistakable kb]
-------
Sonoma County
Doug Aguillard
I checked out Pine Flats Rd, and could only find Vivid Dancers,
Common Whitetails, Cardinal Meadowhawks, and Flame Skimmers at the
pond near mile marker 10 as the weather was cloudy and cold.
-----
Mendocino County
Anthony Fisher
Orr Creek: Saw a Pacific Spiketail that had recently emerged,
hanging from a little stick in the sedges. The mud-caked shell of his former
self lay below. I picked up the stick and sat with the animal for an hour in
the sun while he dripped dry. A swarm of tiny flies were landing the dragonfly,
perhaps lapping some nutritive residues from his cuticle(?). I shooed them
away. He eventually flew off in that glistening teneral way. I later saw a
Grappletail a little further downstream.
A pond off 3rd Gate Road: I wandered away from the wedding party to
check out the pond. Western Pondhawks, Eight-spotted Skimmers, Flame
Skimmers, Vivid Dancers, Pacific Forktails, Western Forktails and a few
unidentified others (I thought I might distract from the festivities by wildly
waving my net in an effort to make positive ids) were in attendance. One
8-spot was laying motionless in the water. I towed it in with a piece of
grass (real grass!) and found it to be barely alive. So I carried it around for
the rest of the afternoon hoping it would revive. No luck...but a perfect
specimen!
June 24, 2005
Butte County
David Edwards & John Hall
Upper Bidwell Park, Yahi Trail
American Rubyspot (25)
*California Spreadwing Archilestes californica (1)
California/Aztec Dancer (6)
Emma's Dancer (120)
Sooty Dancer (30)
Vivid Dancer (10)
Bison Snaketail (15)
Western River Cruiser (2)
*Neon Skimmer L. croceipennis (1)
Twelve-spotted Skimmer (1)
Flame Skimmer (7)
Red Rock Skimmer (3)
Butte Creek Ecological Reserve, Honey Run Unit
American Rubyspot (1)
California Aztec Dancer (2)
Emma's Dancer (5)
Boreal/Northern Bluet (2)
Pacific Forktail (1)
Bison Snaketail (1)
Western Pondhawk (2)
Twelve-spotted Skimmer (3)
Pond and seep along Willow Spring Rd - Accessed a short distance along
Centerville Rd after Honey Run Rd.
California/Aztec Dancer (3)
Vivid Dancer (1)
Black-fronted Forktail (9)
Western Forktail (1)
Desert Firetail (11)
Common Green Darner (1)
Comanche Skimmer (1)
Twelve-spotted Skimmer (4)
Flame Skimmer (5)
Blue Dasher (1)
Common Whitetail (4)
Black Saddlebags (1)
Butte Creek east of Durham
American Rubyspot (6)
Pond Spreadwing, sp (1)
Emma's Dancer (6)
*Gray Sanddragon Progomphus borealis (1)
Spot-winged Glider (5)
Black Saddlebags (1)
-------
Sierra County
Doug Aguillard and Bruce Webb
Hwy 49 near Bassetts
Four-spotted Skimmer along the road where a waterfall was coming off of
the hills near a large turnout south of Bassett's.
-------
Placer County
Doug Aguillard
Featherhill Rd:
Black Saddlebags, Blue-eyed Darner, and a cooperative Pacific
Clubtail. I returned to Sculpture Park and found a
female Blue Dasher, and a Twelve-spotted Skimmer.
June 23, 2005
Butte County
David Edwards & John Hall
Cherry Hill Campground
Large sloping bog near campground
accessed easily from where Humboldt Rd. crosses Butte Creek
Western Red Damsel (10)
Vivid Dancer (20)
Black Petaltail (3)
Hoary Skimmer (1)
Snag Lake, marshy east end
Boreal Northern Bluet (5)
Common Green Darner (1)
Twelve-spotted Skimmer (15)
Small pond north side of Humbug Road past Snag Lake near crest of road
before it descends to Butte Creek House
*Taiga Bluet Coenagrion resolutum (3) one in-hand
Boreal/Northern Bluet (7)
Mosaic Darner, sp (1) probably Blue-eyed
Common Green Darner (1)
Twelve-spotted Skimmer (15)
Butte Creek House
Lots of snow on ridge beyond meadow and some patchy snow in woods near
meadow
Vivid Dancer (1)
Taiga Bluet (6)
Western Forktail (2)
Whiteface, sp (3) juvenile/teneral
Twelve-spotted Skimmer (10)
Four-spotted Skimmer (5)
Cardinal Meadowhawk (1)
-------
Plumas County
Doug Aguillard
Graeagle,
near a
stream was Western Red Damsels, and Western Forktails.
Lassen County
In the afternoon, we were along the 395
and could find nothing
but Vivid Dancers.
-------
Tehama County
Ray Bruun
Wilson Lake
*Leucorrhinia julia Chalk-fronted Corporal (photos taken of a male and
a young female)
Leucorrhinia intacta Dot-tailed Whiteface (photos taken of a female)
June 22, 2005
Sierra County
Doug Aguillard
a field along Calpine Rd,
where I saw Tule Bluets, and a
female Striped Meadowhawk. We then walked up a mountain towards a
fire lookout (still near Calpine), and I had several Eight-spotted Skimmers,
and my first Red-veined Meadowhawk. It was then off to Carman Valley,
where we found some alpine meadows, and I had a Dot-tailed Whiteface. We
later found some ponds and had the following: Common Green Darners,
Blue-eyed Darners, Eight-spotted Skimmers, Western
Pondhawk Erythemis collocata (sighting
only), Common Whitetails, several Beaverpond
Baskettails Epitheca canis (photo voucher), Red-veined
Meadowhawk, Western Forktails, & Western Red Damsels.
June 21, 2005
Shasta County
Koen G. H.
Breedveld
I was out again in the Pit River today, near Big Bend and may have run
into a Black Petaltail Tanypteryx hageni
. I took a lunch break at a very
pretty spring/seepage area, lots of moss, wild rhubarb, and monkey
flowers. The usual Jewelwings,
Rubyspots, Libellula pulchella, and Gomphus kurilis were out,
but one was different: I got a
good look at one individual: the
pterostigma was LONG, the eyes were grey/brown; not blue as in the Pacific
Spiketail, and the abdomen had small yellow spots (did not get a good look at
the thorax). Overall size appeared
smaller than the Pacific Spiketail and Western River Cruiser specimens in my
collection. I debated if I should post
this message, given that it was a sighting only (no photo) and there are
apparently no records of Black Petaltails
in Shasta County. I guess I just have
to go back and collect a specimen from the area. [this will count for a sighting only record until a specimen is
caught kb]
-------
Sierra County
Doug Aguillard
I had a California Darner Rhionaeschna
californica (photo voucher) south of Loyalton. There was
also many Vivid Dancers at all elevations visited. It was finally at a
small stream east of Loyalton up in the higher elevations that I had several Eight-spotted
Skimmers, Western Red Damsels and Northern/Boreal type Bluets, and
a Pacific Forktail.
June 20, 2005
Sierra County
Doug Aguillard
1 green female darner in some bushes, that I am assuming was a
Blue-eyed Darner along the Yuba River west of Downieville.
June 19, 2005
Shasta County
Ray Bruun
Battle Creek Wildlife Area -
I spent a few hours photographing odes at Battle Creek Wildlife Area in
south-central Shasta County. It was the first time using a new technique (for
me) called cross-polarization. Simply put, it means placing a polarizing film
in front of the flash and a polarizing filter on the lens. The lines of
polarization on the film and the filter are oriented 90 degrees to each other.
The result is an almost complete lack of glare on the subject. No diffuser
element is used, just the two polarizing elements.
Photos at http://bruunphotography.com/ode_locations/btlcrkwa_061905.html
American Rubyspot
Black-fronted Forktail
Sinuous Snaketail
Western Pondhawk
Twelve-spotted Skimmer
Flame Skimmer
Blue Dasher
Variegated Meadowhawk
Western Meadowhawk
-------
Placer County
Doug Aguillard
Sculpture Park in Roseville - I had sunny conditions, but no real luck
on anything that I was chasing. I had many American Rubyspots, Vivid
Dancers, Emma's Dancers, California Dancers, and one *Pale-faced
Clubskimmer Brechmorhoga mendax.
June 15, 2004
Stanislaus County
Doug Aguillard
Del Puerto Canyon - The weather was cloud cover, and at Milepost 18, I
found several Sooty Dancers, American Rubyspots, Vivid Dancers, and
Emma's Dancers.
-------
Siskiyou County
Kathy and Dave Biggs
Dave and I were delighted to find some new, wonderful habitat in the
McCloud area of Siskiyou Co. We sort of stumbled across it, but it is an alkali
spring adjacent to a fresh, fast moving creek, with a bog type pond formed
between the two waterways. I'll post some pictures of the site in a CalOdes
photos folder.
The location is Soda Springs, on Squaw Valley Rd., 1 mile South of the
Golf Course, which is 1 mile South of the town of McCloud (Hwy 89).
Species seen:
Vivid Dancers - some
Bluet sp. - some, appeared to be Boreal &/or Northern, but we will
go back with a net next visit.
Tule Bluet - a few
Western Forktail - many
Western Red Damsel - a few
Common Green Darner - a few
Blue-eyed Darner - a few
Common Whitetail - many
Twelve-spotted Skimmer - common
Four-spotted Skimmer - common
Cardinal Meadowhawk - some
Black Saddlebags - some
I kept telling Dave that this habitat looked perfect for Hoary Skimmers
and I couldn't image why there weren't any. Keep reading, the joke was on me!
From there we continued south on Squaw Valley Rd. and stopped ~1 mile
further down the road at Cooley Ranch Rd. Although the only dragonflies seen
were Vivid Dancers and No/Bo Bluets, we did scare a black bear out of
the creek!
Another mile south is Friday's Fly Fishing Ranch. This has always been
productive for us and the owners are cooperative if you stop and ask permission
to look for dragonflies on their multiple ponds. Although the 'main' pond by
the entrance was being temporarily drained for cleaning, we still had a
productive stop. We saw all of the above listed species except the
Western Red Damsels, and we also saw -
Beaverpond Baskettail - some (presumed this species as we have netted it
here before)
Pacific Clubtail - one male
Western Pondhawk - a few
Widow Skimmer - one male
Flame Skimmer - one male
*Hoary Skimmer Libellula nodisticta - several males and females!! This was a surprise to
us, as we have stopped here for several years now, and never noted them before.
They were near a boggy area by Squaw Valley Rd. and, of course, this was the
only area we didn't carry our camera into! They were quite cooperative, letting
us get within inches of them before they flew off! Interestingly, the spots at
the nodus were quite large on each of the ones we observed, maybe twice the
size of the spots on the ones we've seen here in Sonoma Co (the pix in both my
books) - the Sonoma County Hoary's had spots at the nodus that were twice the
size of those found on the DSA Post-trip in the Bishop area at Antelope
Springs.
Missing were the Dot-tailed Whiteface - perhaps too early, perhaps the
pond draining has affected them?
AND, as an 'also seen' - a pair
of Sandhill Cranes flew in synch over our heads and into a nearby meadow. The
owners of Friday's told us they'd been seen quite a bit this Spring. This may
be a new site for them in Siskiyou Co.... my brother, Bob Claypole, wasn't'
certain however and will check on it.
-------
Lassen County
John Hall and David Edwards
Willow Creek Wildlife Area - (Route 139 approximately 15 miles north of
Susanville. There is a parking area and kiosk on the east side of the highway.)
Emerald Spreadwing (2)
Western Red Damsel (2)
River Bluet (5) one in-hand
Tule Bluet (10)
Northern Bluet (1) in-hand
Boreal/Northern Bluet (5)
Bluet, sp (20)
Pacific Forktail (20)
Western Forktail (10)
Mosaic Darner, sp (5)
California Darner (10)
Blue-eyed Darner (3)
Eight-spotted Skimmer (10)
Variegated Meadowhawk (1)
** *Cherry-faced Meadowhawk
Sympetrum internum (10) all females or juveniles [new early flight data
by 2 wks kb]
Cooper Swamp - There is still some snow on the ground around the swamp
but dragonfly activity was present. We
observed a large emergence of Four-spotted
Skimmers.
Western Red Damsel (1)
Boreal/Northern Bluet (1)
Common Green Darner (1)
*Hudsonian Whiteface Leucorrhinia hudsonica (5) all juvenile or
female,1 male in-hand
Dot-tailed Whiteface (2) juvenile or female, probably more
*Crimson-ringed Whiteface
Leucorrhinia glacialis(4) 1 adult male
Whiteface, sp (20) juvenile or females
Four-spotted Skimmer (100) many emerging
-------
Shasta County
Bruce Deuel
Turtle Bay West in Redding:
Enallagma sp., 1 the only damsel seen
Common Green Darner, Anax junius 3
Common Pondhawk, Erythemis collocata 2
Eight-spotted Skimmer (Libellula forensis) 1
Widow Skimmers (Libellula luctuosa) 10
Twelve-spotted Skimmers (Libellula pulchella) 6
Flame Skimmers (Libellula saturata) 2
Blue Dashers (Pachydiplax longipennis) 8-10
Common Whitetails (Plathemis lydia) 12
Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata) 4
June 14, 2005
Colusa County
Kathy and Dave Biggs
Dave and I stopped at Bear Creek at the intersection of Bear Creek &
Hiway 20 from 11-11:30 while en route further north. The temperature was
85.
The good news is that the Giants were out; but the Sanddragon &
Ringtails weren't seen:
American Rubyspot - many
Dancer sp. - most likely CA Dancer - many
Vivid Dancer - some
Sooty Dancer - some
Familiar Bluet - some
Western Forktail - one male
Blue-eyed Darner - 1
Giant Darner - 2-3
Clubtail sp. - 6 on road, probably Pacific Clubtails
Western River Cruiser - 2+
Flame Skimmer - many
Widow Skimmer - 1 male
Meadowhawk sp. - 1 pale colored, probably Variegated
Meadowhawk sp. - 1 Cardinal/Red-veined
Black Saddlebags 1
-------
Modoc County
John Hall and David Edwards
Sand Creek (take Co Road 18 north from Route 299 east of Cedarville.
This gravel road is just before 299 curves to the left. Sand Creek at this time
was flowing across the road.)
Western Red Damsel (1)
Vivid Dancer (7)
Boreal/Northern Bluet (1)
Pacific Forktail (1)
Western Forktail (40)
California Darner (2)
*Pale Snaketail Ophiogomphus severus* (1) [only date reported in 2005]
Modoc National Wildlife Refuge at Alturas
Emerald Spreadwing (1)
Tule Bluet (5)
Boreal/Northern Bluet (20)
Pacific Forktail (5)
Western Forktail (10)
Common Green Darner (10)
California Darner (15)
Blue-eyed Darner (2)
Beaverpond Baskettail (1) presumed
Eight-spotted Skimmer (30)
Four-spotted Skimmer (1)
Common Whitetail (4)
Variegated Meadowhawk (20)
-------
Lassen County
David Edwards and John Hall
Blue Lake
Our observations were hindered by cloud cover. We observed no exuvia on
the emergent vegetation.
Western Red Damsel (3)
Vivid Dancer (4)
Boreal/Northern Bluet (20)
Pacific Forktail (30)
Western Forktail (20)
Eight-spotted Skimmer (1)
-------
Sonoma County
Brock Dolman, Michael Ellis, Kendall Dunnigan and Jim
Coleman
OAECs seasonal ponds (Ocean Song, Coleman Valley Rd out of
Occidental)
We went out to one of our
seasonal ponds with nets, binos, and ID
books to geek out on Odonata! See the sighting list below.
Here is the list of observed species
. without a lot of field time or
collection effort:
Northern Bluet
Western Forktail
Black Spreadwing
Common Green Darner
Blue-eyed Darner
Cardinal Meadowhawk
Blue Dasher
Eight-spotted Skimmer
Widow Skimmer
Flame Skimmer
Black Saddlebags
-------
Shasta County
Koen G. H.
Breedveld
Finally, after a long spell of cold weather and rain the Pit River
between Fall River Mills and Big Bend is down to the usual discharge. I had a
chance to get into the canyon for work this week and the odonates are out.
Found many Calopteryx aequabilis and Hetaerina
americana and some Sympetrum illotum, Libellula pulchella, and
Gomphus kurilis. There were
other dragonflies and a ton of the smaller blue damselflies, that I could not
ID in flight.
June 13, 2005
Modoc County
David Edwards & John Hall
Canby Bridge over Pit River west of Canby to USGS Pit River measurement
station along Route 299
American Rubyspot Hetaerina americana (2) upgrades from sighting to photo record
Emma's Dancer (1)
Vivid Dancer (1)
Bluet, sp (1)
Western Forktail (1)
California Darner (1)
Pacific Clubtail (1)
Crowder Flat Road near Willow Creek Ranch - Small pond at MP 21.5
Emerald Spreadwing (20)
Boreal/Northern Bluet (3)
Western Forktail (50)
Common Green Darner (1)
Dot-tailed Whiteface (3)
Eight-spotted Skimmer (1)
Twelve-spotted Skimmer (2)
Four-spotted Skimmer (4)
Variegated Meadowhawk (2)
Willow Creek Ford on Crowder Flat Road near Willow Creek Ranch
Western Red Damsel (4)
Boreal Bluet (1) in-hand
Northern Bluet (1) in-hand
Boreal/Northern Bluet (30)
Pacific Forktail (10)
Western Forktail (100)
Common Green Darner (5)
California Darner (2)
Snaketail, sp (1)
Beaverpond Baskettail (70) presumably/appendages on one examined
Western Pondhawk (2)
Dot-tailed Whiteface (10) 7 adult males
Whiteface, sp (40) probably Dot-tailed as well
Eight-spotted Skimmer (10)
Four-spotted Skimmer (15)
Spot-winged Glider (1) in-hand
Common Whitetail (3)
Variegated Meadowhawk (1)
June 11, 2004
Sonoma County
Kathy and Dave Biggs, Michael Ellis & the Footloose
Forays group
At Spring Lake in Santa Rosa (we had a catch and release permit):
Black Spreadwing one
male in hand
Bluet sp. a few
seen
Pacific Forktail in
hand
Blue-eyed Darner in
hand
Common Green Darner some
seen
Western Pondhawk one
male seen well
Eight-spotted Skimmer in
hand, many seen
Widow Skimmer in
hand, many seen
Common Whitetail some
Flame Skimmer in
hand, many seen
Blue Dasher in
hand, many seen
Cardinal Meadowhawk a few
seen
Black Saddlebags a few
June 10, 2004
Contra Costa County
Kathy and Dave Biggs, & the Tilden Regional Parks
Workshop group:
At the Wagner Ranch Schools Natural Areas pond:
Pacific Forktail in
hand
Blue-eyed Darner in
hand, wrongly emerged, couldnt fly. We performed dragonfly surgery, removing
the damaged wing, and it flew off 15 sec. later!
Cardinal Meadowhawk a few
seen
Flame Skimmer one
seen
Blue Dasher some
seen
--------
Alameda County
John Hall/ David Edwards
Alameda Creek, Sunol Regional Wilderness
David and I waded the stream above the vehicular bridge and below the
visitors' center on Friday, June 10, 2005. Activity was quite high.
American Rubyspot 20
California Dancer 2
California/Aztec Dancer 3
Emma's Dancer 70
Sooty Dancer 30
Vivid Dancer 85
Bluet,sp 20
Northern Bluet 1
Boreal/Northern Bluet 20
Arroyo Bluet 6
Pacific Forktail 2
Western Forktail 5
Exclamation Damsel 6
Mosaic Darner, sp 2
California Darner 4
Pacific Clubtail 6
Grappletail 1
Bison Snaketail 5
Western River Cruiser Macromia magnifica 6 [photo voucher]
Western Pondhawk 3
Widow Skimmer 1
Flame Skimmer 17
Red Rock Skimmer Paltothemis lineatipes 3 photo taken, upgrade of
prior sighting only record
Common Whitetail 5
Variegated Meadowhawk 1
Cardinal Meadowhawk 3
Black Saddlebags 1
June 7, 2005
Sonoma County
Michael J. Ellis & the Footloose Forays Tue. hiking
group:
Riverfront Park Regional Park, Russian River, West of Healdsburg
Pacific Forktail Ischnura cervula
CA Dancer Argia agrioides
Blue-eyed Darner Aeshna
multicolor
Common Green Darner Anax junius
Western Pondhawk Erythemis collocata
Eight-spotted Skimmer Libellula forensis
Widow Skimmer Libellula luctuosa
Flame Skimmer Libellula saturata
Blue Dasher Pachydiplax longipennis
Western Meadowhawk Sympetrum occidentale [county record - kb]
-------
Santa Clara County
John Hall/ David Edwards
Monte Bello Open Space Preserve, Monte Bello Succession Pond
Vivid Dancer (15)
Pacific Forktail (1)
Swift Forktail (10)
Monte Bello Pond
Boreal Bluet (2) in-hand
Boreal/Northern Bluet (2)
Arroyo Bluet (20)
Pacific Forktail (45)
Swift Forktail (2)
Western Forktail (8)
California Darner (2)
Blue-eyed Darner (6)
Western Pondhawk (5)
Eight-spotted Skimmer (12)
Flame Skimmer (10)
Cardinal Meadowhawk (10)
Red-veined Meadowhawk (2)
---
San Mateo County
Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve,
Horseshoe Lake
Vivid Dancer (2)
Boreal/Northern Bluet (15)
Arroyo Bluet (2)
Pacific Forktail (70)
Western Forktail (3)
California Darner (3)
Blue-eyed Darner (2)
Mosaic Darner sp (3)
Western Pondhawk (1)
Eight-spotted Skimmer (11)
Flame Skimmer (3)
Blue Dasher (4)
Cardinal Meadowhawk (17)
Alpine Pond
California/Aztec Dancer (1)
Vivid Dancer (3)
Pacific Forktail (25)
Eight-spotted Skimmer (1)
Blue Dasher (1)
June 6, 2005
Contra Costa County
Chris Heaivilin
Oakley
I decided to dust off the camera and take a photo safari to one of my
regular haunts. As usual, species
diversity was poor, but quantity of individuals was good.
A. junius ~10
A. multicolor ~10
S. corruptum 1
S. pallipes ~5 (More than usual for this location)
L. saturata 1
L. lydia ~10
L. luctuosa ~10 (Both male and female.
All were teneral. I usually only
see one a year in this location)
T. lacerata ~3
P. longipennis ~20
E. collocata ~20
E. civile ~100s
I. cervula ~100s
June 5, 2004
Sonoma County
Kathy and Dave Biggs, Michael Ellis & the Footloose
Forays group
At Spring Lake in Santa Rosa (we had a catch and release permit):
Tule Bluet in
hand
Pacific Forktail in
hand
Exclamation Damsel in
scope
Blue-eyed Darner in
hand
Eight-spotted Skimmer in
hand, many seen
Widow Skimmer 2-3
Common Whitetail some
Flame Skimmer 2-3
seen after lunch
Blue Dasher in
hand, many seen
Black Saddlebags a few
-------
Sonoma County
Alan Wight
Entrance to Bodega Dunes Campground:
Both Red-veined and Cardinal Meadowhawks are common here right
now, along with Black Spreadwings (presumably) and Blue-eyed Darners. Its a nice spot for
odonates. They are in the small
grassy areas along the campground entrance road near Highway 1. http://www.sonic.net/~shwand/odonata/red_veined_meadowhawk.htm
June 4, 2004
Shasta County
Ray Bruun
I took a trip through the mountains of Shasta County, from Shingletown
to Burney, yesterday. It was a bit
rough on the little Toyota commuter car, which lost a large section of molding
off of the driver's side front and who knows what else. I've since been banned from ever again
taking it four-wheeling, a good thing I suppose . . . time to get a new battery
for the ol' pickup.
The first stop was a small spring-fed pond along the roadside at an
elevation just under 5,000 feet (40.67186°N, 21.76736°W -- WGS 84/NAD 83).
The pond water was four to five feet deep, crystal clear, and had several
salamanders cruising the bottom. The
best ode was a female Swift Forktail.
unknown Bluet - several
Swift Forktail - 1 female
Western Forktail - several
Western Red Damsel - common, many in tandem/wheel (first time I've seen them
in wheel)
*Dot-tailed Whiteface Leucorrhinia intacta - 1 flyby (male?)
Eight-spotted Skimmer - several
*Four-spotted Skimmer Libellula quadrimaculata - several
The next spot was a wet meadow, elevation 4800' (40.69884°N,
121.72721°W).
*Emerald Spreadwing Lestes dryas - common
Western Forktail - common
Western Red Damsel - common
Another, very large wet meadow ("The Gardens"), elevation
4900,' had the same species as the previous meadow with the addition of Four-spotted
Skimmer and lots of mosquitoes (40.74155°N, 121.69405°W). Emerald Spreadwing was by far the
most numerous ode here.
A third meadow ("Dan Hunt Meadows"), elevation 4800', was
actually a lake having some more of the same salamanders
(40.70324°N,121.75075°W). I suppose it
dries up quite a bit later in the summer.
Not many odes here (a few Eight-spotted Skimmers and unidentified
Bluets).
I was looking forward to seeing Buckhorn Lake, elevation 4800', but it
had recently been closed to the public.
The owner, Roseburg, had installed a gate across the entrance road on 5/27/05
(according to a sign at the gate).
The final spot, and where I spent the most time, was Dry Lake, elevation
4100' (40.80304°N, 121.70367°W). This
location also had a small, spring-fed pond.
The pond was deeper and the water even more clear than the first
pond. The spring feeding the pond
gushed from the bottom of a hill nearby. Water over-flowed the pond running
into a large wet meadow (i.e., Dry Lake).
I found two Swift Forktails at this location, a male and a female
(the
female I was able to photograph).
Emerald Spreadwing - Abundant; I've never seen them so thick.
unidentified Bluet - several
Swift Forktail - 2, male and female
Western Forktail - common
Western Red Damsel - common
Common Green Darner - 1
Twelve-spotted Skimmer - several
Common Whitetail - 2 (in wheel)
Four-spotted Skimmer - several
Summary: It was a long, exciting day, with a total of 11 odes, including
a significant range extension for Swift Forktail in Shasta County. I saw my first Emerald Spreadwing and
Dot-tailed Whiteface of the year, and the scenery was magnificent.
-------
Siskiyou County
Bob Claypole
Sinuous Snaketails - the first seen on the Klamath River Highway (#96)
near Dona Creek.
June 3, 2005
Orange County
Sara Marini
Balboa Park Los Angeles. I was only able to spend 35 mins. there due to work but there was a lot of
activity in that short time.
Mexican Amberwing (6) males
Red Saddlebags (2) males) & (3) pairs in tandem
Common Green Darner (1) male
Vivid Dancer (15+)
Familiar Bluet (6)
-------
El Dorado County
Steve Abbott
I had a little time at lunch to
visit Lumsden Park in Placerville and found a great bunch of active bugs.
BLUET SP. - several
PACIFIC CLUBTAIL - 1
GOMPHUS SP. - 1
PACIFIC SPIKETAIL - 1
WESTERN PONDHAWK - 1
FLAME SKIMMER - 8-12
TWELVE-SPOTTED SKIMMER - 6
WIDOW SKIMMER - 6-10
COMMON WHITETAIL - 2-4
BLACK SADDLEBAGS - 6
Nice to see all this activity nearby!
-------
Mono County
John Hall & David Edwards
Mono Lake Marina
Western Red Damsel (3)
De Chambeau Ponds, Mono Lake
Tule Bluet (2)
Boreal/Northern/Familiar Bluet (6)
Pacific Forktail (4)
Black-fronted Forktail (12)
Western Forktail (9)
Common Green Darner (1)
Blue-eyed Darner (1)
Spot-winged Glider (1)
Variegated Meadowhawk (1)
Hot Creek near Fales Hot Springs along Highway 395 north of Bridgeport
**River Bluet Enallagma anna (20), 1 in-hand [new early
flight data by one day kb]
Alpine County
shallow ponds along route 89 2.5 miles west of Alpine County border
Boreal Bluet (2), 2 in-hand
Boreal/Northern Bluet (30)
Common Green Darner (1)
Twelve-spotted Skimmer (1)
Variegated Meadowhawk (20)
June 2, 2005
Contra Costa County
Doug Vaughan
My wife and I visited two small ponds on the San Pablo/Briones watershed
in Contra Costa County today. One in particular was impressive (14 species and
good numbers), despite being maybe 50-75 feet across. Here's what we saw:
*Northern (=Common) Spreadwing (Lestes disjunctus) - in hand; among 50-75 Lestes
spp.
Black Spreadwing (L. stultus) - most perhaps this species
Boreal Bluet (Enallagma boreale) - one in hand; among 100ish
bluets
Tule Bluet (E. carunculatum) - one in hand
Arroyo Bluet (E. praevarum) - one in hand
Pacific Forktail (Ischnura cervula) - only 5-10
Common Green Darner (Anax junius) - at least 2 males
Blue-eyed Darner (Rhionaeschna multicolor) - 2 or 3 males
California Darner (R. californica) - 1, but not confirmed in
hand
Cardinal Meadowhawk - 10-20, most males
Red-veined Meadowhawk - 2-3, including a tandem pair
Western Pondhawk (Erythemis collocata) - 3, including a pair in
wheel
Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) - 10-20, most males
Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia) - about a dozen, including
ovipositing female with hovering guard
Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) - 1 male
Eight-spotted Skimmer (L. forensis) - 3 or 4, including 1 female
-------
Inyo County
John Hall & David Edwards
Dirty Socks Spring
Paiute Dancer (5), 1 in-hand
Tule Bluet (25), 2 in-hand
Familiar Bluet (60)
*Alkali Bluet Enallagma clausum (8), 1 in-hand
Desert Forktail (25)
Pacific Forktail (1)
Common Green Darner (3)
Blue-eyed Darner (1)
Bleached Skimmer (1)
Wandering Glider (4)
Desert Whitetail (2)
Variegated Meadowhawk (3)
Black Saddlebags (2)
Mazourka Springs
California Dancer (1), in-hand
Paiute Dancer (15)
Vivid Dancer (1)
Tule Bluet (6)
Familiar Bluet (1)
Pacific Forktail (10)
Black-fronted Forktail (8)
Desert Firetail (10)
Common Green Darner (1)
Blue-eyed Darner (7)
Western Pondhawk (25)
Eight-spotted Skimmer (10)
Blue Dasher (25)
Wandering Glider (2)
Desert Whitetail (8)
Black Saddlebags (1)
Tollhouse Springs along Route 168
Vivid Dancer (40)
Blue-eyed Darner (1)
Owens River crossing, Highway 168
American Rubyspot (3)
Irrigation Ditch which crosses Route 168 just off Route 395 at Big Pine
Vivid Dancer (2)
Tule Bluet (150)
Pacific Forktail (10)
Common Green Darner (1)
Blue-eyed Darner (2)
Black Saddlebags (2)
McNally Ditch, Laws
Familiar Bluet (4)
Black-fronted Forktail (2)
Common Green Darner (2)
Blue-eyed Darner (1)
Eight-spotted Skimmer (1)
Wandering Glider (10)
Variegated Meadowhawk (20)
-------
*Cordulia shurtleffi American Emerald
June 1, 2005
Siskiyou County
Dave and Kathy Biggs
Widow Springs Pond, Widow Springs Rd off of Pilgrim Creek Rd, East of
McCloud
*Western Red Damsel Amphiagrion abbreviatum 1-2
May
2005
May 31, 2005
Inyo County
Marshall J. Iliff
I was surprised again to find a single Giant Darner around on of
the ponds at Furnace Creek Ranch on 31 May 2005 and to find three more at
Scotty's Castle. Strangely enough, another birder at Scotty's asked me if I had
noticed the giant Darners since he too had seen them and was surprised by their
presence, based on the maps in Manolis (2003). One was still present at Furnace
Creek 1 June.
May 30, 2005
San Benito County
Paul Johnson
I was working in the San Benito River in the southeastern part of the
county yesterday and saw about five bison
snaketails Opohiogomphus bison
(photo
record) in a one-mile stretch. Looks like it's a new record for the county, and
a bit outside Tim Manolis' range map.
The stream was fairly small and rocky, in an area of serpentine
soil. Ive posted images on the group
site. [ yes, new record! kb]
Also observed recently at Pinnacles National Monument:
-grappletail
-Pacific spiketail
-common whitetail
-flame skimmer
-variegated meadowhawk (teneral)
-cardinal meadowhawk
-red saddlebags
-American ruby-spot
_______
Sonoma County
Paul Saraceni, Kevin McKereghan, Eric Preston, Dan Singer
[We] visited Pine Flat Road in NE Sonoma County. Unlike Kathy's visit
reported yesterday, we had clear skies and warm temperatures much of the day,
which provided good Odes activity, as well as other wildlife observations.
Our species list keyed by location:
"MM0" = bridge over creek at beginning of Pine Flat Rd.
"MM4" = roadside seep ~0.2 mi. above MM4.5 on Pine Flat Rd.
(there is a gravel parking lot around the bend and just above the obvious seep)
"RP" = Rebizzo Ranch pond (viewed from roadside)
"RS" = Rebizzo Ranch roadside seep (~0.1 mi. above pond,
across from pullout)
"MM10" = seep and seasonal pond accessed from small lot/dirt
track nr. Pine Flat Rd. MM 10.0
"MM8/9" = creek area just in from road b/t MM8-9
"MM1" = rocky creek below Pine Flat Rd. MM 1.0 (climb down
boulder pile to access creek)
American Rubyspot -- MM1 10+ (incl. tandem pairs)
Black Spreadwing -- MM10 20+ (incl. tandem pairs)
California/Aztec-type Dancer -- MM8/9 1 m.
Emma's Dancer -- MM1 5+ (incl. tandem pair)
Vivid Dancer -- 30+; all stops (incl. tandem pairs)
Tule/Arroyo-type bluet -- RP 2
Northern/Boreal-type Bluet -- RP 5+; MM10 10+; MM8/9 5+
(incl. tandem pairs)
Western Forktail -- MM10 5+
*Black Petaltail Tanypteryx hageni -- MM10 1 m. & 1 f. in
seep; f. ovipositing; m. repeatedly returned to same perch, later picked up f.
and went into wheel position
Blue-eyed Darner -- RP 2 m.
Grappletail -- RS 1 m. & 1 f. (in wheel)
Pacific Clubtail -- RP 1 f. (ovipositing); MM8/9 1
Bison Snaketail -- MM1 2
Variegated Meadowhawk -- MM4 1
Cardinal Meadowhawk -- RP 1 m.; MM10 2 m.
Red-veined Meadowhawk -- MM10 8+ (incl. tandem pairs, 1 in-hand ID)
Common Whitetail -- RP 1 m.; MM10 5+ m.; MM8/9 1 m.; MM1 1 f.
Eight-spotted Skimmer -- MM0 1 m.
Flame Skimmer -- RP 5+; MM10 5+
Black Saddlebags -- MM0 1, RP 1
Interesting to see how things are recovering from last August's forest
fire, which has scarred the upper areas. Impressive wildlflowers, lots of bird
activity in the burned-out areas (e.g., Lazuli Buntings very common, House
Wrens, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Ash-throated Flycatchers, Warbling &
Cassin's Vireos, Western Tanagers, etc.). Other interesting avian observations
included 2 Mountain Quail calling from hillside above MM10, 2 Purple Martins
over MM10, and a Golden Eagle atop transmission tower near MM4.
Also several W. Pond Turtles, many W. Fence Lizards, 4 species of snakes
(Gopher, Cal. Red-sided Garter, Aquatic Garter, W. Rattlesnake), 10+ species of
butterflies. Great day!
-------
Colusa County
Dave and Kathy Biggs
Dave and I stopped at Bear Creek near where it crosses Hwy 20 for a half
hour (12-12:30) on May 30th. It was 83 degrees. From the bank we saw:
American Rubyspot - many
CA Dancer - one in hand, many tenerals
Vivid Dancer - a few
*Sooty Dancer Argia lugens - a few
Bluet sp. - a few
Pacific Clubtail - 3+
*Western River Cruiser Macromia magnifica - ~3 (one was flying a beat
that ended just where the barbed wire restarts, ~ 1/4 mile off Hwy 20 - VERY
easy to see)
Flame Skimmer - many
Common Whitetail - 2-3
Black Saddlebags - 1
On our return by this area on June 2, at 6 pm, we added
Western Forktail - 1 female
Common Green Darner - one
The Giant Darners apparently hadn't emerged yet, nor the Ringtails. We
might have seen a Sanddragon on the 30th, but it was in flight (chasing the
Cruiser!) at a distance.
-------
Kern County
Tim Manolis
Galileo Hills
*Giant Darner 1-2
May 29, 2005
Marin County
Eric Preston
I spent the afternoon at Alpine Lake and Lake Lagunitas on Sunday. Warm, sunny, lots of people and lots of
odes.
Black Spreadwing 10+ -- Alpine Lake
Pacific Forktail 10+
Bluets I didn't bother IDing
California Darner 2
Pacific Clubtail 10+
Beaverpond Baskettail 5+
Cardinal Meadowhawk 1
Striped Meadowhawk 30+ -- a huge recent emergence, all at Alpine
Lake
Eight-spotted Skimmer - 10
Common Whitetail - 15 - includes one that had just emerged, with the
exuvia still on its forewing
Flame Skimmer - 5
Bullfrog - 3000+ tadpoles
Some photos:
http://www.ericwpreston.com/BeaverpondBaskettail_2.html
http://www.ericwpreston.com/CommonWhitetail_1.html
http://www.ericwpreston.com/CaliforniaSister_1.html
May 28, 2005
Imperial County
John Hall & David Edwards
Palo Verde County Park
Powdered Dancer (5)
Blue-ringed Dancer (35)
**Double-striped Bluet Enallagma basidens* (25) [new early flight data
by 2 months!! And only time reported this year]
Familiar Bluet (15)
Citrine Forktail* (2) [last
date reported 2005]
Rambur's Forktail (7)
Western Pondhawk (50)
Widow Skimmer (50)
Flame Skimmer (2)
Blue Dasher (30)
Wandering Glider (3)
Mexican Amberwing (3)
Red Saddlebags (5)
--
Riverside County
Palo Verde Diversion Dam
American Rubyspot (4)
Powdered Dancer (150)
Blue-ringed Dancer (20)
Familiar Bluet (15)
Citrine Forktail (2)
Western Pondhawk (1)
Blue Dasher (2)
Wandering Glider (1)
Red Saddlebags (1)
May 27, 2005
Contra Costa County
Doug Vaughan
I walked to a perennial pond, lush and brimming, and alive with odes,
especially damsels, despite mild temperatures and a fairly brisk wind. Bluets
were present in swarms, including at least the first three species below,
examined in hand:
Boreal Bluet (Enallagma boreale) - several
Tule Bluet (E. carunculatum) - one
Arroyo Bluet (E. praevarum) - one
Pacific Forktail (Ischnura cervula) - dozens
Western Forktail (I. perparva) - dozens, most females
*Desert Firetail (Telebasis salva) - one male
Common Green Darner (Anax junius) - at least one male and one
female
Blue-eyed Darner (Rhionaeschna multicolor) - a few
Cardinal Meadowhawk - 10-15, most males, one tandem pair
Western Pondhawk (Erythemis collocata) - - 10-15 males
Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) - - one immature
male
Common Whitetail - one or two
Eight-spotted Skimmer (Libellula forensis) - one male
-------
Riverside County
John Hall and David Edwards
Dos Palmas Preserve
Dos Palmas is open year round. Access is off Highway 111. Travel south
from Mecca to Parkside Drive, across from the Salton Sea State Recreation Area
headquarters. Make a left onto Parkside and travel to Desertaire. Make a right
turn and continue to dirt road and follow signs to Preserve. Parking is
available on the right side of the road before the locked gate. Walk down the
road about a mile to the maintenance building. There are small ponds to the
right and larger ponds to the left. Bring plenty of water as there is none
available at the Preserve. Special thanks to Jeff Cole for his 1999 sightings
that alerted us to this location. A very hot place in more ways than one!
American Rubyspot (1)
*Paiute Dancer Argia alberta (5)
Powdered Dancer (2)
Blue-ringed Dancer (50)
Familiar Bluet (10)
Desert Forktail (1)
Citrine Forktail (10)
Rambur's Forktail (60)
Common Green Darner (10)
Blue-eyed Darner (1)
*White-belted Ringtail Erpetogomphus compositus (2)
Red-tailed Pennant* (50) [last
date reported in 2005]
Western Pondhawk (150)
*Comanche Skimmer Libellula comanche (25)
**Bleached Skimmer Libellula compositus (5) [new early flight data
by 3 days- kb]
Widow Skimmer (60)
Flame Skimmer (6)
Marl Pennant Macrodiplax balteata (30)
*Roseate Skimmer Orthemis
ferruginea (2)
Blue Dasher (600)
Wandering Glider (5)
Spot-winged Glider Pantala hymenaea (1)
Mexican Amberwing (1)
*Desert Whitetail Libellula subornata (10)
Variegated Meadowhawk (5)
Black Saddlebags (60)
Red Saddlebags (30)
May 26, 2005
Shasta County
Ray Bruun
I took a long lunch today, longer than I intended. The first stop was Turtle Pond at the
Redding Arboretum near the Sacramento River.
It was a frustrating place, too deep for wading and not very many
odes. So, I wandered a bit, wading
downstream along Sulphur Creek (seasonal), crossing it, and walking back
upstream. I saw a few skittish Vivid
Dancers there, but that was all. I had
taken a circular route back to the car but was blocked from reaching the
parking lot by a cyclone fence. I
followed the outside of the fence for some distance and at one point and came
upon a nice little pond with a healthy population of odes. What caught my eye initially were a number
of spreadwings. I think they were Black
Spreadwings (if so, a Shasta County record and a lifer for me). I've emailed Kathy and Tim a couple of
photos to confirm the ID. A second pond
(I suspect there are more than two ponds), larger and more open than the first,
also had good ode numbers. The 15
species I saw today included the following:
*Spotted Spreadwing (1 teneral male) << first 2005 record for
California
Black Spreadwing Lestes stultus (lots of them) NEW COUNTY
RECORD
California Dancer (1 male)
Vivid Dancer (several males)
Tule Bluet (1 male)
Unidentified (not Tule) Bluet (1 male)
Pacific Forktail (several males)
Common Green Darner (several males)
Blue Dasher (quite a few males)
Common Whitetail (several males)
Eight-spotted Skimmer (1 male)
Widow Skimmer (2 males)
Twelve-spotted Skimmer (several males)
Flame Skimmer (1 male)
Black Saddlebags (2 - a pair)
-----
Contra Costa County
Doug Vaughan and Doris Kreshmer
East Bay watershed
My wife and I hiked a mostly dry
trail above a seasonal stream, crossing a couple of damp tributaries. Odonate
numbers were relatively low, but the trip was fruitful nonetheless:
Vivid Dancer (Argia vivida) - a dozen or so
Pacific Spiketail (Cordulegaster dorsalis) - seen briefly with
binoculars; I'd rate my level of
confidence on this one at about 75%
Cardinal Meadowhawk (Sympetrum illotum) - one female
Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia) - several, males and
females
Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) - three or four females;
one collected, - Contra Costa voucher [upgrade of prior photo only voucher]
-------
Kern County
John Hall and David Edwards
Isabella, Erskine Creek Road
California Dancer (1) in-hand
California/Aztec Dancer (8)
Vivid Dancer (20)
Desert Firetail (3)
Flame Skimmer (3)
*Wandering Glider Pantala flavescens (1)
-------
*Lestes congener Spotted Spreadwing
May 24, 2005
Sonoma County
David Hofmann
Pine Flat Road
Common Whitetail-one at the upper pond
*Striped Meadowhawk-on a fire road above the upper pond
Grappletail-at the Ribizo Ranch seep
Vivid Dancer-at the Ribizo Ranch seep
Black Spreadwing-at the upper pond
-------
Kathy Biggs
We had a Pacific Spiketail, a female in our front yard at about
1:30.
May 23, 2005
Sonoma County
Dave & Kathy Biggs
Dave and I spent from 10:45-11:15 walking around Lake Ralphine in Santa
Rosa. The temperature was in the mid 70s and the lake is full again after the
construction of new boat ramps the last 2 years. We were happy to find 14
species:
Vivid Dancers - a few
Tule Bluets - many
Pacific Forktail - some
Exclamation Damsel - a few
CA Darners - some
Pacific Clubtail - some
Beaverpond Baskettails - some
Western Pondhawk - a few
Blue Dasher - a few
Flame Skimmer - common
Eight-spotted Skimmer - abundant
Widow Skimmer - 2-3
Cardinal Meadowhawk - many
Black Saddlebags 1-2
Missing were Common Green Darner and Western Forktail!
Our first Blue Dasher of the year showed up today at out
Sebastopol backyard Bigsnest Wildlife Pond; also present here were Pacific
Forktails, Exclamation Damsels, Flame Skimmers, and Cardinal Meadowhawks.
-------
Imperial County
Lynn Monroe
At Imperial New River Wetland Project we saw the following:
Blue Dashers, at least a hundred, probably lots more, males, 3 females
Darner 1
Roseate Skimmer
3
males, 1 female
Red Saddlebags
**Marl Pennant Macrodiplax balteata [new early flight data by
one week!- kb]
Mexican Amberwing
12
males, 3 females
Citrine Forktail (need slide to confirm)
Desert Forktail
3
Rambur's Forktail
2
male, 1 red female
Familiar Bluet
86
+
May 22, 2005
Santa Barbara County
Nick Lethaby
I had 5 Red Saddlebags flying around the Dune Pond in the Coal
Oil Point reserve in Santa Barbara yesterday. Not much else - Common Green
Darner, Blue-eyed (presumed id) Darner, and 1-2 Meadowhawk species.
-----
Orange County
Sara Marini
I went to El Dorado Park in Long Beach.
I saw
Flame Skimmers (5)
Blue Dashers (7)
Western Pondhawks (2)
Vivid Dancers (20+) (only a few were females), males being
very aggressive even attacking the Blue Dashers
California Dancers (8)
Familiar Bluet (15+)
Northern Bluets (5)
Tule Bluets (16)
I also found 4 exuviae of damselflies & 14 dragonfly exuviae.
May 21, 2005
Shasta County
Ray Bruun and George Sappington
Mary Lake, Redding
George Sappington and I explored Sulphur Creek and Mary Lake (both in
Redding) this morning and afternoon. We started just after 8:00 a.m. at Sulphur
Creek and didn't see much, a Variegated Meadowhawk, several unidentified
dragonflies, and an unknown female bluet.
We drove to Mary Lake where
there was more going on. We saw a total of 12 species at Mary Lake:
Vivid Dancer (about a dozen),
Pacific Forktail (many),
Western Forktail (1 adult male),
Black-fronted Forktail (1 teneral male),
Tule Bluet (common),
Common Green Darner (several adult males and one tandem pair),
Widow Skimmer (1 teneral),
Common Whitetail (about 4 males),
*Twelve-spotted Skimmer Libellula pulchella (1 teneral female),
Black Saddlebags (several),
Blue Dasher (many teneral),
Western Pondhawk (1 adult male).
--------
Ventura County
Karen Weiss
Sandstone Peak, the highest point in Santa Monica Mountains
*Pacific Spiketail Cordulegaster dorsalis 1
I saw it cruising past at Sandstone Peak, the highest point in Santa
Monica Mountains at 3100 ft, flying S to N at about 1pm
. hike started just above Circle X Ranch off
Yerba Buena Rd. - a Malibu address but
in Ventura County.
May 20, 2005
Stanislaus County
John Hall, David Edwards
Del Puerto Canyon- from Interstate 5 to bridge past mile marker 18
American Rubyspot 40
California Dancer 1 (in hand)
California/Aztec Dancer
8
Vivid Dancer 120
Boreal Bluet 2 (in hand)
Northern Bluet 1 (in hand)
Boreal/Northern Bluet
35
Pacific Forktail 2
Black-fronted Forktail
5
Western Forktail
2
Mosaic Darner, sp
5
Common Green Darner
1
California Darner 3
Blue-eyed Darner 6
Pacific Clubtail 2
Grappletail 2
*Bison Snaketail Ophiogomphus
bison 2
Flame Skimmer 90
Blue Dasher 1
-------
San Mateo County
Eric Preston
I went down to some of my favorite small and counted at least 20 Black
Spreadwings. I also had a Cardinal Meadowhawk, a couple Ca. Darners and
an SF/Black-fronted Forktail. I
couldn't capture the bug, so can't tell you which it was.
May 19, 2005
Shasta County
Ray Bruun
On my lunch time walk today, I saw two Common Green Darners in
tandem over a seasonal pool (not a vernal pool), lots of Vivid Dancers,
and two young *Widow Skimmers [Libellula luctuosa], my
first of the year and, I think, the first sighting in 2005 for California.
May 15, 2005
San Mateo County
Alvaro Jaramillo
If you had asked me if there were any Lestes on the coast here
around Half Moon Bay a few days ago I would have said - no way. Then on Sunday
around some little muddy pools I found several pairs (in tandem) of Lestes
stultus (Black Spreadwing).
A real surprise as I don't recall seeing this species in the county before.
There were also several California Darners around. Sunday was a funny
day weather wise with warm air temperature and no wind, but dense fog close to
the ocean. The odonates were in the fog/sun interface. It will be interesting
to see if the Lestes hang around or if they leave once it gets windy and
cool again.
May 14, 2005
San Mateo County
John Hall, David Edwards
Horseshoe Lake
California/Aztec Dancer
1
Vivid Dancer 6
Boreal Bluet 1 (in hand)
Boreal/Northern Bluet
12
Arroyo Bluet 1
Pacific Forktail 50
Swift Forktail 2
Western Forktail 4
Mosaic Darner, sp 2
Common Green Darner 1
California Darner 8
Cardinal Meadowhawk 10
Alpine Pond
California/Aztec Dancer
1
Vivid Dancer 2
Arroyo Bluet 1
Pacific Forktail 30
California Darner 3
_____
Siskiyou County
Dave and Kathy Biggs, Bob and Patti Claypole
SHASTA RIVER @ HUDSON RD (~ 6 miles N of Yreka off of Hwy 263):
*River Jewelwing Calopteryx aequabilis - common, both males and
females seen, no courtship or ovipositing
no Am. Rubyspots!!
Emma's Dancer Argia emma - a few mature females,
many tenerals
Vivid Dancer - a few adults
Western Forktail - some, ovipositing females
Pacific Clubtail - abundant, many tenerals. We watched one emerging and
got some photos.
no Sinuous Snaketails yet!
Blue-eyed Darner - 1-2
Shasta Valley Wildlife Area (one mile East of Montague):
Blue-eyed Darner - a few
Common Green Darner - a few
Variegated Meadowhawks - a few, inc.
ovipositing pairs
Pacific Forktail - some, ovipositing
Western Forktail - 1 female noted
Familiar Bluet - some, mostly in the grasslands
-----
Santa Clara County
David Edwards and John Hall
Monte Bello OSP
Vivid Dancer 25 (seep
area)
Swift Forktail 24 (16 at seep area)
Black Spreadwing 1
Boreal Bluet 1 (in hand)
Tule Bluet 1 (in hand)
Boreal/Northern Bluet
15
Arroyo Bluet 10 (4 in hand)
Pacific Forktail 60
Western Forktail 17
Common Green Darner
2
California Darner
6
Blue-eyed Darner 2
Eight-spotted Skimmer
1 (teneral)
Flame Skimmer 2
Cardinal Meadowhawk
25 (5 tandem pairs)
May 13, 2005
Alameda County
David Edwards and John Hall
Alameda Creek has finally receded enough to make it possible to wade the
creek in many places. We did our usual stretch upstream from the vehicular
bridge and then downstream from the visitors' center. This latter area was
quite rewarding. We also had 22 species of butterflies, 3 species of reptile,
including a Common Kingsnake and a large bat that was flying in daylight.
______
Alameda County
John Hall, David Edwards
Alameda Creek has finally receded enough to make it possible to wade the
creek in many places. We did our usual stretch upstream from the vehicular
bridge and then downstream from the visitors' center. This latter area was
quite rewarding. We also had 22 species of
butterflies, 3 species of reptile, including a Common Kingsnake and
alarge bat that was flying in daylight.
American Rubyspot 1
*Emma's Dancer Argia
emma 6
Vivid Dancer 140
Boreal Bluet 1 (in hand)
Boreal/Northern Bluet 25
Arroyo Bluet 2 (1 in hand)
Pacific Forktail 8
Western Forktail 2
Exclamation Damsel 3
Mosaic Darner, sp 2
California Darner 3
Pacific Clubtail Gomphus kurilis - 8, photos
taken (upgrade from sighting to photo
record)
Flame Skimmer 1
Common Whitetail 5 (4 female)
Cardinal Meadowhawk 5
May 12, 2005
Alameda County
David Edwards and John Hall
Proctor Staging area to Honker Bay on Lake Chabot.
California/Aztec Dancer
7
Vivid Dancer 20
Tule Bluet 50
Pacific Forktail 120
Mosaic Darner,sp 15
California Darner 8
Blue-eyed Darner 7
Pacific Clubtail 6
Cardinal Meadowhawk 3
We then went to check out the reservoir at Cull Canyon Regional Park.
Tule Bluet 2
Pacific Forktail 130
Mosaic Darner,sp 1
California Darner 1
Common Whitetail 1
May 3, 2005
El Dorado County
Steve Abbott
Placerville I checked the creek behind the Signature Theaters on
Placerville Dr and had many VIVID DANCERS in as many
positions...ovipositing, in tandem, in wheel and a single emerging
GRAPPLETAIL. This was good for
Grappletails last year and I will check this spot often as the season unfolds.
May 2, 2005
Sonoma County
Dave and Kathy Biggs
Helen Putnam Regional Park
.rather disappointing results:
Vivid Dancer - 1 male
Tule Bluet- a few
Pacific Forktail - a few
Pacific Clubtail - 1-2 - at least this was a new one for us this year.
The wind was really blowing and probably was a big part of the 'no show'
of odes.
_____
Contra Costa County
Doug Vaughan
I finally made my first serious odes foray of the season yesterday, at
least six weeks later that last year. At two ponds on the East Bay watershed, I
had small numbers but decent variety:
Black Spreadwing (Lestes stultus) - tenerals only; other
Lestes sp. possible
Vivid Dancer (Argia vivida) - several
bluets (Enallagma sp.) - a dozen or so; one
Northern (E. cyathigerum) examined in hand
Exclamation Damsel (Zoniagrion exclamationis) - a few at each location,
including one pair
Pacific Forktail (Ischnura cervula) - two or three males
Western Forktail (I. perparva) - males and females common
California Darner (Rhionaeschna californica) - four or five males
Cardinal Meadowhawk (Sympetrum illotum) - three males
Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia) - three males
*Eight-spotted Skimmer (Libellula forensis) - one young male
May 1, 2005
San Diego County
Douglas Aguillard
Pond east of Otay Lakes in Chula Vista
Common Green Darners
Blue-eyed Darner
Red Saddlebags
Black Saddlebags
Variegated Meadowhawks
1 Ischnura species
Shasta County
Ray Bruun
Nora Lake, Shingletown -
I had two Swift Forktails (adult male and female), quite a few Pacific
Forktail, and a young male Western Forktail (see photographs). The
adult male Swift Forktail was near a creek that feeds the lake. It flew and
landed some 10 to 15 times before I lost him (no shots, unfortunately). The
female Swift Forktail, when I first saw her, was at the edge of the lake being
chased by a smaller damsel. http://bruunphotography.com/ode_locations/noralk_050105.html
Contra Costa County
Chris Heaivilin
All three sightings in my Oakley backyard
Libellula Saturata (immature female) 1
Libellula Lydia (immature male) 1
*Sympetrum occidentale Western Meadowhawk (immature female) 3
-----
Los Angeles County
Nicole Nanette
Lake Jennings Calif 92040
Varigated Meadowhawk
1
Western Forktail 4
Northern/Boreal Bluet
1
April
2005
April 29, 2005
San Francisco County
Paul Saraceni
Fort Point, The Presidio, San Francisco
As expected, there were numerous SAN FRANCISCO FORKTAILS Ischnura
gemina* [ONLY date reported 2005] in the sedge-lined ditch on the S side of the road (for
directions, click on the "hotspots in CA" link at the bottom of the
main page of Kathy's CA Dragonflies & Damselflies web site) -- at least 20+
during my 5-minute check.
I haven't made it there previously this spring, so not sure when they
first started flying this year. 10+ VIVID
DANCERS were also present.
April 19-26, 2005
So. CA Desert Sojourn
Kathy & Dave Biggs
Dave and I traversed as large a segment of the CA deserts as we could in
one week.
Our report:
Day 1, April 19, 2005
Mono County
De Chambeau ponds:
It was snowing! So we crossed off this location!!
Inyo County
Mazourka Spring
It was raining, so we crossed this off too and visited with Jo & Tom
Heindel in Big Pine instead.
--
Day 2, April 20, 2005
Inyo County
Dirty Socks Spring, south edge Owens Lake
N36 19.769 W117 56.944
Elevation 3575
This is the site where weve found Desert Forktails and Alkali Bluets
before, but the weather was still quite cool and somewhat overcast:
Black-fronted Forktail one
male
Bluet sp., one female
Death Valley
Wild Rose Canyon:
Vivid Dancer 3
males, 1 female
Scottys Castle
This site seemed to have great potential as a natural spring is
redirected to an easily accessed artificial stream in front of the castle.
Even though it was late and a bit cool:
Flame Skimmer 2
female, 2 males
Dancer sp 2 types, ~ 12 we hope to
ID thru photos later.
--
Day 3, April 21, 2005
Inyo County
Salt Creek:
Desert Forktail one
male
Forktail sp. one male this male did
not have tear shaped eyespots or a wide shoulder stripe. I had a straight down
look at it and I thought it looked like a Ramburs, but it flew away before I
could confirm this ID. Ramburs and Desert Forktails are concurrent in several
other watersheds, so this is a possibility and hope others can check into this!
--
Day 4, April 22, 2005
Riverside County
Barker Dam (this site was almost dry the last time we visited, with NO
odes. Now it was full!
and the colonizers were there):
Familiar Bluet - several
Black-fronted Forktail one
male
Red Saddlebags one
or two
Variegated Meadowhawk - many
Anisoptera sp. 2
quick flybys could have been Gliders or Darners.
Also seen: mating Red-spotted Toads
--
Day 5, April 23, 2005
San Diego County
We had a 2-day catch and release permit:
San Felipe Creek cool and overcast, no odes. But we did get to finally
meet Doug Aguillard!
Coyote Creek - cool and somewhat overcast, 3rd crossing:
Calif. Dancer
several
Vivid Dancer several
Black-fronted Forktail one
female
Green Darner one -
two
Roseate Skimmer one
male
--
Day 6, April 24, 2005
San Diego County
Anza Borrego NHM workshop group:
Coyote Creek still cool and windy; from 3rd crossing to
Santa Catarina Springs
American Rubyspot a few
Calif. Dancer
several, in-hand ID (after group broke up)
Vivid Dancer many
Black-fronted Forktail one
female, in-hand ID (after group broke up)
*Roseate Skimmer one
male (after group broke up)
Variegated Meadowhawk a few
Red Saddlebags one
--
Day 7, April 25, 2005
San Diego County
Lower Palm Canyon
Flame Skimmer 1
female
Imperial County
We spent ~ 1 hr at New River Wetlands, Imperial site:
Familiar Bluet
abundant
Powdered Dancer Argia moesta one pair in cop + one male
Desert Forktail a few
Ramburs Forktail many
Common Green Darner 2-3
Western Pondhawk a few
males
Blue Dasher many
Red Saddlebags 2-3
Riverside County
During 10 mins at Bombay area, late afternoon, mile marker 55.5:
American Rubyspot 2+
Calif. Dancer
several, in-hand ID
Blue-ringed Dancer a few
Desert Forktail a few
Flame Skimmer one
male
--
Day 8, April 26, 2005
Stanislaus County
Del Puerto Canyon, ~1 hr, late afternoon
American Rubyspot 2
males
Vivid Dancer many
Dancer sp., some (have seen CA Dancer other years)
April 26, 2005
Placer County
John Sterling
I looked for odes along Dry Creek near Watt Ave in lowland Placer County
today. By far the most common ode was
Sinuous
Snaketail (~50) followed by Pacific Clubtail, Am. Rubyspot,
Blue-eyed Darner, Vivid Dancer etc...
April 25, 2005
Marin County
John Hall and David Edwards
Alpine Lake
Black Spreadwing 4
Tule Bluet 2
Bluet, sp 1
Arroyo Bluet 2
Pacific Forktail
1
Western Forktail
1
California Darner
13
Pacific Clubtail 3
Beaverpond Baskettail
2
Variegated Meadowhawk
1
Cardinal Meadowhawk
1
* **Red-veined Meadowhawk 1 [new early flight data by 10
days, new flight month kb]
Lake Lagunitas
Vivid Dancer 3
Boreal Bluet 1 (in hand)
Tule Bluet 7 (1 in hand)
Bluet, sp 3
Boreal/Northern Bluet
2
Arroyo Bluet 2 (1 in hand)
Pacific Forktail 75
Swift Forktail 1 ( Bon Tempe Lake)
Western Forktail
1
Exclamation Damsel
5
California Darner
30
Blue-eyed Darner 1
Pacific Clubtail
1
Grappletail 2
Beaverpond Baskettail
30
Common Whitetail 2
April 22, 2005
Alameda County
John Hall and David Edwards
Sunol is still not very productive. Alameda Creek is still running high
and fast but has receded somewhat since our last visit.
Sunol Regional Wilderness
Vivid Dancer 60
California Darner 2
Common Whitetail 1
Shadow Cliffs was a new area for us. It is located in Pleasanton. It
shows some potential. By the time we arrived there was a cloud build up and the
lighting was not the best.
Shadow Cliffs RRA ( East Bay Regional Park District)
Tule Bluet 15
Bluet, sp 50
Arroyo Bluet 1
Pacific Forktail 15
Mosaic Darner, sp 3
Common Green Darner
6
California Darner
1
Blue-eyed Darner 3
Variegated Meadowhawk
3
April 21, 2005
David Edwards and John Hall
Stanislaus
County
We to see how Del
Puerto Canyon was doing and we were pleased to find a great deal of activity.
Most sightings are between mile 3 to just past 18.
American
Rubyspot 21
California
Dancer 1( in hand)
California/Aztec
Dancer 2
Vivid
Dancer 130
Bluet, sp 10
*Northern Bluet
Enallagma cyathigerum 2 (in hand)
Boreal/Northern
Bluet 15
Pacific
Forktail 3
Black-fronted
Forktail 10
Mosaic Darner,
sp 5
California
Darner 7
Blue-eyed
Darner 4
Pacific
Clubtail 1
*Grappletail Octogomphus specularis 6 just
beyond Mile Marker 18
Flame
Skimmer 2
Red Rock Skimmer 1
April 17, 2005
San Diego
County
Doug Aguillard
Laguna Mtns. of San Diego. I stopped at Robert's Ranch near Descanso,
the pond was overflowing. Up in the Laguna Meadow, the Lakes were actually
there. No longer just a grassland (my entire life), but a real lake.
Robert's Ranch
Black-fronted Forktail
Laguna (Little Laguna Lake) Meadow
Red Saddlebags
Variegated Meadowhawk (I had never seen before in the Lagunas)
Tule Bluet (took some pics)
-------
Marin County
Eric Preston, Kevin McKereghan and Paul Saraceni
We visited Alpine and Lagunitas Lakes (in Marin Watershed s. of Fairfax)
today with the following results under sunny but breezy conditions:
Alpine Lake:
*Black Spreadwing 1 f. (in-hand ID)
*Boreal Bluet 1 m. (in-hand ID)
Northern/Boreal Bluet sp. 1
Tule Bluet 1 m. (in-hand ID)
Tule/Arroyo Bluet sp. 2
Pacific Forktail 10+
Swift Forktail 1 f.
Western Forktail 5+
California Darner 4
Lagunitas Lake (including spillway stream to Bon Tempe Lake):
Vivid Dancer 1 (stream)
Northern/Boreal Bluet sp. 1
Arroyo Bluet 1 m. (in-hand ID)
Tule/Arroyo Bluet sp. 2
Exclamation Damsel 10+ (stream)
Pacific Forktail 50+
California Darner 10+
Pacific Clubtail 1
Beaverpond Baskettail 15+ (including 3 that perched cooperatively)
Cardinal Meadowhawk 1 m
-----
Placer County
Tim Manolis, Bruce Webb, and Steve Abbott
We spent a couple hours at Sculpture Park in Roseville (Placer County)
and found a few nice odes with the highlights being:
*Sinuous Snaketail Ophiogomphus occidentis ~5-6
Pacific Clubtail 2-3
Exclamation Damsels 4-5
Vivid Dancer - abundant
Pacific Forktail
A few photos can be seen here:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/l_limosa/album?.dir=/4f29&.src=ph
-----
Sonoma
County
Greg Kareofelas
Alexander Valley, Healdsburg
Aeshna calif. (lots)
Argia vivida - both tenerals and mature
Libellula lydia Common Whitetail (one female)
Epitheca canis - (Lots)
L saturata -(one female)
Gomphus kurilis (both males and females)
Lestes stultus (lots, tenerals males and females)
Ish perparva -(males and females)
sympetrum illotum - (one male)
Sym corruptum - (one male)
Enallagma (not id'd yet)
April 16, 2005
Contra Costa County
Chris Heaivilin
Oakley
Not much to write about, but here's what I saw today:
Aeshna/Rhionaeschna (unknown)
Anax junius (2)
Ischnura cervula (20+)
Enallagma civile (20+)
You'd think that the bay area delta area would have more out by now, but
alas.
-----
David Edwards and John Hall
Santa Clara County
Monte Bello OSP
Vivid Dancer 12 Seep
Area;
Vivid Dancer 1; pond
Bluet, sp 1; pond
Pacific Forktail 90; pond
Swift Forktail 12; Seep Area
Western Forktail 35 pond
Common Green Darner
1;
pond
California Darner 6; pond
Blue-eyed Darner 2; pond
Variegated Meadowhawk
2;
pond
Cardinal Meadowhawk
1;
pond
San Mateo County
Horseshoe Lake,
Skyline Ridge OSP
Vivid
Dancer 1
Tule Bluet 2
Bluet, sp 3
*Boreal/Northern
Bluet 4
Pacific
Forktail 28
Western
Forktail 17
Mosaic Darner, sp 1
California
Darner 2
Cardinal
Meadowhawk 4
Alpine Pond
Vivid
Dancer 1
Bluet, sp 1
Pacific
Forktail 55
Western
Forktail 2
California
Darner 3
-----
San Diego
County
Doug Aguillard
Santa Margarita
River near Fallbrook.
The near record
rains of 2004-2005 apparently sent a major flood through this area, and wiped
out almost the all of the vegetation that once lined this river. The river is
wider and there is debris everywhere. I had the following:
Flame Skimmer
Red Rock
Skimmers
American
Rubyspots
Vivid Dancers
------
*Arroyo Bluet Enallagma
praevarum
April 15, 2005
San Diego
County
Doug Aguillard
Santee Lakes,
Santee
Flame Skimmer (2)
Common Green
Darner (1)
*Western
Pondhawk Erythemis collocata (2)
Blue Dashers (23)
Mexican
Amberwing (1)
male
Pacific
Forktails (14)
Tule Bluets (30+)
-----
David Edwards
and John Hall
Alameda
County
We went to Quarry
Lakes Regional Recreation Area in Fremont for the first time to check out its
potential. Our sightings included what appears to be a new sight record for the
county- Pacific Clubtail.
Bluet,sp 10 ;
*Arroyo
Bluet 20;
Mosaic Darner, sp 3;
Common Green
Darner 1;
California
Darner 1;
Blue-eyed
Darner 2;
*Pacific Clubtail Gomphus Kurilis 2; 1 male perched new sight record
Variegated
Meadowhawk 28;
April 14, 2005
Sonoma
County
Dave and Kathy
Biggs
Dave decided that
today was the right day to try out Sonoma Co's newest park: River Front
Regional Park on East Side Rd between Windsor and Forestville.
Bluet - 1 teneral female
Pacific
Forktail -
a few
CA Darners - several
Blue-eyed
Darner -
some appeared to be this species, and we had a female emerge wrongly last nite
from our pond,
see her at http://southwestdragonflies.net/caphotos/darnerfemale.html
Beaverpond
Baskettail -
abundant - a few patrolling the waterline, and many many patrolling the trials.
We saw dozens and there could easily have been a hundred or more there.
Flame Skimmer - 2 females (no males
seen), each about 10-20 ft from the water, sunning.
----
San Diego
County
Nicole Nanette
Flame Skimmer 1 female http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/calodes/vwp?.dir=/Nicoles&.dnm=Female+Flame+Skimmer.jpg&.src=gr
April 11/12,
2005
Yolo &
Sacramento Counties
Greg
Kareofelas
Knoxville Road
I went up along
the Knoxville Road yesterday. Water is still running fast and cold - all I saw
was 2 A. californica and Argia vivida. Today in my
backyard [Sacramento], I caught an Aeshna multicolor, male, not
teneral, but also not mature. Been a slow start this year.
April 10, 2005
Imperial
County
Bob Miller
Imperial Sand
Dunes
Today I had one
Variegated Meadowhawk and two female Blue-eyed Darners all within a
hundred meters of each other.
-115.15280 33.04550
Been walking six
to eight miles along NE face of the Imperial Sand Dunes almost everyday for
several weeks now. Awesome is a good
word. Have seen a few lone
Variegated Meadowhawks this past week.
-----
San Diego
County
Douglas
Aguillard
Mission Trails
Regional Park
Common Green
Darner
Flame Skimmer
Pacific
Forktails
Vivid Dancers
*California
Dancer Argia agrioides
-----
Del Norte
County
Ron LeValley
my first Pacific
Forktail (one only) at the Arcata Marsh Project this morning.
-----
Shasta
County
Ray Bruun
Mouth-of-Cottonwood
Creek Wildlife
My third
photography trip this season, on April 10th, was also the third trip of the
year to Mouth-of-Cottonwood Creek Wildlife Area. We'd had acold spell and that
Sunday was the first nice day in about a week: the sky was clear and the
temperature was about 70 degrees. Several Beaverpond Baskettails were
patrolling along the tree shaded gravel road leading to the ponds. There was
also a bigger dragonfly flitting about, probably a California Darner.
Painted Lady butterflies were abundant. There were also a few sulfurs, Pipevine
Swallowtails, a crescent, and my first Lorquin's Admiral of the year. The water
in my favorite pond had dropped about eight inches since the previous trip,
four weeks before.
Dragonflies were completely absent from this
and two other ponds that I inspected. Black-fronted and Pacific Forktails
were relatively common at all the ponds and at one pond I found an adult male Western
Forktail. The west end of the favorite pond had an area full of red swamp
grass.
April 9, 2005
|
Imperial County Douglas Aguillard Holtville Hot Springs: **Brachymesia furcata Red-tailed
Pennant new
early flight data Blue Dasher ----- Eric Preston Santa Clara
County Monte Bello OSR Swift Forktail Pacific Forktail andromorphic female |
April 5, 2005
Imperial County
Bob Miller
Imperial Sand Dunes
*Tramea lacerata Black Saddlebags
April 2, 2005
Sonoma County
Kathy Biggs and Jackie Sones
We had 5 species on our Sebastopol pond
here and then we saw many Exclamation Damsels at the Sonoma Horticultural Gardens,inc. a female
that landed on my sleeve, thus 'volunteering' to be the female I'd scan for
thewebsites:http://southwestdragonflies.net/damsels/cadamselphotos/zoneXf05.html
April 1, 2005
Alameda County, CA
John Hall, David Edwards
Sunol Regional
Wilderness
Vivid Dancer 19
California Darner 1
Quarry Lakes Regional
Recreation Area in Fremont
Bluet,sp
Arroyo Bluet
Mosaic Darner,sp
Common Green Darner
California Darner
Blue-eyed Darner
Pacific Clubtail
Variegated Meadowhawk
--------
*Lestes stultus Black Spreadwing
March 2005
March 31, 2005
San Mateo County
John Hall, David Edwards
Skyline
Ridge OSP
Alpine Pond
Pacific Forktail 13
Western Forktail 4
California Darner 1
Horseshoe Lake
Pacific Forktail 7
Western Forktail 2
Mosaic Darner,sp 1 possibly Blue-eyed male
Santa Clara County, CA
Monte
Bello OSP
Canyon Trail from
pond to seep
Vivid Dancer 8; 7 young, 1 blue
Swift Forktail 23, 19m, 4f, 1 tandem pair
Monte
Bello pond
*Tule Bluet 1m
Pacific Forktail 18
Western Forktail 32
Common Green Darner 1
California Darner 5
Blue-eyed Darner 1
Cardinal Meadowhawk 2
----------
Del
Norte County
Ron
LeValley
South
fork of the Smith River
Those
of us on the north coast are still waiting... I saw one California Darner
.
March 30, 2005
Riverside County
Rod Miller
Rod called to report Spot-winged
Gliders in the vicinity of Blythe.
-------
Sonoma County
Greg Kareofelas
Healdsburg
I had a bunch of Epitheca
canis. They were not teneral, so they must
have been out for a few days.
The only other Odonates were *
**L. lydia [Common Whitetail new early flight data], Aeshna californica, Argia vivida and Ischnura
perparva. All of these were at the Healdsburg site - foothills
above Alexander
Valley.
March 26, 2005
Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.
John Hall, David Edwards
Monte Bello OSP
Vivid Dancer (2) near Succession pond
Bluet,sp (1) female main pond
Pacific Forktail (8) main pond
Swift Forktail (5) Succession pond and vicinity
Western Forktail (7) main pond
California Darner (1) main pond
Cardinal Meadowhawk (1) lower pond-
can be seen from main pond
Skyline
Ridge OSP
Horseshoe Lake
Familiar Bluet (1)
Pacific Forktail (2)
Western Forktail (2)
California Darner (1)
Cardinal Meadowhawk (1)
-------
Imperial
County
Lynn Monore
Brawley
section of the New River Project
Darners (unidentified) 3
*Blue Dasher, male 1
Familiar Bluet, male & female 12
Desert Forktail, male & female 2
**Ischnura
hastata Citrine Forktail new early flight data, male & female 2
-------
*Pachydiplax longipennis Blue Dasher
March 25, 2005
San Mateo County
John Hall, David Edwards
Alum Rock Park
Vivid Dancer (1)
California Darner (5)
Cardinal Meadowhawk (2)
-------
|
Kathy &
Dave Biggs Sonoma County |
|
|
Dave and I took a
picnic lunch to the Gardens which are just 3 miles
South of our home. The gardens are
always an excellent spot forExclamation Damsels in the Spring. And we weren't
disappointed, even though the weather was barely 60 degrees: |
March
20, 2005
Imperial
County
Lynn Monroe
Borrego Palm
Canyon, ABDSP
*Paltothemis lineatipes Red Rock Skimmer
-------
*Pantala hymenaea Spot-winged Glider
March
20, 2005
Los Angeles County Nicole Ramirez |
|
Granite Hills
(residential neighborhood) |
March 17, 2005
San Diego County
Lynn Monroe
Anza Borrego State Park
- Southwest Grove
Flame Skimmers, 8 males, 1 female
March 15, 2005
Stanislaus Counties.
John Hall, David Edwards
Del Puerto Canyon
Vivid Dancer 10
-------
El
Dorado County
Steve Abbott
Placerville
I
just saw the first PACIFIC FORKTAILS of the season here
.There were
several males and a single female in
the cattails at a pond in the Westwood
Hills Memorial (?) cemetery along Cold Springs Rd. This place is hopping
in the mid-summer months with several species of odes. I can't wait for it all!
|
March 14, 2005 |
|
|
Shasta County Ray Bruun About a hundred yards from the building
where I work there was this dragonfly flitting
about. I moved closer and saw that
it was as *Beaverpond Baskettail
Epitheca
canis (I'm assuming it wasn't a Spiny Baskettail, since they haven't been
documented in Shasta County). |
March
13, 2005
Santa Clara County
John Hall, David Edwards
Monte Bello OSP
Monte Bello Succession pond
Swift Forktail (Ischnura erratica) 7 males,
2 females
Monte
Bello Pond:
Pacific Forktail (Ischnura cervula) 5males
Western Forktail (Ischnura perparva) 9 males, 2
females
California Darner (Rhionaeschna californica) 2 males
Blue-eyed Darner (Rhionaeschna multicolor) 1 male
Cardinal Meadowhawk (Sympetrum illotum) 1 female
San Mateo County
Skyline
Ridge OSP
Pacific Forktail (Ischnura cervula) 4 males
Western Forktail (Ischnura perparva) 2 males
California Darner (Rhionaeschna californica) 1 male
Horseshoe
Lake:
Bluet,sp (Enallagma species) 1 female
-------
Inyo County
Al Brewster Tony
Harrow
Death Valley
We saw a pair of **Ischnura
barberi Desert Forktail [new early
flight data] at Salt
Creek and a single male at Saratoga
Springs.
As for Death Valley, no
description or illustration could do it justice this year. I'll just say it's magnificent and
worth any effort to visit.
-------
*Libellula saturata Flame Skimmer
March 12, 2005
Shasta
County
Ray Bruun
the
Mouth-of-Cottonwood Creek Wildlife Area
*Ischnura
denticollis Black-fronted Forktail
-------
Imperial
County
Lynn Monroe
Culp Valley, ABDSP
- Paroli Homestead
*Ischnura
denticollis Black-fronted Forktail3 dozen males & females
-------
Santa Clara
County
John Hall,
David Edwards
Monte Bello OSP
Pacific
Forktail 5
*Ischnura
erratica Swift Forktail 9
Western
Forktail 11
California
Darner 2
*Rhionaeschna
multicolor Blue-eyed Darner 1
Cardinal
Meadowhawk 1
San Mateo County
Skyline Ridge OSP
Bluet, sp
Pacific
Forktail 4
*Ischnura
perparva Western Forktail 2
California
Darner
March 11, 2005
San Mateo County
John Hall, David Edwards
San
Bruno Mountain
California Darners
2
Alameda County
Sunol Regional Wilderness
California Darner 3
--------
Colusa County
Dave and Kathy Biggs
Bear Creek @ Hiway 20
We
stopped by at Bear Creek for a short time on our way thru Colusa Co. The
creek is still fairly high and fast and we didn't find any dragonflies or
damselflies about at all.
March 9, 2005
Imperial County
Bob
Miller
Calipatria
.
Found about 20 ** *Blue-ringed Dancer Argia sedula just west of
Calipatria. [photo in original email].
. . They were all the same color and in vegetation, tall grass, near a canal
but not at the water. Pretty sure they
were all teneral. Did not see any exuviae in a quick search. [new early
flight data by 1 1/2 wks for CA and for the SW - kb]
Had
a glider (Pantala sp.) today that I would have called a Wandering
Glider by the look of it but would have expected Spot-winged Glider by the
early date. Saw it flying over salt water near the Salton Sea bout noon for
about 30 seconds. Got it in my bins for only a few seconds. The eyes were very
bright orange-ish as was the body. Can not say for sure it was not Spot-winged
but if I had seen it later in the year, when I expected to see either of them at the same time, I
would have called it Wandering..... Clear as mud?!
-------
San Diego County
Lynn Monore
Pena Springs
Vivid Dancer, male
March
8, 2005
*Argia
vivida Vivid Dancer
*Sympetrum illotum Cardinal Meadowhawk
March
8, 2005
Imperial
County
Bob Miller
Had a *glider (Pantala
sp.) today that I would have called a Wandering Glider
by the look of it but would have
expected Spot-winged Glider by the early date. Saw it flying over salt water near the Salton
Sea bout noon for about 30 seconds. Got it in my bins for only a few seconds.
The eyes were very bright orange-ish as was the body. Can not say for sure it was not
Spot-winged but if I had seen it
later in the year, when I expected to see either of them at the same time, I would have called
it Wandering.....Clear as mud?!
March 5, 2005
Imperial County
Steve
Abbott
Salton
Sea
.while birding the Wister Unit
of the Salton Sea NWR,
I saw my "life" **Red Saddlebags Tramea onusta (new
early flight data). Also, in the
area were several Variegated
Meadowhawks.
February 2005
February
26, 2005
Imperial
County
Bob Miller
Algodones Dunes
Wilderness Area of the Imperial Sand Dunes
I
had a lone *Common Green Darner Anax
junius on the eastern side of Imperial County.
Have
been seeing a few Variegated Meadowhawks scattered across the valley all
season and am no longer surprised to find one at any time of the year or
at any location here!
The
surrounding deserts are greener than I have seen in 20+ years and the flower
displays are truly amazing.
February
24, 2005
Imperial
County
Bob Miller
I
had about a dozen **Familiar Bluet Enallagma civile in a ditch
with several of them mating.- new
early flight data.
February 12, 2005
San
Diego County
Harry & Gloria Conley
Anza
Borrego State Park
During
a phone call, they mentioned seeing a blue darner type dragonfly while
camping in Anza Borrego State Park. I imagine this is our first *Rhionaeschna
for 2005 kb.
February 5, 2005
San
Francisco County
Eric Preston
Anza
Borrego State Park
|
South end of Lake
Merced in San Francisco I had an
immature female Pacific
Forktail flying around and landing on the concrete
bridge. I didn't have my camera with
me as I didn't expect to see any odes today. With Paul's Variable Meadowhawk the other
day, I guess Northern California ode season is in full swing. |
January
2005
|
January 29, 2005
San Diego County Paul Saraceni |
|
|
Observed my first CA ode
for 2005 today in the form of a VARIEGATED MEADOWHAWK
flying well away from water near a
busy intersection (Fillmore/Pine Sts.) in San
Francisco. |
January 23, 2005
San
Diego County
Greenwood Cemetery in
South San Diego
Doug Aguillard
*Ischnura
cervula Pacific Forktail - a
female
Otay Lakes in Chula Vista
Variegated Meadowhawks 6 mating
January 15, 2005
*Sympetrum
corruptum Variegated Meadowhawk
------------------------------------------
New
county records from prior years, reported/discovered in 2005
Record #6192
Archilestes grandis
(Rambur) (Great Spreadwing)
United States
California: Shasta Co.
Hatchet Creek at Lion
Slide Falls (known by locals as Hatchet Falls),
1.5 km northeast on Big
Bend Road from Hwy 299 intersection; about
25 km west of Burney
October 02, 1999 lat/long:
N 40.8724° W 121.893° Elevation: 910 m
Record Submitted by: Koen
G. H. Breedveld
[CA chart # 88]
Record Submitted on:
March 29, 2005
Adults were collected
at the pool below the waterfall. Specimens
were
ID-ed by me and
verified by Kathy Biggs via photographs. I have one male
and 2 females on pins
in my personal collection
Record #6193
Calopteryx aequabilis Say (River Jewelwing)
United States California: Shasta Co.
Pit River in Pit 4
Reach at Malinda Gulch.
May 26, 2003 lat/long:
N 40.9649° W 121.79°
Elevation: 705 m
Record Submitted by: Koen
G. H. Breedveld
[CA chart # 88]
Record Submitted on:
March 29, 2005
Adults were abundant. Specimens
were ID-ed by me and discussed with
Kathy Biggs. I have one
female in my personal collection.
Unfortunately, the
specimen is in alcohol, but I will collect more this year
Record #6195
Macromia magnifica
McLachlan (Western River Cruiser)
United States California: Trinity Co.
Along Stuart Fork of
Trinity Lake (Clair Engle Lake) at Pinewood Cove; State Hwy 3.
August 10, 1999
lat/long: N 40.8433° W 122.8488°
Elevation: 720 m
Record Submitted by: Koen
G. H. Breedveld
[CA chart # 81]
Record Submitted on:
March 30, 2005
Collected along lake
margin. Specimen is pinned sideways and is female.
I emailed a picture to
Tim Manolis who agreed with my ID
Record #6239
Aeshna
umbrosa Walker (Shadow Darner)
United States California: Co.
4 lakes in the Trinity
Alps Wilderness, Trinity County: Echo, Section Line, Salmon, and an unnamed pond
July 14, 2004 lat/long:
N 507941.60938° W 4534053.5°
Elevation: 7150 m
Record Submitted by: Karen
Pope [CA chart #90]
Record Submitted on:
June 09, 2005
Will be housed at UC
Davis Bohart Museum
Record #6240
Lestes congener
Hagen (Spotted Spreadwing)
United States
California:
Trinity Co.
Adams Lake, Trinity
Alps Wilderness
September 08, 2004
lat/long: N 50.3219° W 455.1058°
Elevation: 1933.956 m
Record Submitted by:
Karen Pope [CA chart #90]
Record Submitted on: June
09, 2005
Will be housed at UC
Davis Bohart Museum
Contributions
of sightings have been made by these people; please contact mailto:bigsnest@sonic.net if you have
questions &/or need to contact one of the contributors:
Steve
Abbott
Doug
Aguillard
Kathy
and/or Dave Biggs
Bob
Behrstock
Koen G. H.
Breedveld
Ray
Bruun
Bob
and/or Patti Claypole
Gloria
and/or Harry Conley
Karen
DeMello
Bruce
Deuel
Michael
Ellis
Anthony Fisher
Terri
Gallion
Leda
Beth Gray
Pete
Haggard
John
Hall and/or David Edwards
Chris
Heaivilin
Jan
Hintermaster
David
Hofmann
Alvaro
Jaramillo
Paul
Johnson
Greg
Kareofelas
Nick
Lethaby
Ron
LeValley
Steve
Linsley
David
Lukas
Ron Lyons
Tim
and/or Annette Manolis
Kevin
McKereghan
Sara
Marini
Rod
Miller
Lynn
Monroe
Joseph
Morlan
Nicole
Nanette
Becky
Olsen
Dee
& Bob Parks
Dennis
Paulson and/or Netta Smith
Dave
Payne
Karen Pope
Steve
& Connie Potter
Eric
Preston
Nicole
Ramirez
Andy
Rehn
Steve
Rovell
Paul
Saraceni
Alison
Sheehey
Steven
Summers
Douglas
Vaughan
Bruce
Webb
Edward
Whisler
Alan
Wight
Ken
Wilson
Return to California
Dragonflies http://www.sonic.net/dragonfly/
Thank-you
for your interest!