California's Year 2015 Dragonfly Reports

 

 

Sightings are listed in order from MOST recently to LEAST recently seen! 
Please send your sightings, with date, county and location as displayed below to Kathy Biggs and/or the CalOdes Yahoo! Dragonfly discussion group 
date (month/day/year) 
County (name of county where seen) 
your name 
place, etc. 
species common name &/or scientific name - #s & other data, comments, etc.  
species common name &/or scientific name - #s & other data, comments, etc. 
See examples below (after dates start)
THANK YOU

 

Note: A Facebook Western Odonata group is a wonderful place to get help with IDs, etc. Check it out - https://www.facebook.com/groups/WesternOdonata/ 
 
Key:
Species will be posted using either the Common Name or the Scientific Name, whichever the sender uses (inc. using both), 
but all first and last sightings of the year, county records, and new flight data will be posted using both names. 
To contact the person making the sighting, email Kathy Biggs.
COUNTY RECORDS are underlined and in red text  (some new, but prior to 2015 records are listed at the bottom of the page)
           OC= Odonata Central
* = first/last sighting of species of year in CA 
** = new flight data for species in CA
# = possibly a migratory event
MO = many observers (usually means a field trip full of observers)
 
As of the most recent date below,

106 species (out of the 114 species known to have occurred in California) have been reported to this site as flying in California in the 2015 season.

38 new California county records have been reported/discovered/upgraded this year. (this # includes upgrades of previous ‘sighting only’ records)

AND, 21 new county records (see bottom of page) were found by accessing specimens in museum collections or late reports.

`Sighting only' records need further documentation, but please report them so we can try to get substantiation.

 

County records should be substantiated with specimen (preferable) or photo and notes. [note: not all species are identifiable by photos]

Report new county records and early/late flight dates to Kathy Biggs bigsnest at sonic.net & Odonata Central (http://odonatacentral.bfl.utexas.edu/records/US_new_records.asp) for verification

 

DECember

 

December 30, 2015

Humboldt County
Tony Westkamper
Van Duzen River - Stony river bar, 10 meters from water
*Variegated Meadowhawk Sympetrum corruptum [last report 2015] 439419 Saw this one actively take two small flying insects.

 

December 15, 2015

Santa Barbara County
Hugh Ranson

Goleta 

Variegated Meadowhawk

 

December 8, 2015

Orange County
Jeff Bray
Aliso Creek in Aliso Viejo
*Roseate Skimmers Orthemis ferruginea - at least 2  [last report 2015]
*Common Green Darner Anax junius [last report 2015]
*Wandering Glider Pantala flavescens  [last report 2015]
Variegated Meadowhawk Sympetrum corruptum

 

December 5, 2015

San Diego County

Doug Aguillard

Greenwood Cemetery in San Diego.

Pacific Fork tail
Common Green Darner

Paradise Creek in National City  (brackish water)

Variegated Meadowhawks in Tandem

Sweetwater Open Reserve in Bonita

*Blue-eyed Darner Rhionaeschna multicolor [last report 2015]

November
 

November 29, 2015

Santa Barbara County
Hugh Ranson

Montecito

Wandering Glider

 
November 21, 2015
Humboldt County

Tony Westkamper

Variegated Meadowhawks - They're back! These little dragonflies overwinter on the Van Duzen River. I have been monitoring them for 3 years now, and they return every Fall and hang around until March or so. Not sure if they fly in, or are born here, and if they go away or just lay eggs here. No one does, but since I've been reporting them I've heard other folks have seen them near Bodega.
 
November 19, 2015
Santa Clara County

Leslie Flint

Coast near Pescadero, CA. I went to Water Lane
Blue-eyed Darner -  patrolling the path in 55 degree weather. It landed for quite a long time allowing me to get a photo.
 
November 15, 2015
Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson

A weak cold front moved through Santa Barbara County this morning bringing a little rain. The high temp was 65 degrees.

At 12:30, the sun was out, and I was at a soccer field in Montecito when

# Wandering Gliders began to appear. For the two hours I was there, good numbers of gliders were over the field. My high count was 31, but a more realistic figure would be 40-50.

 

November 14 2015
Orange County
Jeff Bray
Laguna Niguel
Roseate Skimmer – Female ovipositing
 
November 12, 2015
Marin County
Len Bumin
Mill Valley back yard
Variegated Meadowhawk

 

November 11, 2015

Santa Barbara County
Hugh Ranson

Santa Barbara

*Vivid Dancer Argia vivida [last report 2015\

 
November 8, 2015
San Bernardino County
Doug Karalun
Prado Regional Park
*Familiar Bluet
Enallagma civile [last report 2015]
*Pacific Forktail
Ischnura cervula [last report 2015]
Green Darner
Blue-eyed Darner
*Blue Dasher
Pachydiplax longipennis   [last report 2015]
*Mexican Amberwing
Perithemis intensa [last report 2015]
*Red-tailed Pennant
Brachymesia furcata [last report 2015]
Stephen Myers
Cajon Creek at Swarthout Canyon Road
*Walker’s Darner Aeshna walkeri 438638 [last report 2015]
 
November 8, 2015
Riverside County
Peter Siminski
Dos Palmas Preserve; Dos Palmas oasis, Felger oasis and Fish Ponds; Elev. -100’ to -240’; 7:00-10:40, 55-82F, cloudless, calm to light air.
*Rambur’s Forktail, I. ramburii 7 [last report 2015]
Common Green Darner, Anax junius  3
Variegated Meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum 12 all with good wings, none worn.
Red-tailed Pennant, Brachymesia furcata 1 female with much worn wings; an old ode.
*Western Pondhawk, Erythemis collocata 1 male [last report 2015]
Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis 2 males
Roseate Skimmer, Orthemis ferruginea 4 males, one female.
 
November 7, 2015
San Bernardino County
Doug Karalun
Weekend weather got back to the low 80s so oding season is not over yet.
Plunge Creek

*American Rubyspot
Hetaerina americana [last report 2015]
*Vivid Dancer
Argia vivida [last report 2015]
Variegated Meadowhawk

Flood Control Channels south of Greenspot Road in Highland

*Black-fronted Forktail
Ischnura denticollis [last report 2015]
Green Darner
Variegated Meadowhawk
 

November 5 & 6, 2015

Santa Barbara County
Hugh Ranson

Goleta

Vivid Dancer Argia vivida

Blue-eyed Darner11/6/15 

**Red Saddlebags Tramea onusta  11/5/15  - new late date and last report for 2015

Common Green Darner 11/5/15 

 
November 5, 2015
Orange County
Jeff Bray
Aliso Creek in Laguna Niguel

5 Roseate Skimmers this year and today I saw another.

 

November 2, 2015
San Diergo County
Mark Dreiling
Santee Yard
Roseate Skimmer
OCtOber
 
October 31, 2015
San Bernadino County
Doug Karalun, Tom Benson and Matt Grube
less than an hour in Jack Smith Park in Needles

Familiar Bluet
*Blue-ringed Dancer Argia sedula
438423 [last report 2015]
Rambur's Forktail
438422
Green Darner
Blue-eyed Darner

**White-belted Ringtail Erpetogomphus compositus – new late date, old late date 10/24/2003 438424
Variegated Meadowhawk

…….

Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson

the pond at Rancho Goleta,  pretty good for the last day of October--83 degrees does help.

Red-tailed Pennants - two males

*Red Saddlebags Tramea onusta two [last report 2015]

*Black Saddlebags Tramea lacerata -1 [last report 2015]

#three Common Green Darners – [photos on FB show one that is FRESH!! And therefore surely a migrant!! – kb]

a Pacific Forktail

a few bluets (too far away to attempt ID

Elings Park

two Wandering Gliders 

Goleta Costco car park

two Blue-eyed Darners

 

October 30, 2015
Sonoma County
Kathy & Dave Biggs
Bohemian Highway @ small creek that flows into Dutch Bill Creek
*Great Spreadwing Archilestes grandis  - 1 f – [last report 2015]
our Quest a success (sort-a): for the past 20 yrs, the only place here in Sonoma Co. where we've found A. grandis, the largest damselfly in all of North America, was Copeland Ck. (and Honeymoon Ck which feeds into it) in the hills behind Sonoma State U. in Rohnert Park. But, in adding data to the Dot Map project of 2004 (the first attempt to map distribution of Odes across the USA), I realized that in 1968 it had been found along the "Bohemian Highway" on Oct. 28th. So Dave and I headed out that way, spending 3 hrs this afternoon, searching for it. AND WE FOUND ONE - a female, but she was way up in a tree. Dave tried for 20 mins. to capture her on the camera, but failed. Still, it is awesome to now have this 2nd site for them here. The place is where we used to hike into a waterfall. Now closed but I can try to get permission thru Landpaths.
 
October 29, 2015
Santa Barbara County

Liz Muraoka

Goleta, at a small lake

Variegated Meadowhawks 438428

Wandering Glider  438427

*Striped Saddlebags, Tramea calverti Photo record, CA Chart #120  OC# 438426 [last report 2015]
https://picasaweb.google.com/101341401585476327714/DragonflyAtRanchoGoletaLakeInSantaBarbaraOnOctober292015?authkey=Gv1sRgCKHS6pvnvbqRcw&feat=email

 
October 26, 2015
Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson

#Santa Cruz Island- I don't think there is currently any fresh water on the island. Presumably these odes were migrants:
Familiar Bluet (1)
Variegated Meadowhawk (10)
Wandering Glider (7)
*Flame Skimmer Libellula saturata (1) [last report 2015]
Common Green Darner (4)
Blue-eyed Darner (2).
 
October 15, 2015
Siskiyou County
Dennis Ball, Celise Sharp, Kathy & Dave Biggs
Railroad Park, Dunsmuir (just east of I-5)
Great Spreadwing, Archilestes grandis - one male caught by Dennis, IDed by Kathy. Photos taken and specimen kept.
Possibly one other of this species seen among the many Californias.
*California Spreadwing Archilestes californicus - many, several dozens at least; many in tandems [last report 2015]
*Tule Bluet Enallagma carunculatum - a few males [last report 2015]
*Shadow Darner Aeshna umbrosa - ~6; a few males & females in hand. females seen ovipositing [last report 2015]
*Autumn Meadowhawk  Sympetrum vicinum - some, ~8-10 inc. tandems & ovipositing [last report 2015]
An interesting aside: these ponds were created back when a decade ago after a railroad tanker full of poison tipped over
and spilled into the nearby Sacramento River. As mitigation(?), the railroad company 
created these ponds and stocked them with fish. The pre-existing park has many railroad cars, an engine and campsites. 
 
October 11, 2015
Riverside County
Peter Siminski
Dos Palmas Preserve; Dos Palmas oasis, Felger oasis and Fish Ponds; Elev. -100’ to -240’; 7:00-11:20, 72-97F, cloudless, calm to light air.
Blue-ringed Dancer, Argia sedula 8
Familiar Bluet, Enallagma civile  5
*Desert Forktail, Ischnura barberi 2 [last report 2015]
*Citrine Forktail, I. hastata 2 [last report 2015]
Rambur’s Forktail, I. ramburii  2
Common Green Darner, Anax junius   22 including one tandem pair.
Blue-eyed Darner, Rhionaeschna multicolor  7
Variegated Meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum 24 almost all were tandem pairs.
Red-tailed Pennant, Brachymesia furcata 9 including two tandem pairs.
Western Pondhawk, Erythemis collocata 1
Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis >20
Flame Skimmer, Libellula saturata 5
Roseate Skimmer, Orthemis ferruginea 14
*Marl Pennant, Macrodiplax balteata 7 [last report 2015]
Black Saddlebags, T.  lacerata 5
Red Saddlebags, T. onusta 1
Phenology Note: In each of the last seven years for my October visit to Dos Palmas, Variegated Meadowhawks were mostly seen in tandem pairs and at their annual peak of numbers. 
 

October 10 and 11, 2015

San Bernardino County

Doug Karalun

Cajon Creek:

American Rubyspot 437797

*Sooty Dancer Argia lugens [last report 2015]

Vivid Dancer

*Arroyo Bluet Enallagma praevarum [last report 2015]

Familiar Bluet 437796

Green Darner

Blue-eyed Darner

Walker's Darner

Flame Skimmer

*Red Rock Skimmer Paltothemis lineatipes [last report 2015]

*Cardinal Meadowhawk Sympetrum illotum [last report 2015]

Lost Lake: Cut short by ending up knee deep in mud.

Familiar Bluet

*Spotted Spreadwing Lestes congener 437794 [last report 2015]

Flame Skimmer

Green Darner

Plunge Creek:

Vivid Dancer

*Argia hinei  Lavender Dancer OC#:437799 (10th); 437792 (11th) [last report 2015]

California/Aztec Dancer

Green Darner

Flame Skimmer

*Neon Skimmer Libellula croceipennis [last report 2015]

Red Rock Skimmer

East Highland Reservoir:

Tule Bluet

Pacific Forktail

Green Darner

Blue-eyed Darner

Flame Skimmer

Red-tailed Pennant

Mexican Amberwing

San Timoteo Creek: Habitat that produced Filigree Skimmer is completely bulldozed by flood control and the stream is

full of silt.

Vivid Dancer

Flame Skimmer

Wandering Glider

Ford Park:

Familiar Bluet

Tule Bluet

Pacific Forktail

Green Darner

Flame Skimmer

Mexican Amberwing

Black Saddlebag

Forest Road 2N09 3 miles off Hwy 330 there is a pool of water in the road

California Spreadwing 437789

Vivid Dancer

Green Darner

Flame Skimmer 437791

Cardinal Meadowhawk 437790

 

October 8, 2015
Los Angeles County
Robb Hamilton  

Bull Creek, near Sylmar

California Spreadwing - M ale

 

October 2, 2015
Los Angeles County

Robb Hamilton

Legg Lake

Mexican Amberwing, Male,  always a fave,

This remains one of the best places to find males in the LA area. I often find the females on Coast Goldenbush quite a ways from water, but in the general vicinity of Legg Lake.

….

David Bell

Eaton Canyon, Pasadena

Great Spreadwing

 

 

 
September

 

September 28, 2015

Riverside County

Chet McGaugh

Lake Tamarisk "resort" ,  a mile north of I-10 between Indio and Blythe.

Same place I had Great Pondhawk last year, and Twelve-spotted Skimmer the year before.

14 dragonfly species today including photos of a

Plateau Dragonlet Erythrodiplax basifusca male photographed –[2nd state record, new county record] CA Chart#145, OC# tbd

 
September 26, 2015

Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson & a bunch of friends

Sedgwick Reserve It was around 96 degrees there.

Familiar Bluet    1 netted

Tule/Arroyo Bluet  lots

*Northern Bluet Enallagma annexum     lots [last sighting 2015]

*Western Forktail Ischnura perparva 4 Highlight for me & a late date for the county (and they are always a pleasure to see). [last report 2015]

Pacific Forktail  20

*California Dancer Argia agrioides   1 [last report 2015]

*Desert Firetail Telebasis salva  15 [last report 2015]

Flame Skimmer  8

Variegated Meadowhawk  1

Blue-eyed Darner   5

Common Green Darner   15

Blue Dasher   5

Black Saddlebags  12
Wandering Glider  3

…….

San Bernardino County

Doug Karalun

Afton Canyon & Zzyzx

Familiar Bluet

Black-fronted Forktail

Desert Firetail

*Comanche Skimmer Libellula comanche [last report 2015]

Roseate Skimmer

Variegated Meadowhawk

Black Saddlebags

*Paiute Dancer Argia alberta [last report 2015]

Desert Forktail

 

September 20, 2015
San Mateo County 
Leslie Flint
Alpine Pond
There are still quite a few Odes 
Common Green Darner (6-10)
Blue-eyed Darner (4-6)
Cardinal Meadowhawk -1
*Striped Meadowhawk Sympetrum pallipes (6-10) [last report 2015]
Variegated Meadowhawk (4-6) 
few bluets. I was hoping for some spread wings - haven't found any at this location this year.
Gazos Creek Road on the Coast 
Walker's Darners (2-4) - 2 patrolling the road and 1 patrolling the creek.
…….

Los Angeles County

Steve Sosensky and Bruce Aird

Kenneth Hahn Park

The activity was energetic so counting was difficult.

bluets, unidentified

Blue Dashers,

Red Saddlebags

Black Saddlebags,

Red-tailed Pennant,

Flame Skimmers,

Mexican Amberwings,

Common Green Darners – many

 

September 19/20, 2015

San Francisco County

Paul Saraceni, Hugh Cotter, Ken Schneider, Alan Hopkin

With warm easterly winds in San Francisco this weekend, we spent the better part of Saturday (9/19) and Sunday (9/20) mornings observing migrant birds

atop Battery Godfrey in the Presidio, overlooking the Golden Gate Channel, SW of the Golden Gate Bridge.

 ….the warm winds pushed some good odes for SF to the Battery (which does not have any water):

Com. Green Darner 3-5 (both days)

Blue-eyed Darner 2-4 (both days)

Variegated Meadowhawk 2 m./1 f. (9/20)

BLUE DASHER 1 imm. m. (9/20; showing pruinescence on the abdomen; only a few prior SF records)

RED ROCK SKIMMER 2 m. (9/20; rare in SF, but has occurred several times before at the Battery)

Black Saddlebags 2 (both days)

RED SADDLEBAGS 1 f. (both days in same small fennel pattch; photographed; 6th SF record of which I'm aware, 4th this summer during northerly incursion)

Wandering Glider 1-2 (both days)

*Spot-winged Glider Pantala hymenaea  1 (9/19) [last report 2015]

 

September 19, 2015
Placer County 
Kathy Biggs
Am. River Music Festival  at Henningsen-Lotus Park  in Coloma-Lotus - The lawns were alive with Odes:
Common Green Darners - dozens
Wandering Glider - at least one, probably several
Spot-winged Glider - many
Black Saddlebags - many (they esp. liked to be misted I was told!!)
Red Saddlebags - a possible sighting, but I'll not even consider it a 'sight record' as I wasn't able to see the saddle, 
but if flew just like one, however it  was at exactly eye height and I couldn't see the wings marks, but that's what its posture was. 
Head's up if you're in that area as it would be a county record!!
no odes at all were seen on the pond at the Am. River Resort though this year.
…….
Monterey County
Steve Rovell, John Sterling, Todd Easterla 
Andrew Molera State Park in Big Sur
Typically there isn’t a lot of ode diversity there, but today was much better. 
little blue damsels - there were surprisingly very few of.  I saw maybe 4 all morning. 
Upon arrival at Andrew Molera, we made a beeline toward the headlands and mouth of the river.  There were probably more BLUE-EYED DARNERS there than I have ever seen in one small place.  I would have to estimate 60-75 of them were present.  
A few WANDERING GLIDERS were here and there in the park.  
A VARIEGATED MEADOWHAWK was noticed at the beach where a tremendous display of seabirds was going on just 10 yards offshore.  
COMMON GREEN DARNERS were nowhere as numerous as the BLUE-EYEDs as I only saw about 10. 
One or two meadowhawks, probably CARDINAL, were along one small stretch of the river.  
Two species I usually don’t see at Molera are the saddlebags, both of which were seen here today.
3-4 BLACK SADDLEBAGS 
1or 2 RED SADDLEBAGS along the same small stretch of river.  
…….
San Bernardino County
Doug Karalun
Lost Lake
Spotted Spreadwing - 436883
California Spreadwing - 436882
Backyard pond in San Diego near MTRP
Desert Firetail - 436791
…….
Kern County
Ali Sheehey
Kern River
Blue-eyed Darner 436969
Cardinal Meadowhawk 436968
*Pale-faced Clubskimmer Brechmorhoga mendax 436967 [last report 2015]
…….
Alameda County
Candy McNamee

Mines Road

Cardinal Meadowhawk – a male photographed

 

September 18, 2015

San Diego County

Michael Ouellette

Mission Trails Regional Park Oak Canyon hike

Blue Dasher - 1 male

Common Green Darner - Dozen, coupled male and female ovipositing

Flame Skimmer -  ~ half dozen male only

Neon Skimmer - 1 female ovipositing

Variegated Meadowhawk - 1 male

Wandering Glider - ~5

California Spreadwing – 4 436782

Back yard pond near MTRP

Desert Firetail - 1 male

…….

San Bernardino County

Matthew Grube

Red-tailed Pennant 436782

Sooty Dancer  436761

*Serpent Ringtail  Erpetogomphus lampropeltis natrix  436760 [last report 2015]

Pale-faced Clubskimmer 436759

…….

Los Angeles County

David Bell

Big Tujunga Wash

Blue Dasher 436750

Serpent Ringtail 436749

Flame Skimmer 436742

Neon Skimmer 436745

Mexican Amberwing 436746

Common Green Darner 436748

Pale-faced Clubskimmer 436757

 

September 15, 2015
Orange County
Chuck Border

San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, Irvine.

Blue-eyed Darner
Red-tailed Pennant
 
September 13/14, 2015
Riverside County
Doug Karalun
San Jacinto Wildlife Area
*Striped Saddlebags Tramea calverti 436489  [species #100, first reported on 13th]
Common Green Darner 436490
Western Pondhawk 436492
Blue-eyed Darner 436491
 
September 11, 2015
Santa Barbara County 
Peter Gaede 
Carpinteria Creek, near estuary mouth.
Roseate Skimmer 436416 Continuing; first found 9/02/2015
…….
Napa County 
Peter Gunrow
Wandering Glider Pantala flavescens – CA Chart #143, OC# 436408
 
September 6, 2015
Riverside County 
Peter Siminski
Dos Palmas Preserve; Dos Palmas and Felger Oases and Fish Ponds; Elev. -100’ to  -240’; 7:00-10:15, 83-98F, cloudless then 40% altocumulus, calm to light breeze SW.
*Powdered Dancer, Argia moesta 2
Rambur’s Forktail, Ischnura ramburii 2
Common Green Darner, Anax junius  >45 including 7 tandem pairs, some ovipisiting.
Western Pondhawk, Erythemis collocata 15 including one pair in wheel.
Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis >30
Marl Pennant, Macrodiplax balteata 7
Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerata 2
Red Saddlebags, T. onusta 1
Wandering Glider, Pantala flavescens 2
Note: unexpectedly low numbers and low diversity. I thought I would hit the time between the point where the sun isn’t high enough for odes or its too hot for ode activity.
…….

San Bernardino County

Doug Karalun
Plunge Creek
Red Rock Skimmer 436252
Lavender Dancer  Argia hinei Photo record, CA Chart #136 , OC # 436251
Vivid Dancer 436083
…….

Orange County

Andy Lazere
Aliso and Wood Canyons Regional Park
Pale-faced Clubskimmer 
…….

Riverside County

Stephen Myers
Whitewater Preserve
Neon Skimmer 438663

 

September 5, 2015

San Bernardino County

Matt Grube and Doug Karalun
Canyon Trail, Big Morongo Canyon Preserve  
Marl Pennant Macrothemis balteata - Doug first spotted it, and we both obtained photographs. CA Chart #144, OC # 436238
Spot-winged Glider 436237
…….

Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson

Sedgwick Reserve:

Black-fronted Forktail  -- 1 male

Pacific Forktail -- abundant

Western Forktail -- 1 male and female (late date for county)

Familiar Bluet -- 1 netted

Bluet sp--  c. 50

Desert Firetail -15

California Dancer --  1

Flame Skimmer-- 6

Cardinal Meadowhawk --3

Blue-eyed Darner  -- 8

Common Green Darner -- 6

Black Saddlebags --1

Santa Ynez River… depressingly dry The large pool at Lower Oso, where there were double-digit Serpent Ringtails last year, has but a few puddles remaining:

Common Green Darner --10

Flame Skimmer--4

Wandering Glider--2

California Dancer--10

Vivid Dancer--10

Lavender Dancer--1

Live Oak

Common Green Darner--10

Flame Skimmer--3

California dancer--5

Falls Day Use

Nothing

Upper Oso, perennial stream, still trickling

Lavender Dancer -- 15

Vivid Dancer --30

Bluet sp--2

*Great Spreadwing Archilestes grandis –1
 

September 2, 2015

Santa Barbara County

Matt Victoria

Carpinteria State Beach

ROSEATE SKIMMER (Orthemis ferruginea) a male found on my lunchbreak.  
I consulted with H RANSON, who informed me it would be our 3rd County record and encouraged me to obtain photographs.  OC#436344
I relocated the Roseate on 9-3 but failed to photograph it.  Yesterday, 9-8, I finally obtained satisfactory ID images.
L BALLARD followed up on my sighting, and refound it on 9-8.  BALLARD reports it continues 9-9
 

September 1, 2015

Modoc County

Tony Kurz

Stough Res. east on the 299, but didn't have anything new there. 
Pit River where it crosses the 299/395. Just off the road along the river edge we had a immature male 
*CHERRY-FACED MEADOWHAWK Sympetrum internum – photos [ONLY report 2015] another lifer! We were stoked and not only that I finally got see a male 
*BAND-WINGED MEADOWHAWK Sympetrum semicinctum (pictures) [last report 2015]
*Variable Darner Aeshna interrupta – photos [last report 2015]
Band-winged Meadowhawk – photos
……..

Santa Barbara County

Doug Karalun
East Highland Reservoir
Red-tailed Pennant 436253
…….
Alameda County
Candy McNamee
Mines Rd.
Cardinal Meadowhawk
 
 
August
 

August 30, 2015

Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson

Seaside Plant Nursery, Carpentaria

On my last visit to this location, I failed to see Rambur's Forktail so was pleased to see one hanging out on the lily pads today

Rambur's Forktail  1

Pacific Forktail  1

Wandering Glider  1

Red Saddlebags  2

Black Saddlebags  1

Common Green Darner  1

Blue-eyed Darner  1

Western Pondhawk  1 male--new for this site

Flame Skimmer  1

*Common Whitetail Plathemis lydia   - a reports Larry Ballard from the pond on 8/24/15, also new for the location (as far as we know). [last report 2015]

…….

Monterey County

Don Roberson & Rita Carratello 
El Carmelo Cemetery, Pacific Grove.
Roseate Skimmer Orthemis ferruginea  - a male perched high in a Monterey pine. Photos CA Chart #29, OC# 436062
We alerted Steve Rovell and Michael Rieser, who also were able to photograph it at about noon. It stayed in and around the sunny east side of the pines in the extreme NE corner of the cemetery, adjacent to the golf course (and one must constantly be aware of errant golf shots). 
Red Rock Skimmer
Blue-eyed Darner a male that also perched for photos.
…….
Los Angeles County
David Bell & Jennifer Tobin
Amargosa River Spreading Basin
Red-tailed Pennant 436017
#Wandering Glider 436014 on the 31st
Vivid Dancer on the 31st Big Rock Creek--Lower Riparian Area 436005
Flame Skimmer Hampstead Road, La Cańada,on the 30st 436004
Western Pondhawk
Roseate Skimmer San Timoteo Canyon 436001
Neon Skimmer San Timoteo Canyon 436000
Flame Skimmer San Timoteo Canyon
*Gray Sanddragon Progomphus borealis San Timoteo Canyon 435998 [last report 2015]
Desert Firetail San Timoteo Canyon 435997
Black-fronted Forktail San Timoteo Canyon 435996
American Rubyspot San Timoteo Canyon 435995

…….

San Bernardino County

Stephen Myers

San Timoteo Canyon near Fern Avenue

Filigree Skimmer 438687

 

August 29/30, 2015

San Bernardino County

Matt Grube and Jennifer Tobin

San Timoteo Creek

I tried to relocate the Skimmer this morning.  We did not find one in the area from yesterday, but we did find both a male and a female 1.5 to 2 miles away.
**Filigree Skimmer - This spot should be easier to find, and more likely to reproduce the dragonflies. OC# 435994

wards the creek in the flood control channel.  [new late date for the species]

There is a pool of water adjacent to the first dam that runs across the creek, upstream (east) from the road bridge. 

GPS location is 34.032377, -117.207377.  Lots of other dragonflies in this area.  A friend was able to relocate both the male and the female 2 hours later around noon.

Flame Skimmer – photographed on the 30th 436084

Pale-faced Clubskimmer - 435953

Cardinal Meadowhawk -  435952

Neon Skimmer - 435951

Black-fronted Forktail - 435949

#Wandering Glider Pantala flavescens  - upgrade from prior sight only record. CA Chart #144, OC # 435949

Gray Sanddragon - 435947 & 435905

Western Pondhawk - 435907

Cardinal Meadowhawk - 435906

Bruce Aird and Jeff Bray 

San Timoteo Creek to chase down a Filigree. We went to the site reported by Matt Grube

Filigree Skimmer - both a male and female fly by but couldn't get shots.

Roseate Skimmer  2-3 males

Flame Skimmers, 6-7

Common Green Darners, 2-3

Western Pondhawks, 2-4

Gray Sandragon, at least one

American Rubyspot, a single male

Bluets - of some kind (not sure what yet),

#Wandering Gliders 3-5. The link to Matt's shot of a female is here: https://flic.kr/p/wYXjuH

…….

Siskiyou County

Dave Payne

Light rains last night sparked an emergence of winged ants. This event attracted a swarm of

Common Green Darners (about 25 dragonflies) who flitted about picking off the ants as they ascended off the ground.

This went on for about three hours, 10:15 am to 1:15.pm. Very entertaining to watch.

 

August 28, 2015

Siskiyou County

Tony Kurz

Juanita Lake just west of Hwy 97 in Siskiyou county the Highlight was:
3 AUTUMN MEADOWHAWKS (pictures)- very cool to see especially adult male. I had only seen them as tenerals.

*Paddle-tailed Darner Aeshna palmata – photos [last report 2015]

Spotted Spreadwing – photos

Striped Meadowhawk – photos

…….

San Bernardino County

Matt Grube

San Timoteo Canyon. Approx GPS coordinates are: 34.020303, -117.184630

Filigree Skimmer 435950

Filigree Skimmer - 435904

Filigree Skimmer Pseudoleon superbus - photographed CA Chart #144 OC # 435812

Roseate Skimmer 435813

 

August 27, 2015

Siskiyou County

Tony Kurz

A-12 pond, just north of Mt. Shasta.
Most notable for me was my lifer BAND-WINGED MEADOWHAWK! (pictures)

 

August 25, 2015

San Bernardino County

Leslie Flint and Norm Barrett

Needles - is there a hotter place? 102 today but crazy us went to Jack Smith Park to see if we could find some Odes.

3 White-belted Ringtails

2 Blue Dashers

1 Spot-winged Glider.

Other than that, oodles of damsels that because we are in a new place thought they were something other than what they might actually be. For sure we saw

Familiar Bluet

Western Forktail

Powdered Dancer

 

August 24, 2015

Inyo County

Jeff Bray

Dirty Socks Spring

*Bleached Skimmer Libellula compositus 438537 [last reportr 2015]

 

August 24, 2015

San Bernardino County

Kathy & Dave Biggs

We spent about 15 mins in the 113F heat at Jack Smith Park in Needles

Ringtail sp. Erpetogomphus - a quick flyby
Spreadwing sp. Lestes - seen briefly perched twice - flew before we could get binnoc on it
Blue Dasher - a VERY oblique male
Powdered Dancer - 1 male
Then we went to Moabi Regional Park, where at a Blitz a few years ago, we spied a 12-spot, but, alas, the 'back door' was blocked off and we couldn't get to the lagoon where we'd seen it.

August 22, 2015

Santa Barbara County

Nick Lethaby

S Santa Barbara Island. There were many more migrant dragonflies out there compared to late July, although interestingly no Spot-winged Gliders:

Common Green Darner – 2

Variegated Meadowhawk – 1

Black Saddlebags – 3

Red Saddlebags – 4

Wandering Glider – 40

 

August 21, 2015

Mono County

Kristie Nelson

Lee Vining Creek delta yesterday (north side of the delta, the slow moving water behind the big patch of goldenrod was most productive for Odes):

*Black Meadowhawk Sympetrum danae: easy to find, males and females (about 10+). Fun to see them at Mono Lake

*Saffron-winged Meadowhawks Sympetrum costiferum : 2-3 [last report 2015

Mosaic Darners, ~10 

Western Forktail -- at least 1 female ovipositing. So plump & small, flying slowly over the water!

Spreadwing, probably northern (maybe Lyre-tipped) --  1+ 

and a ghostly pale teneral Dancer, not sure what species (vivid?)

…….

Los Angeles County

David Bell

Big Tujunga Canyon at Vogel Flats

Lavender Dancer 435439

 

August 18, 2015

San Diego County

Michael Ouellette

Mission Trails Regional Park, San Diego River

Blue Dasher - abundant

Red Saddlebag - 5, 1 female ovipositing

Common Green Darner - 7, 1female ovipositing

Flame Skimmer - 8 male only

Neon Skimmer - 5 male only

Roseate Skimmer - 2 male only

Black Saddlebag - 2 male only

Wandering Glider - 1

Pacific Forktail - 12+

Familiar Bluets - 3 male only

Vivid Dancer – 3

…….

Mono County

Ron & Barbara Oriti

Dechambeau Ponds, just north of Mono Lake

Black Saddlebags - Lots

Red Saddlebags - Some

*Eight-spotted Skimmer Libellula forensis – lots [last report 2015]

Bleached Skimmers - Few

Paddle-tailed Darners - Lots

Variegated Meadowhawks - Some

Band-winged Meadowhawks - Some

Saffron-winged Meadowhawks Sympetrum costiferum Some

Black Meadowhawks - Few

 

August 17, 2015

Lassen County

Nick Lethaby
Wilson Lake. The water is getting low but there were lots of odes in trees along the edge
Band-winged Meadowhawks - dozens
*Northern Spreadwings Lestes disjunctus  - dozens [last report 2015]
Striped Meadowhawk - about six
*Twelve-spotted Skimmer Libellula pulchella - about six [last report 2015]

 

August 16, 2015

Lassen County

Nick Lethaby
Cold Boiling and Crumbaugh Lakes. Both had numerous darners, 
*White-faced Meadowhawks Sympetrum obtrusum [last report 2015]
Northern Spreadwings. 
There were at least two different types of Darner and I had good enough flight looks of one to feel confident it was a Paddle-tailed.
 

August 15, 2015

San Diego County

Michael Ouellette

His backyard pond in San Diego

Filigree Skimmer - final summary of the results of the Filigrees in my pond this year.

I witnessed ovipositing on March 12 and 16.

We had 9 emergence with the first on June 15 and the last on August 15 (3 to 5 months development).

All were at night with the two that I saw extending into early morning.

…….

San Bernardino County

Paul G. Johnson II

Colorado River east of Park Moabi Regional Park and north of the Hwy 40 bridge over the river. In a small slough between the river and the National Trails Hwy.

*Russet-tipped Clubtail Stylurus plagiatus  CA Chart #76 7OC#: 435043 [last report 2015]

 

August 14, 2015

Santa Clara County

Matthew Dodder

Ogier Ponds:

Flame Skimmer

*Widow Skimmer Libellula luctuosa [last report 2015]

Eight-spotted Skimmer Libellula forensis

Wandering Glider 

Black Saddlebags

Red Saddlebags

Blue Dasher

Blue-eyed Darner

*California Darner Rhionaeschna californica [last report 2015]

Common Green Darner

American Rubyspot

Bluet (species)

Dancer (species)

…….

Humboldt County

Tony Kurz and Casey Ryan

I finally got a photo of a RED SADDLEBAGS at two locations in.

First at Stone Lagoon where we had a magnificent day for Odes (diversity) with a total of 5 Red Saddlebags. The other location was Big Lagoon parking lot. I was able to photograph 1 at each spot.
Stone Lagoon:
Familiar Bluet
Blue-eyed Darner
Paddle-tailed Darner
*Red-veined Meadowhawk  Sympetrum madidum
[last report 2015\
Cardinal Meadowhawk
Variegated Meadowhawk
Striped Meadowhawk
Eight-spotted Skimmer
WIDOW SKIMMER -
This might be the first location we have had Widow Skimmer right on the coast.
#
RED SADDLEBAGS Tramea onusta 5 upgrade from prior sight only record. CA Chart # 119; OC # 434969
Spot-winged Glider

…….

San Francisco County

Paul Saraceni

This afternoon I observed another Red Saddlebags in San Francisco, in warm, sunny conditions. 

It was a male flying just out from my deck for a few minutes in the Cole Valley neighborhood of SF, ~3 miles "inland" from Ocean Beach.

There is no water nearby.  It was not flying with any other odes, though a couple of Spot-winged Gliders were flying in the vicinity earlier.

…….

Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson, Laura Baldwin, and Larry Ballard

visited a small pond at the Sedgwick Reserve in the Santa Ynez Valley. The pond hasn't been thoroughly surveyed for odes, so it was interesting to see the variety of species.

We saw 16 species in all. For me the most notable were Desert Firetail and Western Forktail for the sheer numbers present.

Western Forktail is generally pretty scarce in SBA, and I have never seen so many firetails in one place in the county. Temps. were around 96 degrees when we left.

California Dancer  1 male netted

Northern Bluet    2 males netted

Tule Bluet    2 males netted

Arroyo Bluet    2 males netted

Western Forktail   20-30

Pacific Forktail  15

Black-fronted Forktail  2

Desert Firetail  30-40

Common Green Darner  2+

Blue-eyed Darner  5

Cardinal Meadowhawk  2

Blue Dasher   10

Common Whitetail   1 male

Flame Skimmer    10

Red Saddlebags  3

Wandering Glider  


August 13, 2015

Humboldt County

Nick Lethaby
Richardson Grove, Eel River. Most odes appeared to hanging out in the willows on the single banks above the riverbed.
Sooty Dancer - 12+
*Emma's Dancer Argia emma – 1 [last report 2015]
Common Green Darner - 2
W. River Cruiser - 4+
Gray Sanddragon -  1
Pale-faced Clubskimmer - 1
Flame Skimmer - 3
I saw one Darner that appeared to be a Blue-eyed. I had a suboptimal view of what may have been a Giant Darner.
…….
San Diego County
Melanie Herring
San Diego Botanical Gardens in Encinitas
Neon Skimmers
Flame Skimmers near the water fall. 
I took pics of several different damsels in different ponds but have not id them yet.

 

August 12, 2015

Siskiyou County

Robb Hamilton

Dunsmuir, Railroad Resort

Pacific Forktail

Western Forktail

Tule Bluet

Vivid Dancer

*Pacific Spiketail Cordulegaster dorsalis [last report 2015]

Blue-eyed Darner

a couple Common Green Darners

12-spotted Skimmer

Flame Skimmer

Western Pondhawk

Cardinal Meadowhawk

Common Whitetail

Black Saddlebags,

one Variegated Meadowhawk

 

August 11, 2015

Siskiyou County

Robb Hamilton

Orr Lake

Saffron-winged Meadowhawk, male.

 

August 10, 2015

Santa Clara County

Leslie Flint

Monte Bello OSP Gate 5 pond. I hadn't been there for quite a while and the edges were dry and odeless, so I walked to where I could go down the bank and see the entire pond. There was a lot flying around. Best was:

Red Saddlebags - 1 (I have never seen it here)
Black Saddlebags - 12+ (Many ovipositing)
Common Green Darner - 6+
Blue-eyed Darner - 2
8-spotted Skimmer - 1
Blue Dasher - several
Striped Meadowhawk - 3
Arroyo Bluet - many
No/Bo Bluets - many
Pacific Forktail - many
Vivid Dancer - few
California Spreadwing – 1

Mateo County

Hoping to find a Red Saddlebags in San Mateo County, I went over to Alpine Pond which is really only about 1/2 mile away as the crow flies. However, even though it was sunny and warm, there were few odes and no Saddlebags Common Green Darner - 1
Flame Skimmer - 6
Widow Skimmer - 12
Striped Meadowhawk - 1
Pacific Forktail – many

 

August 8 & 9, 2015

Inyo County

Hugh Ranson

Rock Creek - a few glorious days What a beautiful spot. I spent a lot of time next to water, but there were precious few odes--two species to be exact, and both proved to be new species for Inyo County.

Black Meadowhawk Sympetrum danae - a teneral on 8/8/15 at around 9800 feet, a little below Rock Creek Lake. CA CHART#120, OC# 434927

Variable Darner Aeshna interrupta, a male, in Little Lakes Valley on 8/9/15 at around 10,200 feet. CA #120,  OC# 434928

 

August 8, 2015

Siskiyou County

Kathy & Dave Biggs

Grasshopper Flat (looking for Pygmy Short-horned Lizards)

Common Green Darners - ~10 in one group, a few others nearby

Pond Damsel sp – 1, amazing to be so far from water!!

Pumice Stone Well

Common Green Darner – few

Variable Darner – 4 in hand

*Mountain Emerald Somatochlora semicirularis   1 photographed; a few other Emeralds, most appeared to be this species [last report 2015]

No/Bo Bluet

Western Forktail

Pacific Forktail

Northern Spreadwing – in hand

Orr Lake

Kathy & Dave Biggs; Dennis Ball & Celise Sharp (what a hoot!! We drove up and there were our good friends – already oding!!)

*Paddle-tailed Darner Aeshna palmata - 1 (in hand)

Common Green Darner – 1-2

8-spottd Skimmer

Western Pondhawk – 1

No/Bo Bluet

Western Forktail - abundant

NOTE: We are all finding way fewer dragons at these mt. elevations than expected at this time this year

…….

Placer County

Will Richardson and friends

some mountain lakes (~ 7400' elev.) near Lake Tahoe

Northern Spreadwing

*Emerald Spreadwing Lestes dryas [last report 2015]

Pacific Forktail

Variable Darner

Shadow Darner

Black Meadowhawk

Band-winged Meadowhawk

…….

Shasta County

Ray Bruun

Logan Lake

*Lyre-tipped Spreadwing Lestes unguiculatus - a couple dozen [ONLY report 2015] - could have counted far more than that, but it's a rough figure of those I noticed.  Lyre-tipped Spreadwing (Lestes unguiculatus)

Northern Spreadwing were also present.

 

August 7, 2015

Santa Clara County

Matthew Dodder

Palo Alto Flood Control Basin d-Conditions were warm and windless, with several shallow warm ponds... I was hoping for Red Saddlebags.

That didn't happen, but did have a nice showing of other species, and may were too far to identify:

Blue-eyed Darner 3

Common Green Darner 14

Flame Skimmer 2

Cardinal Meadowhawk 3

Red-veined Meadowhawk 2

Variegated Meadowhawk 5

Wandering Glider 10+

Spot-winged Glider 5

 

August 7, 2015

San Bernardino County

Andy Lazere

Prado Regional Park

Neon Skimmer

 

August 6, 2015

Siskiyou County

Kathy & Dave Biggs

With all the Red Saddlebags showing up in Oregon, even inland, we stopped at the Greenhorn Park Ponds in Yreka, CA.

There were LOTS of Saddlebags, but they were all black.
No/Bo Bluets
Flame Skimmers
Common Whitetail
Blue Dashers
Widow Skimmers
(many)
Black Saddlebags
(many)
12-spotted Skimmers
Common Green Darners
Blue-eyed Darners

Also seen - a River Otter!!

August 5, 2015

Siskiyou County

Kathy & Dave Biggs; Dennis Ball & Celise Sharp

Juanita Lake, W of Macdoel off Hwy 97, we found the lake practically devoid of Odes.

We did show up late though (5 PM) as our route was blocked by a huge tree across the road and we spent an hour back-tracking and approaching from a different direction.
What we did see:
Juanita Lake
Northern Spreadwing - 2 females
No/Bo Bluets - few
Pacific Forktail - many, inc. tenerals and matures
Western Forktail - many, inc. tenerals and matures
Common Green Darner - 1-2 only
Striped Meadowhawk - few, just emerging
Red-veined Meadowhawk - a female photographed
Autumn Meadowhawk - several young females
Martin's Dairy ~6000' (not a dairy, a meadow with a creek) West of Juanita Lake
Darners - about 100 all together including
Common Green Darner - most abundant
Variable Darner - some, a few in hand
Shadow Darner - a few in hand
Blue-eyed Darner 1-2
Pacific Spiketail
Common Whitetail
- a few at pondlet along road
Red-veined Meadowhawk - 1-2
Variegated Meadowhawk - 1 imm.
Black Saddlebags - 1-2 flying with the darners

August 3+5, 2015

Mono County

Hugh Ranson

3 hours at Dechambeau Ponds

*Boreal Bluet Enallagma boreale 1 [last report 2015]

*Alkali Bluet Enallagma clausum  5    These bluets were netted [last report 2015]

Tule Bluet 2

Western Forktail --abundant

Pacific Forktail  10

Black-fronted Forktail  5

*Western Red Damsel Amphiagrion abbreviatum   3 on 8/5 [last report 2015]

Darner sp.  10

Saffron-winged Meadowhawk   1 male on 8/3

Variegated Meadowhawk   --abundant

Western Pondhawk  --abundant

Eight-spotted Skimmer  --abundant

Flame Skimmer  4

*Four-spotted Skimmer Libellula quadrimaculata   [last report 2015]  1 on 8/5

Bleached Skimmer     3 on 8/5 ( 1 pair photographed ovipositing, and 1 male photographed.)

Black Saddlebags   10

Red Saddlebags    10

Wandering Glider   1 on 8/5

 

August 3, 2015

San Bernardino County

Andy Lazere

Prado Regional Park

Mexican Amberwing

 

August 1, 2015

Colusa County

Jim Johnson

Bear Creek at Holsten Canyon

*Western River Cruiser Macromia magnifica  434506 [last report 2015]

Wandering Glider 434505

American Rubyspot 434504

…….

San Diego County

Michael Ouellette

His backyard pond in San Diego

**Filigree Skimmer - I got some nice pictures of a newly emerged male [new late date] 434848

 

July
 

 

July 31, 2015

Yolo County

Jim Johnson

Cache Creek at Cache Creek campground

American Rubyspot 434502

Sooty Dancer 434501

Emma’s Dancer 434500

Pale-faced Clubskimmer 434503

Colusa County

Bear Creek at Holsten Canyon

American Rubyspot

California Dancer 434391

Flame Skimmer 434390

Widow Skimmer 434389

White-belted Ringtail 434388

Gray Sanddragon 434387

Sooty Dancer 434386

Red Rock Skimmer 434384

 

July 30, 2015

San Francisco County

Steve Rottenborn, Noreen Weeden, Cindy Margulis

Hunters Point Shipyard, along the Bay in southeastern S.F

Red Saddlebags, male - This is not far from India Basin, where Paul, Keven, and Hugh saw two.  

Three gliders (one Spot-winged, the other two not see well enough for identification),

Blue-eyed Darner

Variegated Meadowhawk – 1

 

July 29, 2015

Humboldt County

Tony Kurz

Park at Stone Lagoon parking lot on the north side of the lagoon. Walk to the edge of the lagoon from the parking lot.

Familiar Bluet Enallagma civile CA Chart # OC# 434497, photo voucher

Del Norte County

Mill Creek Acquisition pond access limited. Only open on the weekends.:
Red Saddlebags  434495 - Pulled up to the pond and noticed 1 pair flying in tandem and several other males flying on patrol over the pond. Was able to catch a male.

Red Saddlebags 434494  Just north of Washington Blvd. and east of Crescent City airport. The dragonflies were at the parking lot at Dead Lake.
Specimen Notes:
At least a dozen Red Saddlebags working this area. Both sexes were seen and a few were flying in tandem. We never saw any oviposting, but very likely.
…….

Santa Clara County

Nancy Asquith

Rancho San Antonio OSP

Common Green Darner 434338

Desert Firetail 434337

 

July 27+29, 2015

Siskiyou County

Kathy & Dave Biggs, Celise Sharp & Dennis Ball

Soda Springs on Squaw Creek

Black Saddlebags

Cardinal Meadowhawk

Red-veined Meadowhawk

Common Whitetail (8 on the 27th)

12-spotted Skimmers

Western Forktails

Pacific Forktails

Dave might have seen a pair of Sedge Sprites in wheel, if so it would be a 2nd county sige. We’ll go back and work the area heavily soon…

Also seen – a beaver at  work

At Squaw Creek trail (~7 miles downstream)

Pacific Spiketail

*Grappletail Octogomphus specularis  (on the 13th) [last report 2015]

 

July 26, 2015

San Francisco County

Paul Saraceni, Kevin McKereghan, Hugh Cotter

India Basin Open Space, San Francisco

#Red Saddlebags Tramea onusta photos upgrade Joseph Morlan’s prior (yrs ago!) sight record. CA Chart # 58. OC # 433978

…….

Los Angeles County

David Bell

Peck Road Water Conservation Park

Black-fronted Forktail 434139 & 435480

 

July 25, 2015

Trinity County

Tony Kurz

Van Duzen Rd just off the road under bridge along the Van Duzen river.  This location is west of Ruth Lake

#Red Rock Skimmer Paltothemis lineatipesCA Chart # 119 OC# 433878

 

July 24, 2015

Humboldt County

Sean MacAllister & Tony Kurz

Centerville Beach

#Red Saddlebags Tramea onusta - sighted them again; SIGHT ONLY record, chart #106

Stone Lagoon Parking Lot.

Tony Vanderkamper

Red Saddlebags - one sighted

……..

Contra Costa County

Peter Grunow & brother Michael

Richmond Landfill Loop bay trail

Red Saddlebags - one sighted

…….

Alameda County

Nancy Asquith

Sunol regional wilderness

American Rubyspot 434340

Sooty Dancer

 

July 23, 2015

Mono County

Leslie Flint

I went back to de Chambeau Ponds today after yesterday's rains.  Wow! the number of Odes had declined by 90%.  

1 Red Saddlebags

 several Blue-eyed Darners

1 Western Pondhawk

3 8-spotted Skimmers,

a few Variegated Meadowhawks  

Granted it was cooler and one hour earlier, but it was definitely different.

…….

Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson

Seaside Nursery, Carpentaria      72 degrees, partly overcast

Only 1 Rambur's Forktail. I wonder if the pond has too many fish to support a viable Rambur's population for long--it's teeming with fish.

…….

Madera County 

Peter Grunow & brother Michael

Madera Wastewater Treatment Plant

#Red Saddlebags Tramea onusta - quite a few present- at least five or six – first SIGHT ONLY record, chart #143

#Wandering Glider Pantala flavescens – mostly seen Madera Wastewater Treatment Plant, but over the course of the day we probably saw 100+ in this county and

Spot-winged Gliders thousands, everywhere.

Other spots we saw them included the town of North Fork, Finegold Creek and Redinger Overlook

…….

Del Norte County

Tony Kurz

Pacific Shores area near previous location that Red Saddlebags was detected a week earlier. This area is just north of Lake Earl Wildlife Area.

Location is accessed from Kellogg Rd and then off of Tell Rd.

#Red Saddlebags – OC# 433876

 

July 22, 2015

Santa Cruz County

Alex Rinkert

#RED SADDLEBAGS are now widespread and in some locations abundant here.

They are occurring just about everywhere—at and away from water bodies, on the coast and inland.

…….

Mono County

Leslie Flint, Ron Oriti, Dave Welling

deChambeau Ponds near Mono Lake - it was a bit windy and the sitting odes were skittish

As Kristie Nelson reported on CalOdes yesterday, the place was alive with odes.
8-spotted Skimmers - in the dozens

Red Saddlebags - in the dozens

Variegated Meadowhawks - in the dozens
Blue-eyed Darners - 4-5
Black Saddlebags - a few
Striped Meadowhawk - a few
Flame Skimmer - 12+
Western Pondhawk - many
Saffron-winged Meadowhawk - 1
Tule Bluets - abundant
Maybe other damsels present but hard to get close to them
Sulfur Pond (a new place for me but unfortunately my Prius wouldn't be able to make it through the 2 sand ditches we encountered)
Variegated Meadowhawks - dozen+
Bleached Skimmer - 2 ovipositing; 1 hovering over the pair and 1 in the shrubbery; probably more there but with the sky threatening to rain, we got out of there quickly.
Tule Bluets in the hundreds - I thought they should be Alkalai, but everything I photographed was a Tule.
Western Red Damsel (seen by Dave)

…….

Santa Barbara County

Liam O’Brian with Paul Johnson
Five-day moth inventory of Santa Cruz Island in the Channel Islands.
My net was on fire!
*Giant Darner Anax walsinghami - My first  [last report 2015]
wandering glider 

Hugh Ranson

Paradise Road, Santa Ynez Valley. 76 degrees and overcast.

I saw 3 odes total, a teneral bluet and 2 fly over dragons. It was warm enough, so the overcast must have kept the odes snoozing.

…….

Tulare County

Ali Sheehey

I saw my life grappletail

There was also a mosaic darner that was not a blue-eyed but I couldn't id with my camera point at its erratic flight.

 

July 21, 2015

Lassen County

Leslie Flint

on my way from Alturas to Lee Vining, I stopped at Blue Lake. I saw a single

White-faced Meadowhawk – one

Blue-eyed Darners – many.  No other darners I could ID; several ovipositing females - perhaps Blue-eyed Darners?

…….

Santa Barbara County

Hugh RansonHugh Ranson

At La Patera Pond, Goleta, I saw a female Red-tailed Pennant ovipositing being guarded by a male, who aggressively chased off another male.
Sadly, this was my last visit to the pond as I was informed by the ranch manager that my permission to visit had been revoked-no reason given beyond "things have changed."

A real bummer. Since 2013 I had made over 200 visits to the pond and collected data, much of it adding to the knowledge of odes in SBA.

The site is also the location of such exciting finds as the aforementioned pennants, Great Pondhawk, and Roseate Skimmer.

…….

San Luis Obispo County

Kyle Weichert

River Oaks Pond

Red Saddlebags 434193

 

July 20, 2015

San Diego County

Brennan Mulrooney

San Vicente Reservoir near the town of Lakeside.

After two sightings earlier this spring that I couldn't confirm or document, today I finally got a great look at and good pictures.

Filigree Skimmer – a female

One of my previous possible sightings (a male) was also from the rocky canyons above this reservoir.

photo https://www.flickr.com/photos/langooney/19864864822/

…….

Shasta County

Leslie Flint

Bidwell Pond (near Hat Creek) in search of Lyre-tipped Spreadwing. I did not find it, however it is a very nice small pond with a great deal of activity today.

Common Green Darner - 1
Blue-eyed Darner - 2
Darner sp. - 2
Western Pondhawk - 12+
Widow Skimmer - 2
Flame Skimmer - 4
Blue Dasher - numerous
Black Saddlebags - 12+
Western Red Damsel - 2
Vivid Dancer - numerous
No/Bo Bluet - numerous
Pacific Forktail - 12+
Black-fronted Forktail - several
Western Forktail - numerous - especially females
I saw 2 spreadwings - one male in the middle of the creek - very blue - most likely Northern or Spotted and one Spotted female

Lassen County

Ash Creek Campground in search of River Bluet. This is a beautiful spot - Ash Creek is flowing nicely. The meadows have a few flowers, but drier than last year. I found River Bluet along the side of the river, but also in the meadows along with numerous butterflies.

Darner sp. - one patrolling the creek but I never got a good look at it.
Grappletail - 1 - this ode was struggling on the edge tangled in the weeds so I literally jumped into the creek and moved it to a safer location = wet boots a small sacrifice
Vivid Dancer - numerous
*River Bluet  Enallagma anna - maybe 12 but obviously more; some on the creek and others in the meadow
Bluet sp. - numerous
Western Forktail - I saw only females - maybe a dozen
American Rubyspot – 2

…….

Siskiyou County

Dennis Deck

Gumboot Lake & Creek - It clouded over early in the day which reduced what I saw on Monday but I was able to add:

*Hudsonian Whiteface Leucorrhinia hudsonica  at the lake [last report 2015]

*Black Petaltail Tanypteryx hageni at the stream!!   [last report 2015]

 

July 19, 2015

Siskiyou County
Kathy & Dave Biggs, Leslie Flint, Dennis Ball, Celise Sharpe, Sam Williams, Dennis Deck +MO (Siskiyou Field Institute Day 2 workshop)

“Sweet Spot”, W. Barr Rd, 16 miles West of Mt. Shasta City, elevation ~6,000+ ft., 3:15-3:30

The weather became overcast, but we had Cascade Frogs in hand and one darner flew by.

Gumboot Creek, W. Barr Rd, 14 miles West of Mt. Shasta City, elevation ~6,000 ft., 2:30-3:15

Vivid Dancers – a few, as usual, the females looked quite different here

Grappletail – 2-3 males

*Pacific Clubtail Gomphus kurilis – 1 male seen in flight by a few observers [last report 2015]

Pacific Spiketail – 1 male patrolling, in-hand

Gumboot Lake, W. Barr Rd, 13 miles West of Mt. Shasta City, elevation ~6,000 ft., 11:30-2:30

Spotted Spreadwing – 1 male in hand, photographed

Northern Spreadwing – numerous

Boreal Bluet – numerous, assumed this species

Western Forktail – a female seen

Common Green Darner – 1-2

Blue-eyed Darner – 1-2

Variable Darner – 1 found dead in the water

Emerald sp. – a few males noted patrolling

*Ringed Emerald Somatochlora albicincta 1 female observed ovipositing near the shoreline, followed by Kathy for 5 mins. and finally netted when two 12-spotted skimmers males who were harassing her, brought her close enuf. [last report 2015]

12-spotted Skimmer – several males

Common Whitetail – 1-2 males

Variegated Meadowhawk – many, some young, some old

Saffron-winged Meadowhawk – several, all teneral, a male photographed & netted

Also observed – Red-striped Garter Snake, numerous Cascade Frogs and the wildflower display was still AWESOME!!

Dennis Ball, Celise Sharpe, Sam Williams,

Sam Williams pond in Weed

Black Meadowhawk Sympetrum danae - photographed

…….

Sonoma County

Jackie Sones

Bodega Bay

#Red Saddlebags, at least seven and four of those were male-female pairs.  And they were ovipositing (egg-laying)!

Dave Barry

Riverfront Regional Park, Russian River, Cloverdale

California Dancer – ID vetted by Jim Johnson OC#: 433603

…….

Santa Barbara County

Nick Lethaby 
Lake Los Carneros
a Red-tailed Pennant - this is quite close to the location where Hugh Ranson first discovered them in the county.

 

July 18, 2015

Siskiyou County
Kathy & Dave Biggs, Leslie Flint, Dennis Ball, Celise Sharpe, Dennis Deck +MO (Siskiyou Field Institute Day 1 workshop)

Slowly moving waterway in front of the Flowing Waters Retreat 8:00-8:30

Pacific Spiketail – 1 female observed ovipositing

Darners nymph – several observed & placed in a bowl so jet propelling could be observed, etc.

Collier’s Rest Stop/I-5 north of Yreka, 4:30-5:00

Dancer sp. – a few on the lawn

Snaketail sp. –1 male, probably a Sinuous

8-spotted Skimmer – a few

Flame Skimmer – one male

Shasta River @ Hudson Rd.  3:00- 4:15 – where had all the Clubtails gone?????

American Rubyspot – 1 male observed by a few participants….where had they gone?

No/Bo Bluets - some

Emma’s Dancer – some

Vivid Dancer – a few seen along the road

Common Green Darner – very few, 1-2?

Clubtail/Cruiser – 1-2, perhaps both seen

8-spotted Skimmer – a few

Flame Skimmer – one male

Widow Skimmer – a few males and one female

Common Whitetail – a few males

Sharpe/Ball Pond, Big Springs 12:30-2:30, 90s

Western Forktailmany, mating and ovipositing observed

No/Bo Bluets - many

Pacific Forktail – many

Western Pondhawk - several, mating and ovipositing observed

12-spotted Skimmer - several, mating and ovipositing observed

Flame Skimmer – several, mating and ovipositing observed

Common Whitetail – a few, mating and ovipositing observed

Blue Dasher – many males

Cardinal Meadowhawk – 1 male

Black Saddlebags – 1 male

…….

Mendocino County

Ron LeValley

Little River Headlands, 2 miles south of the town of Mendocino and on the north bluffs of Van Damme Beach. (UTM NAD83, 10S 431078E, 4347345N).

Wandering Gliders - numerous on the coast of Mendocino for the past week.

#Red Saddlebags Tramea onusta - at least two – upgrade from prior sight only record, CA Chart #126, OC # 433804

Spot-winged Glider - 1 OC # 433805

Wandering Gliders

I was able to capture one Red Saddlebags and one Spot-winged Glider

I’ve had Spot-wingeds here before, but this is my  first ever Red Saddlebags.

I have posted photos in the folder Coastal Mendocino.

[Red Saddlebags is an upgrade of a prior sight only record, CA Chart #67, OC # TBT]

…….

Santa Cruz County

Alex Rinkert

I observed a substantial movement of gliders along the coast.

#Beginning at 11 AM, I counted a continuous swarm of both glider species flying past me on the bluff above Wilder Beach at Wilder Ranch State Park, Santa Cruz.

All were flying south toward the coast, once reaching the ocean, they immediately flew west following the coastline.

In 75 minutes of observing, 222 SPOT-WINGED and 91 WANDERING GLIDERS passed by, as well as one RED SADDLEBAGS (fewer than I thought would be mixed in).

This was one day before this section of the coast was hit by monsoons originating farther south. Perhaps these gliders were blown inland by the southern wind the day(s) before, then the following morning worked their way back to the coast to continue their push northward, or in this case westward (the coast here runs west to east, southern winds blow directly inland).

 

July 17, 2015

Siskiyou County
Kathy
& Dave Biggs, Leslie Flint, Susanne krieg (SFI ‘scout team’)

Upper Parks Creek watershed, Weed – 5:30-6:00

Darner sp.

8-spotted Skimmer

Flame Skimmer

Red-veined Meadowhawk

Band-winged Meadowhawk

…….

Shasta County

Hugh Ranson

Brokeoff Meadows

*Taiga Bluet Coenagrion resolutum -- 1 netted and photo'd.

Boreal Bluet--1 netted

No/Bo Bluet--c. 10
W. Forktail--1

W. Red Damsel--4

N. Spreadwing--15

Hudsonian Whiteface--10

White-faced Meadowhawk--abundant
Striped Meadowhawk--1

Darner sp.--c.10--appeared to be Variable

Mountain Emerald--1

4-spotted skimmer--5

Manzanita Lake

*Chalk-fronted Corporal Ladona julia --2 males  [last report 2015]

Reflection Lake and Lily Ponds
Spot-winged Glider--1 decapitated individual found

Cardinal Meadowhawk--1 male (only one of the trip)

N. Spreadwing --abundant

White-faced Meadowhawk--3

4-spotted Skimmer--5

12-spotted Skimmer—3

…….

Monterey County

Peter Grunow & brother Michael

Zmudowski State Beach

Red Saddlebags - 1

 

July 16, 2015

Siskiyou County
Kathy
& Dave Biggs

Dragonfly Roost Pond, Mt. Shasta Forest, McCloud

*Shadow Darner Aeshna umbrosa – a female emerged

Cardinal Meadowhawk – 1 male

No/Bo Bluets - several

#Twelve-spotted Skimmer – 3 emerged on the 9th BUT none has come back to the pond…could these be migrants??

…….

Shasta County

Hugh Ranson

Crumbaugh Lake, Lassen NP

Hudsonian Whiteface--1

*Crimson-ringed Whiteface Leucorrhinia glacialis –abundant  [Last report 2015]

*American Emerald Cordulia shurtleffii (several emeralds seen, 1 American photo'd) [Last report 2015]

Emerald Spreadwing –1

N. Spreadwing--10+

White-faced Meadowhawk--1

Darner sp.—20

…….

Yolo County 

Peter Grunow & brother Michael

Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area

#Red Saddlebags Tramea onusta - one flew over parking lot B after admiring the least bittern – FIRST SIGHT ONLY RECORD CA chart #143

Sierra County

Heriot Lane

#Wandering Glider Pantala flavescens - one well seen, nearly flew inside the car

Nevada County

Truckee Gravel Ponds south of Deerfield Drive.

This site and Lake Van Norden, which I visited earlier this year, have a lot of odonate potential.

#Wandering Glider Pantala flavescens at least two well seen, likely more present. 

 

July 15, 2015

Del Norte County
Tony
Kurz

Pacific Shores just north of the Lake Earl Wildlife area.  This road is marked on the map as Carson Rd.

#Red Saddlebags Tramea onusta – not only a new record (photo), but the furthest north in the Western USA. CA Chart # 119, OC# 433369

…….

Shasta County

Hugh Ranson

McCumber Lake

N. Spreadwing--10

W. Pondhawk--5

12-spotted Skimmer--abundant

Common Whitetail--5

8-spotted Skimmer--1

White-faced Meadowhawk--abundant

Band-winged Meadowhawk--6

Flame Skimmer--1 (only one of trip)

Black Saddlebags--2

Darner sp--abundant

Pond c 2 miles north of McCumber

Striped Meadowhawk--2

Band-winged Meadowhawk--1

Variegated Meadowhawk--2

W. Forktail--abundant

12-spottted Skimmer--c.20

Common Whitetail--5

Tule Bluet--8

Northern Spreadwing 10

Spot-winged Glider—1

Summit Lake, Lassen Nat. Park

Crimson-ringed Whiteface--2

Variable Darner-- several, 2 photographed

Manzanita Lake, Lassen NP

Chalk-fronted Corporal --2 (male and female)

12-spotted Skimmer--3

4-spotted Skimmer--c.20

No/Bo Bluets--many thousands over the lake, most in tandem/wheel

McCumber Lake

Boreal Bluet--netted 4 bluets; all were this species

12-spotted Skimmer--abundant

Common Whitetail--abundant

P. Forktail--5

Band-winged Meadowhawk--4

Variegated Meadowhawk--5

Common Green Darner--2

Bailey Creek, Viola

Pacific Spiketail—4

…….

Los Angeles County

Peter Gaede

Haskell Canyon off of Angeles National Forest Road 6N21. Oak riparian woodland, surrounded by Chamise Chaparral.

Flame Skimmer – 6,  OC # 433226
Neon Skimmer - Two males observed, one photographed. OC # 433225

 

July 14, 2015

Del Norte County
Tony
Kurz

Gravel quarry pond in the Mill Creek Acquisition. Public access only by foot from Highway 101. Except on weekends you can drive in.

*Autumn Meadowhawk Sympetrum vicinumnew early flight by THREE weeks. OC# 433371

…….

Modoc County
Steve Rottenborn

Modoc National Wildlife Refuge
Common Green Darner – 2
Blue-eyed Darner – 200
Western Pondhawk – 3
Eight-spotted Skimmer – 15
Twelve-spotted Skimmer – 1
Wandering Glider – 1
Common Whitetail – 8
Variegated Meadowhawk – 300
Band-winged Meadowhawk – 3
Black Saddlebags – 2
Familiar Bluet – 1
Tule Bluet – 80
South Fork of the Pit River, east of Likely (Modoc County):
*Great Basin Snaketail Ophiogomphus morrisoni  – 2 [last report 2015]

Lassen County
Blue Lake

* *Spiny Baskettail Epitheca spinigera – 1 male [only report 2015]
Variable Darner – 5
Northern/Boreal Bluet – 200 (all six inspected in hand were Boreal)
Pacific Forktail – 40
Western Forktail – 50

 

July 13, 2015

Modoc County

Steve Rottenborn

 Warner Mountains
Pond along Forest Service Road 47 near Lassen Creek, east of Goose Lake:
Common Whitetail – 4
Variegated Meadowhawk – 1
Striped Meadowhawk – 1
Northern Spreadwing – 40 (all tenerals)
Northern/Boreal Bluet – 1
Pacific Forktail – 2
Western Forktail – 50
Lassen Creek upstream from Lassen Creek campground:
*Variable Darner Aeshna interrupta – 2
Walker’s Darner – 2 males (photographed); Kevin McKereghan found Modoc County’s first records about 9 miles north of here on 15 August last year, but this is the first time I’ve seen this species in the county
Pacific Spiketail – 10
Grappletail – 8
*Hoary Skimmer Libellula nodistica – 2 [last report 2015]
Four-spotted Skimmer – 5
*Black Meadowhawk Sympetrum danae – 2
Emma’s Dancer – 50
Sooty Dancer – 1
Vivid Dancer – 65
Western Forktail – 2
Willow Creek, at bridge along County Road 133C, southwest of Buck Creek Fire Station:
Pacific Spiketail – 1
Grappletail – 1
Emma’s Dancer – 4
Vivid Dancer – 4
Lily Lake, along Forest Service Road 2, east of New Pine Creek:
Pacific Spiketail – 1 found injured at an elevation of 6730 ft by my daughter Holly; Tim Manolis’s excellent guide indicates that this species has been found in California at elevations “from sea level to a little over 1,800 m (6,000 ft)”, so perhaps this is an elevation record for the state?
American Emerald – 15
Emerald Spreadwing – 2
Northern/Boreal Bluet – 200 (all 12 inspected in hand were Boreal)
Pacific Forktail – 3
Western Forktail – 80

 

July 12, 2015

Monterrey County
Don
Roberson

Pacific Grove public hiking trail, near Jewel Ave., Pacific Grove

#Red Saddlebags - at least 2 present, both a male and female perched atop a sunny bush, occasionally flying up to forage and return.

This is near NW tip of Monterey Peninsula, far from freshwater, at mid-day on a hot, sunny day.

These are just part of an unprecedented incursion of this species in coastal Monterey County this summer 436093

…….

Modoc County
Steve Rottenborn

North Fork of the Pit River, along Highway 395 north of Alturas:
* *Pale Snaketail Ophiogomphus severus – 2 [ONLY report 2015]
*River Jewelwing Calopteryx aequabilis– 2 [last report 2015]
American Rubyspot – 3
Emma’s Dancer – 6
Sooty Dancer – 4
Three Springs Ranch, on southwest side of Goose Lake along County Road 48:
Blue-eyed Darner – 1
Western Pondhawk – 1
Eight-spotted Skimmer – 3
Hoary Skimmer – 2
Four-spotted Skimmer – 1
Common Whitetail – 2
Striped Meadowhawk – 2
Western Red Damsel – 2
*Aztec Dancer Argia nahuana – 2 [last report 2015]
Vivid Dancer – 1
Pacific Forktail – 1
Western Forktail – 80

 

July 11, 2015

Colusa County
Tim
Manolis +MO

Bear Creek - Sac Audubon field trip, saw 22 species, wasn't too bad although numbers of the "good stuff" were rather low. 

One of the participants got killer photos of a pair of

Gray Sanddragon in a wheel perched on the shoreline. 

White-belted ringtail

Flame Skimmers - a pair of Flame Skimmers circled around us closely for a few minutes while in the wheel

Variegated Meadowhawks ovipositing, and.  And of course, great looks at flying-by

Giant Darners

 

July 10, 2015

Shasta County
Ray
Bruun

Redding

We've had strange weather here in Redding the past few days.  

Next to the building where I work is a vacant lot on a bluff overlooking the Sacramento River.  

Various dragonflies have been hanging out there, including both Glider species.  

These were landing quite regularly but were pretty unapproachable.  

Today, after almost a half hour of trying, I was able to get a Spot-winged Glider to sit.

…….

Imperial County

Pierre Deviche

El Centro area

quite a few WHITE-BELTED RINGTAILS, Erpetogomphus compositus, photographed

*RUSSET-TIPPED CLUBTAIL, Stylurus plagiatus one female photographed [first report 2015]

*BRIMSTONE CLUBTAILS, Stylurus intricatus multiple photographed [last report 2015]

…….

San Diego County

Michael Ouellette

City of San Diego back yard pond

Tule Bluet, Enallagma carunculatum – mature male OC#432982

…….

Sacramento County
Dave
Johnson

The pond off Illinois at Sailor Bar, American River Parkway in Sacramento

Common Green Darner in late morning, They were ovipositing into floating vegetation in the pond.

It was 1125 am when I first began to take photos and by the time I left at 1151 am they were still ovipositing in the same location although when they began the male was facing west but when I left the male was facing east.

 

July 9, 2015

Humboldt County

Hugh Ranson

Trinidad

*Swift Forktail (Ischnura erratica) [last report 2015]

Pacific Forktails,

Cardinal Meadowhawks

…….

Imperial County

Ryan Andrews

Morton Bay area

Red Saddlebags

Roseate Skimmer

 

July 7, 2015

Modoc County

Michael and Muriel Plank

Cedarville - Seyferth Hotsprings. Beautiful morning with rain and wind afternoon and through the night.

Comanche Skimmers male and female

*Desert Whitetail Plathemis subornata male and female [last report 2015]

Western Pondhawk male and female

…….

Scott Burgess

Humboldt County

Horse Mountain,

male Common Whitetail.

Red-veined Meadowhawk (Sympetrum madidum)

…….

Colusa County

Dave Johnson

Bear Creek, Highway 20

American Rubyspot (more than I had ever seen before combined) An image of a female American Rubyspot was taken up creek from the Wilbur Hot Springs Bridge.

California Dancer

Sooty Dancer, a male and a lifer ode for me

Vivid Dancer

Familiar Bluet

Western Forktail

Variegated Meadowhawk

Black Saddlebags

…….

Monterey County

Kyle Weichert

Drainage in Cholame Valley

Black-fronted Forktail

*Aztec Dancer Argia nahuana  – [vetted by Jim Johnson]

Western Pondhawk

Desert Whitetail Plathemis subornata CA CHART # 136 OC # 432783 & 432776

Variegated Meadowhawk

Large pond off Turkey Flat Road

Variegated Meadowhawk

Flame Skimmer

…….

Humboldt County

Scott Burgess

Clear Lake on Horse Mountain

Red-Veined Meadowhawk - photographed

Common Whitetail males photographed

 

July 6, 2015

Colusa County

Leslie Flint

Bear Creek  While the forecast was for sun, it was semi-overcast all day with a brisk wind with temps ranging from 85 at 10:00 to 95 at 3:00.

I stopped at 4 places and would have done more except for the yellow star thistle is heavy this year and I wasn't wearing my leather pants!  

Probably just give you the list with the sites rather than breaking it down.  Sites:  creek flowing from Wilbur Hot Springs into Bear Creek; 3 spots along Bear Creek:

1) 1/4 mile above the Wilbur Hot Springs Bridge; 2) the Wilbur Hot Springs Bridge area and up the creek 100 yds. from there and 3) the Hwy 20 bridge. 

Giant Darner - 2 (one at each bridge)

Common Green Darner - 1 - only at Hwy 20 bridge  Note:  no other darners seen

Gray Sanddragon - 6-8 - all at the Wilbur Hot ! Springs Bridge and above

White-belted Ringtail - 10-12 - from the Wilbur Bridge and up stream

Variegated Meadowhawk - hundreds everywhere in every location I checked

Blue Dasher - 10+ all along the creek

Western Pondhawk - 2 - 1 female and 1 male seen 1/4 miles upstream from the Wilbur Bridge

Widow Skimmer - 6-8 - seen only at the 1/4 mile site beyond the Wilbur Bridge

Common Whitetail - 4 - only seen at the Wilbur Bridge

Flame Skimmer - at least 4 at each location - probably more

Pale-faced Clubskimmer - 6 - seen only at the spot I like which is 1/4 mile above the Wilbur Bridge

Black Saddlebags - 6-8 along the creek

Wandering Glider - had a swarm! at the same 1/4 mile spot - maybe 10

Spot-winged Glider - 2 - on the creek down from Wilbur Hot Springs

American Rubyspot - many along several spots in the creek - dozens

Sooty Dancer - also many spots along the creek - dozens

California Dancer - photographed several but probably in the dozens at each location

Vivid Dancer - saw several but not in great numbers

Emma's Dancer - I drove home via Hwy 16 and stopped along Cache Creek where it was blistering  hot - saw about 10

Bluets - everywhere in every location but I didn't check carefully - both No/Bo and Tule/Arroyo

Western Forktail - I saw one male and several females, but none along the creek leading down from Wilbur Hot Springs

 - I know Desert Forktail was seen there several years ago, but I saw none today in that location.

 

July 5, 2015

Monterey County
Rita Carratello and Con Roberson
Salinas River NWR, along the trail from the freshwater pond north to the south bank of the Salinas River, and along the river bank.
Red Saddlebags - at least 3 male Red Saddlebags - One of Rita's photos is now up on her Flckr site at https://www.flickr.com/photos/74649846@N08/19263906449/
…….
Santa Barbara County
Nick Lethaby
Red Rock Skimmer - an ovipositing female about 15 miles further upstream in the Santa Ynez River drainage yesterday. 
Similar to Hugh, this was the only Red Rock Skimmer present. 
Although I don’t have any other dates offhand, I can definitely recall similar circumstances where female Red Rock Skimmers were present (and ovipositing) with very few or no males around. 
…….
San Francisco County
Alan Wight
Fort Point in San Francisco 
* *San Francisco Forktails Ischnura gemina at least eight in the wet areas along the road. [only report 2015]
Vivid Dancers three 
unidentified darner one
Here are some photos from 7/5/15 plus some older ones at the same spot from 2010: http://www.sonic.net/~shwand/odonata/san_francisco_forktail.htm

 

July 4, 2015

Tulare County

Tony Kurz

Just west of Rd 284 at a pond along ave. 138. The pond is on the north side of ave. 138. Man made pond with very little vegetation.

Red-tailed Pennant Brachymesia furcata – male and female photographed. OC # 432640 CA Chart # 119

Bartlet Park below Lake Success at the pond that has a island in it. There were several Male Red-tailed Pennant's there. Very surprising after looking at their range. [yes, most northern occurrence in CA]

Red-tailed Pennant Brachymesia furcata – a male photographed OC # 432637 CA Chart # 119 [almost most northern occurrence in its entire range!!]

Red Saddlebags Tramea onusta—photographed, OC # 432638 CA Chart # 119

Gray Sanddragon – male photographed OC#432639

…….

Mendocino County

Peter Grunow & brother Michael

Red Saddlebags Tramea onusta – sight record only CA chart #143

eight-spotted skimmers

flame skimmers

…….

San Diego County

Ryan Andrews

Doane Pond

Western Forktail 434215

Cardinal Meadowhawk 434214

Flame Skimmer 434213

Blue-eyed Darner 434212

Desert Firetail 434211

 

July 3, 2015

Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson

Paradise Road area of the Santa Ynez River, Temps ranged from 87-93 degrees. Three species were the FOS for me: Western River Cruiser, Walker's Darner, and Serpent Ringtail.

Live Oak Day Use area:
Western River Cruiser -- min. 4

Giant Darner -- min. 3

*Serpent Ringtail Erpetogomphus lampropeltis lampropeltis --1

Gray Sanddragon --2

Giant Darner--min. 3

Red Rock Skimmer -- 1  ovipositing

Blue Dasher --3

Flame Skimmer-- 10

Wandering Glider--1

California Dancer--3

Lower Oso

Common Whitetail --one male, likely the same individual I saw 6/20

Flame Skimmer --10

Wandering Glider--1

Upper Oso

Lavender Dancer--abundant

Vivid Dancer -- 20

*Walker's darner Aeshna walkeri-- 1 male

…….

Santa Clara County

Steve Rottenborn

Ogier Ponds, located along Coyote Creek north of Morgan Hill.  Temps were in the upper 80s/lower 90s F.  The 22 odonate species (and approximate numbers) I recorded were as follows:
Common Green Darner – 45
Blue-eyed Darner
– 130
Western River Cruiser –
3
Western Pondhawk –
3
Eight-spotted Skimmer
– 9
Widow Skimmer –
22
Flame Skimmer –
45
Blue Dasher –
60
Wandering Glider
– 4
Spot-winged Glider
– 3
Variegated Meadowhawk
– 13
Cardinal Meadowhawk –
1
Black Saddlebags –
35
Red Saddlebags –
7 (female ovipositing; I’d previously only seen one individual at this location)
American Rubyspot –
1
California/Aztec Dancer –
90
Vivid Dancer
– 15
Northern/Boreal Bluet –
2
Tule Bluet –
among 250+ bluets, the vast majority of the males I looked at closely were Tules
Familiar Bluet –
3
Pacific Forktail –
45
Western Forktai
l – 9

…….

Sonoma County

Jackie Sones

Bodega Bay

single Red Saddlebags (Tramea onusta) from on 3 July 2015.  It briefly visited a small pond in the Bodega Dunes. (I have documentary photographs.)

…….

Santa Cruz County

Steve Gerow

late morning- I was surprised to see a Red Saddlebags fly into my front yard.  

It flew almost directly over my head, giving a good view of the large translucent dark reddish "saddlebags" shaped patches on the basal portion of the rear wings, and the reddish color of the abdomen.  

It perched for a time atop a small olive tree, then flew on toward the west before I could get my camera ready.  

My house is in the northeast portion of the city of Santa Cruz, near DeLaveaga Park.  There is no open water nearby that I am aware of.

…….

Imperial County

Louis Hoeniger

Found near the East Highline canal just North of the Interstate 8

*Brimstone Clubtail Stylurus intricatus 432679

July 2, 2015

San Diego County

Michael Ouellette

Backyard pond in the City of San Diego

Roseate Skimmer, Orthemis ferruginea – male OC#432513

…….

Marin County

Patti and Len Blumin

 I went to the Marin coast yesterday to escape the heat, and for some casual oding and birding.  At the north end of Bolinas Lagoon there is a small pond on the east side of Route 1, seen best from driving 75 yards up the Bolinas-Fairfax Road.

Best ode there was a perched Twelve-spotted Skimmer. Nearby along the shore were 3 Common Yellowthroats foraging as a group.

Then headed up to Five Brooks, temp 80-85 with a cooling breeze. Scores to hundreds of small blue skimmers were present, predominantly

Western Pondhawks, with lesser numbers of Blue Dashers.

Female Western Pondhawks patrolled the paths around the lake, and we watched one eating a forktail the way a kid would eat a strand of spaghetti.

Very few damsels were seen, in part because some of the viewing sites are overgrown.

On the north side of the pond near the bench we had good view of the ponds flora and watched many male Western Pondhawks, along with some Blue Dashers, 2 Eight-spotted Skimmers and 2 Flame Skimmers. Didn't see many darners at the pond, for whatever reason.

…….

Lassen County

Mountain Meadows 1200-1415 hrs; partly cloudy, 91-100° F.

Northern Spreadwing — 2.

Alkali Bluet — a few. OC#:432594

Familiar Bluet — 1.

Tule Bluet — many; the most abundant ode.

Western Forktail — many; second most abundant ode.

Western Red Damsel — 2.

Common Green Darner — 3.

mosaic darner — 1.

Great Basin Snaketail — 1. 432592

*Dot-tailed Whiteface Leucorrhinia intacta — 5. 432593 [last report 2015]

Band-winged Meadowhawk — 2.

*White-faced Meadowhawk Sympetrum obtrusum — 2.

Variegated Meadowhawk — 30.

Western Pondhawk — 5.

Four-spotted Skimmer — 23.

Eight-spotted Skimmer — 15.

Twelve-spotted Skimmer — 20.

Common Whitetail — 4.

…….

Humboldt County

Scott Burgess

Clear Lake on Horse Mountain

Common Whitetails - Photographed male and female

 

July 1, 2015

San Mateo/Santa Cruz County

Leslie Flint

From Coyote Hills, I went to Long Ridge OSP in San Mateo County; at the end of the trail I was on is a small pond called "Moon Lake" which actually is in Santa Cruz County on private property owned by the Zen Center. 
I was hoping to see Desert Firetail and not only was I rewarded with of those, but also saw my first "local" spreadwings of the year. The pond itself had many dragonflies: 
Common Green Darner 
Blue-eyed Darner 
Cardinal Meadowhawk 
Western Pondhawk 
Blue Dasher 
Pacific Forktail 
Western Forktail 
Bluets in large numbers 
Northern Spreadwing 
Desert Firetail many dozen
Alameda County
Coyote HIlls Regional Park - Certainly the most Red Saddlebags I have ever seen at one time. 
Since I only walked the boardwalk my numbers seen are low compared to the number of dragonflies there today. 
Blue-eyed Darner (lots) 
Red Saddlebags (dozens and dozens) 
Black Saddlebags (several) 
Blue Dasher ( several) 
Cardinal Meadowhawk (2 - 1 in the Nectar Garden) 
Common Green Darner (1) 
Variegated Meadowhawk (large numbers - many in tandem and ovipositing) 
both Tule/Arroyo and
No/Bo Bluets, but I didn't take time to examine - there were lots!
…….
Sonoma County
Alan Wight and David Hofmann

Nagasawa Park at lunch, I ran into David Hofmann who had seen

 two or more Red Saddlebags at the same spot that I described yesterday. 

Later at that spot, I saw a male and female in partial wheel, then later two males at the same time. 

I had previously seen a probable female Red Saddlebags near the boat ramp, so that totals

3-4 Red Saddlebags present today.

Other species present were the same as yesterday with the addition of

one male Cardinal Meadowhawk.

…….

San Bernardino County

Matthew Grube

Prado Regional Park

Red-tailed Pennant Brachymesia furcata CA Chart # 144 OC # 436085 Upgrade from Sight Only to photo vouchered record

Blue Dasher 435959

Common Green Darner 435959

Mexican Amberwing 435957

 
June



June 30, 2015

Alameda County

Robin Agarwal

Coyote Hills Regional Park, Fremont, CA
Boardwalk area - saw of them

Tramea onusta  Red Saddlebags 20-30, both sexes, mating, feeding, etc. This is one of the females submitted to Odonata Central (#432385). For the rest of the photos, see my iNaturalist observation: http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/171116120-30

…….
Sonoma County
Alan Wight

Nagasawa Park

two Red Saddlebags – a male and female in partial wheel flying over the pond.  They flew around attached and the female made a few quick drops to the water surface just dipping the tip of her abdomen into the water.

Tule Bluet –20+, many paired up laying eggs underwater

Pacific Forktail – zero

Common Green Darner – 2-3

Mosaic Darner sp. – 3+

Common Whitetail – 2

Eight-spotted Skimmer – 3+

Widow Skimmer – 1-2 males

Western Pondhawk 2

Blue Dasher - 6+

Flame Skimmer - 4

Black Saddlebags - 6+

Red Saddlebags – 2

……..

Santa Clara County

Alvaro Jaramillo

Half Moon Bay on the coastal trail

Red Saddlebags 
I recall seeing one here before, over 10 years ago, perhaps early October. 
Given how much sun we are getting, and the monsoon moisture that has been creeping in from the south recently, maybe it is not so much of a surprise? 
…….
Yolo County

Stephan Telm

Yolo Causeway/Bypass:

Black saddlebags

Mosaic darners

Common green darners

Variegated meadowhawks (immature)

Common whitetail

Widow skimmers

…….

Tehama County

Peter Gaede

Forest Lake along the trail to Brokeoff Mountain in Lassen Volcanic National Park. Elevation—7,486'.

*Taiga Bluet Coenagrion resolutum At least 100 observed along the edge of the lake, this species dominated, at least in terms of numbers CA chart # 112; OC#: 432595

 

June 29, 2015

San Bernardino County
Robb Hamilton

a small outfall of residential runoff near Eucalyptus Avenue and Canon Lane, Chino Hills,

Blue Dasher

Neon Skimmer

…….

Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson

Goleta, I made a visit to the pond that has been hosting Red-tailed Pennants. I had seen at least two last week

Red-tailed Pennants no fewer than five (four males and a female). I saw a pair briefly in wheel, then a minute later saw the the female ovipositing. A fish shot out of the water and probably nabbed her, but pennants can move so fast that she might have got away.

There were also many

Blue Dashers

Blue-eyed Darners

Common Green Darners

several pairs of Black Saddlebags

Red Saddlebags in tandem,

Flame Skimmers. Strangely, I saw only

one bluet.

…….

Lassen County

Peter Gaede

Willow Lake in the afternoon seemed a bit slow, but I did find and photograph

one Mountain Emerald at the SE end.

No sprites, but coverage was mostly limited to the edges of the marsh areas.  

Taiga Bluet— At Forest Lake (Tehama County; elevation 7,486’) this species dominated, at least in terms of numbers. At least 100 found at this small pond located along the trail to Brokeoff Mountain in LVNP.

Alkali Bluet — in addition to the Mountain Meadows area, some were found along the side of Highway 36 east of Chester where it goes crosses the northern edge of Lake Almanor in Plumas County.

 

June 28, 2015

Plumas County

Peter Gaede

Drakesbad

Northern/Boreal Bluet — 100’s.

Familiar Bluet — a few.

Vivid Dancer — 20.

W. Red Damsel — 2.

mosaic darner — several.

BLACK PETALTAIL — 8+ (4 at a bog along the trail to Devil’s Kitchen where seen annually; at least 4 others in the Drakesbad meadow vicinity).

Grappletail — 20+.

Variegated Meadowhawk — 12+.

Twelve-spotted Skimmer — 2.

Four-spotted Skimmer — 4.

 

June 27, 2015

Sierra County

Don Roberson & Rita Carratello and I enjoyed a long weekend, on a combo birding/odeing/mammal trip. 
Sand Pond interpretive trail to Lower Sardine Lake SIE [5800' elev] 9-11 a.m., sunny, warm. Primarily birds/mammals but:
Vivid Dancer 5 (males & females s end of Sand Pond, phs)

Grappletail Octogomphus specularis,  photo record,OC# 432321, CA Chart #29 upgrade from the previous day’s sight record

Chalk-fronted Corporal  1 male at Lower Sardine Lake (phs)
Four-spotted Skimmer    12 or more, widespread, but many males patrolling creek, female ovipositing

…….

Shasta County

Peter Gaede

Kings Creek at Corral Meadows

spreadwing sp. — 1.

*Variable Darner — 1 (in hand).

mosaic darner — 6.

BLACK PETALTAIL — 3+ (seen annually at this location).

Grappletail — 4.

Western River Cruiser — 3.

American Emerald — 1.

…….

San Luis Obispo County

Kyle Weichert

Dry wetland basin, Golden Hill Road, Paso Robles

Widow Skimmer

Flame Skimmer

Blue Dasher

Western Pondhawk

…….

? County

Dave Johnson

Wright's Lake area; Of course, mosquitoes out-numbered all the dragonflies I observed, by far.

Four-spotted Skimmers at both Wright's Lake and Dark Lake

1 male Crimson Ringed Whiteface at Dark Lake.

……. ~ this date

Mono County

Kristie Nelson

Mono Lake

Red Saddlebags are going off   here in Mono County. In a way I don't think I have ever seen, at least since I've attention to D-flies (generally 2002-ish, maybe some missed years).

Around Crowley Lake a week or so ago, there were dozens, easily vying for the most abundant species of large D-fly present (Blacks in much smaller #s, like in the ballpark of 1:5++ vs. red, very exciting for at least 1 of my Bird Chautauqua trip participants).

Today, in Mono City there were several RED SADDLEBAGS flying around (community just north of Lee Vining out in the sagebrush), and I've been seeing transients coming thought our property over the last week, which is very unusual. 

 

June 26-28, 2015

Nevada/Sierra Counties

Matthew and Cricket Dotter

Yuba Pass/Sierra Valley (Sand Pond, Upper Sardine Lake)
Black Saddlebags
Four-spotted Skimmer
Eight-spotted Skimmer

Grappletail Octogomphus specularis (several males along Sardine Creek) – first Sierra county sight record
again, many Bluets and Dancers we couldn't figure out.

 

June 26-27, 2015

Mariposa County

Doug Aguillard and BJ Stacey

a meadow east of McGurk Meadow, long the road that goes to Glacier Point. it was one of the few wet meadows in the area – the 26th

*Mountain Emeralds Somatochlora semicircularis -flying in good numbers (20-30).

4 Spotted Skimmer

a Common Green Darner.

a few Emerald Spreadwings

Siesta Lake – Saturday

2 Crimson-ringed Whiteface

up to 25 Hudsonian Whitefaces, including one female

lots of 4 Spotted Skimmers,

one female 12 Spotted Skimmer.

 

June 26, 2015

Humboldt County

Tony Kurz

Benbow on the South Fork Eel River

Female Red Rock Skimmer photographed, the 3rd locale for this species in Humboldt County fide Sandra Hunt-von Arb. OC # 432337

…….

Shasta County

Peter Gaede

Sifford Lakes

Northern Spreadwing — 100+.

Northern/Boreal Bluet — many.

Common Green Darner — 6.

mosaic darner — 8.

*RINGED EMERALD Somatochlora albicincta — 8 (one in hand; photos). 432590

emerald sp. 4.

Four-spotted Skimmer — 3.

Crimson-ringed Whiteface — 50.

Twelve-spotted Skimmer — 10.

…….

Sierra County
Don Roberson & Rita Carratello
shallow pond/wet meadow just NE of Haven Lake [right across Gold Lake Road from Haven Lake; 7200' elev ] 3-4 p.m., sunny and very hot
Emerald Spreadwing    100+  a major emergence underway, with 99% bright bronze tenerals but 1-2 males (photos)
Western Forktail    3    incl pair in wheel (ph)
Boreal Bluet    10+    males photo'd at close range show appendage of this species (not Northern); all were presumed Boreal here
Common Green Darner    1 male over pond
mosaic darner, sp    over pond, not seen well
American Emerald    1 male (ph)
Crimson-ringed Whiteface  6, inc  pair in wheel (ph)
Hudsonian Whiteface    2=pair in wheel (ph)
Variegated Meadowhawk    2, m and f (phs)
Band-winged Meadowhawk    1 fem (ph), initially thought to be 
Saffron-winged, but Tim Manolis suggests it fits Band-winged better
Four-spotted Skimmer    1 male (ph)
Twelve-spotted Skimmer    4 males (ph)

 

June 20-25, 2015

Lassen County

Matthew and Cricket Dotter

t 5 days in Lassen Volcanic NP, followed by 3 days in Yuba Pass/Sierra Valley, CA. Activity was high in Lassen, and slightly less so in Yuba Pass, but lots to look at and two lifers for us! Here's the list:
Lassen Volcanic NP Area (Lake Nora, Manzanita Lake, Reflection Lake, Lily Pond Trail, Kings Creek and Emerald Pond:
Pacific Spiketail (side roads near Lake Nora)
Common Whitetail
Variegated Meadowhawk
Four-spotted Skimmer
(everywhere)
Twelve-spotted Skimmer (Reflection Pond)
Widow Skimmer (Reflection Pond)
Chalk-fronted Corporal (Reflection Pond)
Common Green Darner
California Darner (we think, could they have been something else?)
Black Saddlebags
Striped Meadowhawk Sympetrum pallipes (Manzanita Lake, Lily Pond Trail)
American Emerald a few dozen Paradise Meadow trail, Hat Lake, Summit Pond)
Hudsonian Whiteface (Kings Creek, MANY)
Crimson-ringed Whiteface (Summit Creek, there were HUNDREDS!!)
Bluets… (too hard for us)
Dancers… (too hard for us)

 

June 25, 2015

Shasta County

Peter Gaede

Cold Boiling Springs Lake (Lassen NP)

mosaic darner — 2.

Grappletail — 1.

American Emerald — 6.

emerald sp. —6.

Four-spotted Skimmer — 4.

Crimson-ringed Whiteface — 1000’s (staggering numbers emerging and on the wing over the lake).

*Hudsonian Whiteface Leucorrhinia hudsonica — 1.

Twelve-spotted Skimmer — 1.

…….

Alpine County

Dave Johnson
Indian Creek Reservoir, south side near the shoreline

Tule Bluet Enallagma carunculatum – OC # 432318 CA Chart #142

Red Saddlebags Tramea onusta OC# 432184 CA Chart #142

…….

Alameda County, approx. this date

Noah Arthur

Oakland, across the street from Washington Park, near the shoreline

soaring RED SADDLEBAGS -- a saddlebags with deep red-brown "bags" rather than the usual black or dark grayish-brown of Black Saddlebags. I was too slow getting the camera out and let it slip away.

…….
Lassen County
Don Roberson
Ash Creek Wildlife Area campground [4800' elev 10:15-11 a.m.sunny & hot, mostly odeing along the creek, where the site lived up to our name for it: "Grappletail City"
California Dancer    at least 1 male, presumed not Aztec here [ph]
addition dancers    10 (photos to be reviewed; Vivid has been here in the past)
darner, sp    1
Grappletail    50+  many males on territory over and adjacent to creek, one pair in wheel, 1 fem also seen (many phs)
Great Basin Snaketail    4 males, several patrolling the creek (ph)
Willow Creek Wildlife Area [about 4400' elev; Willow Creek marshland north of Susanville on Hwy 139] 12:30-1:30 p.m. very hot (90 deg plus), sunny
looked along creek where it crossed Hwy 139, and trails along canals in W.A.
Western Forktail    1 m, 20 fem
Pacific Forktail    25 all males
Tule Bluet    at least 1 m [i.d. based on photos showing appendages]
additional bluets    100+    [still need to review photos; I've had Alkali here in the past]
Blue-eyed Darner    1 m
meadowhawk, sp    1 red-bodied male in flight
Saffron-winged Meadowhawk    1 fem (ph); this is a regular site for this species; ours was adjacent to creek
Four-spotted Skimmer    2 m
Twelve-spotted Skimmer    80 (mostly males)
.......
Amador County
Jeff Bleam
Silver Lake
American Emerald Cordulia shurtleffii - photo of a female found on Flickr by Hugh Ranson, OC # 432671 CA chart #120, upgrade from Dennis Paulson's previous sight only record

 

June 24, 2015

Mariposa County

Leslie Flint

Yosemite -in hopes ,of Odes along Glacier Point Road. So disappointed. Summit Pond, which is off limits anyway, looked beautiful with scads of windflowers.

The only little pond near the road had one 4-spotted Skimmer and one American Emerald.

The creek flowing into the meadow was dry.

I hiked out to McGurk Meadow and along the little creek by the bridge there were

2 American Emeralds,

one 4-spotted Skimmer

dozens of No/Bo Bluets

…….

Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson

At Goleta pond. Too bad the first photo isn't in focus--it's hard getting 3 species in one shot.

The last of the three shows a Red-tailed Pennant, the best I could do with my point and shoot.

he first county (Santa Barbara) pennants showed up last July, when there were at least three males present over several weeks.

Yesterday I saw my first of the year, and today there were two. I think it's likely they are breeding at the pond.

…….

Siskiyou County

Dave Payne

Klamath River, Gina and I floated from Blue Heron to Rocky Point today. I counted 27 Western Pond Turtles. We saw kingfishers, a dipper, several ospreys, four great blue herons, and several families of Common Merganser.

Dragons noted were

American Rubyspot

Common Green Darner

8 spot Skimmer

Vivid Dancer

Great Basin Snaketails

*Sinuous Snaketails Ophiogomphus occidentis [last report 2015]

Flame Skimmer

…….

Plumas County

Peter Gaede

Wilson Lake

Emerald Spreadwing — 1.

*Northern Spreadwing Lestes disjunctus — 1000’s (most abundant ode).

Vivid Dancer — some.

Northern/Boreal Bluet — a few.

Western Forktail — a few.

Common Green Darner — 2.

Pacific Spiketail — 1.

emerald sp. — 1.

Four-spotted Skimmer — 5.

*Chalk-fronted Corporal Ladona julia — 1.

Crimson-ringed Whiteface — 2.

Dot-tailed Whiteface — 1.

Band-winged (Western) Meadowhawk — 100’s.

Twelve-spotted Skimmer — 50+.

Common Whitetail —1.

Black Saddlebags — 2.

 

June 22, 2015

Siskiyou County

Dave Payne

Klamath River, Gina and I floated from Tree of Heaven to Gottville today.

We shared the river with a mature Bald Eagle, an osprey, a wood duck, several common mergansers, and a covey of Mountain Quail.

River Jewelwings, American Rubyspots, Sinuous Snaketails, one Green Darner, Flame Skimmers, 8 Spot Skimmers, Widow Skimmers, Common Whitetail, Vivid Dancers, and Emma's Dancers.

31 Western Pond Turtles were sighted on rocks and logs. One spotted fawn came down to drink at the river's edge. A nice day on the river.

…….

San Luis Obispo County

Kyle Weichert

Northeastern San Luis Obispo Co.

Desert Whitetail – male photographed OC #432137

Flame Skimmer

Blue Dasher

 

June 21, 2015

Santa Clara County

Leslie Flint

Monte Bello Gate 5 pond and Alpine Pond. I was hoping for some speadwings, but I saw none. Ode numbers were low at both ponds. 
The Monte Bello pond had only a few odes but those that I found were mostly in the grasses, so there might have been more. 
Flame Skimmer 
Cardinal Meadowhawk 
8-spotted Skimmer 
At Alpine Pond, I had - all fewer than 10 seen but a good variety 
Flame Skimmer 
Cardinal Meadowhawk 
8-Spotted Skimmer 
Blue-eyed Darner 
Common Green Darner 
Blue Dasher 
Western Pondhawk 
Widow Skimmer 
Common Whitetail 
Pacific Forktail 
No/Bo Bluet

 

June 18, 2015

Siskiyou County

Dave Payne

Klamath River, on a float from Coon Creek to Ti Bar. Many kingfishers, Common Merganser chicks, two immature Bald Eagles, two muskrats, ten Western Pond Turtles,

many Sinuous Snaketails,

several Flame Skimmers (first of the season for me).

…….

Alameda County

Leslie Flint

Sunol Regional Wilderness in It was pretty hot - 80s - but the creek was quite full. Dragonflies were few in number and I didn't see a single darner or spreadwing. The most common species on the creek behind the Visitor's Center were:
Flame Skimmer - 5-10
Cardinal Meadowhawk
- 5-10
Sooty Dancer - numerous
American Rubyspot
- numerous
Emma's Dancer
- numerous
Vivid Dancer
- a few

At the "No Swimming Pond" along the Little Yosemite Trail I found
Red Rock Skimmer- 2
*Bison Snaketail Ophiogomphus bison
- 1 [last report 2015]
Arroyo Bluet -
10+

…….

Humboldt County

Scott Burgess

Clear Lake on Horse Mountain

Cardinal Meadowhawk  - photographed 

 

June 17, 2015

San Diego County

Michael Ouellette

City of San Diego back yard pond

Neon Skimmer, Libellula croceipennis – mature male OC#431924

…….

Marin County

Leslie Flint

Lake Lagunitas. Dragonfly numbers were way down but I saw the following:
Common Whitetail
- dozens
Flame Skimmer
- dozens
8-spotted Skimmer
-dozens
Blue-eyed Darner
- 3-5
Blue Dasher
5-10
Western Pondhawk
- 2
Arroyo Bluet
- dozens
Pacific Forktail
- dozens
California Dancer
- a few
Vivid Dancer
- few

 

June 16, 2015

San Mateo County

Matthew Dodder

San Fransquito Creek which is the border between San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.

Wandering Glider (bunches)

Santa Clara County

Spot-winged Glider (1)

Blue-eyed Darner (2)

Common Green Darner (1)

Flame Skimmer (1)

 

June 15, 2015

Inyo County

Troy Hibbitts

Inyo Mts, Mazourka Canyon, Barrel Springs

Argia vivida (Vivid Dancer) - lots

Rhionaeschna multicolor (Blue-eyed Darner) - lots

* *Stylurus olivaceus (Olive Clubtail) - 2 females . . . a long way from the river! [ only report 2015]

Cordulegaster [dorsalis] deserticola (Desert [Pacific] Spiketail) - 4-5

Libellula forensis (Eight-spotted Skimmer) - 1

Libellula saturata (Flame Skimmer) - 3-4

Owen’s River at Mazourka Canyon Rd

Argia alberta (Paiute Dancer) - 2

Rhionaeschna multicolor (Blue-eyed Darner) – 2

…….

San Diego County

Michael Ouellette

San Diego backyard

Pseudoleon superbus (Filigree Skimmer) I have confirmed breading in California.

I found a teneral female this morning in my pond. I was able to get some good shots of her and recovered the exuvia, so there is no doubt. OC# 431955

 

June 14, 2015

Siskiyou County

Michael and Muriel Plank

Gumboot Lake - Very warm. Upper 80's by 10:00

Boreal Bluet

Western Forktail

Common Green Darner

California Darner

Crimson-ringed Whiteface

Four-spotted Skimmer

Twelve-spotted Skimmer

Black Saddlebags

American Emerald

We also hiked up to Upper Gumboot Lake. We saw the same dragonflies around the upper lake. More Crimson-ringed Whiteface than lower lake.

On the paved road just about 1/2 mile past the Gumboot turn off there is a grassy meadow on the left side of the road.

Vivid Dancer

Pacific Spiketail

…….

Inyo County

Troy Hibbitts

Searched a couple of sites in Deep Springs Valley, mostly looking for Desert Spiketails - found:
Antelope Springs
Amphiagrion abbreviatum (Western Red Damsel) - 3

Argia vivida (Vivid Dancer) - lots

Enallagma boreale (Boreal Bluet) - 1

Rhionaeschna multicolor (Blue-eyed Darner) - 1

*CORDULEGASTER [dorsalis] DESERTICOLA (DESERT [Pacific] SPIKETAIL) – 4-5

Libellula nodisticta (Hoary Skimmer) – 1

Pantala hymenaea (Spot-winged Glider) – 3

Sympetrum sp. (unid Meadowhawk) – 1

Corral Springs, Deep Springs Lake

Lestes dryas (Emerald Spreadwing) - 1

Amphiagrion abbreviatum (Western Red Damsel) - 3

Argia alberta (Paiute Dancer) - 10+

Argia vivida (Vivid Dancer) - lots

Ischnura denticollis (Black-fronted Forktail) - 10+

Libellula nodisticta (Hoary Skimmer) - 1

Libellula saturata (Flame Skimmer) - 3

Tramea onusta (Red Saddlebags) 1

 

June 13, 2015

Mendocino County

Troy Hibbitts

mostly a travel day, I tried to find ponds with emergent vegetation for Black Spreadwings, but the only good looking pond that I saw was POSTED . . . I did find some spreadwings, but I think that they are Northerns (but need to more carefully examine my photos). 
Brooktrails, Ohl Redwood Grove  1000-1045

*Lestes disjunctus (Black Spreadwings - 10+ [last report 2015]

Argia vivida (Vivid Dancer) - 10+

*Epitheca canis (Beaverpond Baskettail) - 1 [last report 2015\

Libellula luctuosa (Widow Skimmer) - 1

Libellula pulchella (Twelve-spotted Skimmer) - 1

Plathemis lydia (Common Whitetail) - 1

Sympetrum madidum (Red-veined Meadowhawk) - 1

Mendocino Lake, Ky-en Recreation Area

Bluet sp - 1

Erythemis collocata (Western Pondhawk) - 1

Libellula forensis (Eight-spotted Skimmer) - 3-4

Libellula luctuosa (Widow Skimmer) - 1

Sympetrum madidum (Red-veined Meadowhawk) - 2

Tramea lacerata (Black Saddlebags) – 1

…….

Humboldt County

Scott Burgess

Clear Lake on Horse Mountain

Flame Skimmer - photographed

 

June 12, 2015

Mendocino County

Troy Hibbitts

Searched Middle Fork of Eel River and Black Butte Creek pretty much all day - peak activity between 9 and 11 am.  Very good ode numbers. 

Hetaerina americana (American Rubyspot) - 4

ARGIA AGROIDES (CALIFORNIA DANCER) - lots

Argia emma (Emma's Dancer) - lots

Argia lugens (Sooty Dancer) - lots

Argia vivida (Vivid Dancer) - 10+

Enallagma annexum (Northern Bluet) - 10+

Ischnura cervula (Pacific Forktail) - 1

Ischnura perparva (Western Forktail) - 3-4

Anax junius (Common Green Darner) - 2

Rhionaeschna sp - 1

OPHIOGOMPHUS BISON (BISON SNAKETAIL) - lots

Progomphus borealis (Gray Sanddragon) - lots

Macromia magnifica (Western River Cruiser) - lots

Brechmorhoga mendax (Pale-faced Clubskimmer) - 10+

Erythemis collocata (Western Pondhawk) - 1!

Libellula pulchella (Twelve-spotted Skimmer) - 1

Libellula saturata (Flame Skimmer) - lots

Paltothemis lineatipes (Red Rock Skimmer) - lots

Plathemis lydia (Common Whitetail) - 1

*Sympetrum pallipes (Striped Meadowhawk) - 1

Tramea lacerata (Black Saddlebags) – 2

…….

Sonoma County

Mark Hullinger

Nagasawa was very active today and I saw multiples of the following:

Black Saddlebags

Blue Dasher

Blue-eyed Darner 

Cardinal Meadowhawk

Common Green Darner

Common Whitetail 

Eight-spotted Skimmer 

Flame Skimmer 

Western Pondhawk

Widow Skimmer

 

June 11, 2015

Siskiyou County

Greg Kareofellas

Klamath River @ Collier’s e rest stop off I-5 (8 miles north of Yreka)

Gomphus kurilis – photographed one eating a damsel

Ophiogomphus occidentis

Rhionaeschna californica

Anax junius

Macromia magnifica

Epitheca canis

Libellula forensis

Plathemis lydia

Libellula saturata

Calopteryx aequabilis

Hetaerina americana

Argia vivida

Plus other damsels I did not ID

…….

Butte County

Troy Hibbitts

Searched Cherry Hill CG area for Black Petaltails (which were abundant) . . . after lunch, decided to go across the valley to look for Bison Snaketails.   Picked a spot on the Eel River in Mendocino Co . . . what looked like the most direct route turned out to be almost a jeep road over the mountains.
Cherry Hill CG

Amphiagrion abbreviatum (Western Red Damsel) - 4-5

Argia emma (Emma's Dancer) - 4-5

Argia vivida (Vivid Dancer) - lots

Ischnura cervula (Pacific Forktail) - 1

Tanypteryx hageni (Black Petaltail) - lots and lots

Cordulegaster dorsalis (Pacific Spiketail) - 2

Libellula nodisticta (Hoary Skimmer) - 10+

Sympetrum illotum (Cardinal Meadowhawk) - 1

Mendocino County

Mendocino NF, on FR M4, 2.3 mi N jct FR FH7 1847 hrs

Tanypteryx hageni (Black Petaltail) 1 female (there were several others seen along this road, but this was only one that landed where I could photo)

Mendocino NF, Eel River CG at confluence of Middle Fork of Eel River and Black Butte Creek - 1940-2100 hrs

Argia emma (Emma's Dancer) - 10+

Macromia magnifica (Western River Cruiser) - 1

Ophiogomphus bison (Bison Snaketail) – 1

Tanypteryx hageni (Black Petaltail) – 1 female 437256

 

June 10, 2015

Lassen County

Troy Hibbitts

Hat Creek to look for O.bison . . . overcast morning . . . stopped at Pit River on way.  Hat Creek was VERY disappointing - beautiful creek, but very cold water . . . virtually no odes flying . . . "punted" and dropped elevation to search a stream near Shingletown (with landowner permission) - better for herps than odes.

CA: Shasta Co; Pit River at CA 299

Hetaerina americana (American Rubyspot) - 5

Argia emma (Emma's Dancer) - lots

Argia vivida (Vivid Dancer) - lots

Enallagma carunculatum (Tule Bluet) - lots

Ischnura cervula (Pacific Forktail) - 2

Rhionaeschna sp - 2

CA: Shasta Co; Lassen NF, Hat Creek - Bridge Picnic Area

NoBo Bluet - 1

Ischnura perparva (Western Forktail) - 1

CA: Shasta Co; Lassen NF, Hat Creek - Old Station Picnic Area

Bluet sp - 1

Rhionaeschna sp - 1

CA: Shasta Co; north of Shingletown on Ponderosa Rd

Argia emma (Emma's Dancer) - 3-4

Argia vivida (Vivid Dancer) - lots

Octogomphus specularis (Grappletail) - lots

Cordulegaster dorsalis (Pacific Spiketail) - 4

 

June 9, 2015

Lassen County

Troy Hibbitts

Ash Creek, Ash Creek CG - from about 0800-1400 hrs (rained about 2:30)

Beautiful Clearwater stream through Ponderosa Pine forest - lots and lots of odes, particularly clubtails

Calopteryx aequabilis (River Jewelwing) - lots

Hetaerina americana (American Rubyspot) - lots

Argia vivida (Vivid Dancer) - lots

*Enallagma anna (River Bluet) - lots

Ischnura cervula (Pacific Forktail) - lots

Ischnura perparva (Western Forktail) - 2

Rhionaeschna californica (California Darner) - lots

Gomphus kurilis (Pacific Clubtail) - 10+

Octogomphus specularis (Grappletail) - lots

*Ophiogomphus morrisoni (Great Basin Snaketail) - lots

Cordulegaster dorsalis (Pacific Spiketail) - 2

Libellula forensis (Eight-spotted Skimmer) - 10+

Libellula pulchella (Twelve-spotted Skimmer) - 3-4

Libellula quadrimaculata (Four-spotted Skimmer) - 2

Libellula saturata (Flame Skimmer) - 1

Plathemis lydia (Common Whitetail) - 2

Sympetrum illotum (Cardinal Meadowhawk) - 10+

 

June 8, 2015

Siskiyou County

Dave Payne with Liz, Paul, and Gina

Klamath River - Floated from Ferry Point to Coon Creek.

River Jewelwings – many

…….

Lassen County

Troy Hibbitts

Willow Creek Wildlife Area on CA 139  - 1710-1750 hrs

unid Bluets - lots

Ischnura cevula (Pacific Forktail) - lots

Anax junius (Common Green Darner) - 10+

RHIONAESCHNA CALIFORNICA (CALIFORNIA DARNER) - lots

Rhionaeschna multicolor (Blue-eyed Darner) - lots

Erythemis collocata (Western Pondhawk) - 1

Libellula forensis (Eight-spotted Skimmer) - 3-4

Sympetrum corruptum (Variegated Meadowhawk) - 3-4

 

June 7, 2015

Sonoma County

Kathy & Dave Biggs, David Hofmann, Leslie Flint
The Cedars, above Cazadero – we went on a quest to see if the Black Petaltail still was breeding there as none had been reported for several years. 
This is not public property and we had to secure permission to get in. Despite getting lost on the dirt 4-WD roads, we eventually made it to the area where they had been found before.
Temps ranged from 74-89 with a light breeze. Our report:

IN The Cedars:
Emma's Dancer?? - photographed by David
Vivid Dancer
- some
Sooty Dancer -
many
*BLACK PETALTAIL Tanypteryx hageni
- 1 female (seen & photographed by David Hoffmann & Leslie)
Darner sp. -
1 as we drove in
Bison Snaketail -
5-7, inc. 1 female
Pacific Spiketail -
1 (seen by Kathy)
Red Rock Skimmers
- David saw a male and Dave saw a female
Flame Skimmer
- 3 (2m+1f seen by Dave)
At Bette Campbell's
Pacific Forktail
Bluet sp.
12-spotted Skimmer -
possibly this species
Flame Skimmer -
several
Common Whitetail -
many
Blue Dasher -
1+
CA/Blue-eyed Darner
- 1
…….

Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson

I spent a couple of hours along the middle Santa Ynez River.. Temps ranged from 85-93 degrees. 

*California Spreadwing Archilestes californicus three -  a real surprise (two males and a female). A male was at the pool at Falls day use area, and a male and female were at the upper pool at Live oak day use area. This is an early county date by twelve days

Flame Skimmer (25)

Red Rock Skimmer (1)

Cardinal Meadowhawk (1)

Giant Darner (1)

Common Green Darner (1)

Blue Dasher (1)

Arroyo Bluet

Northern Bluet (c. 100 Bluets)

Desert Firetail (2)

Pacific Forktail (1)

Black-fronted Forktail (2)

California Dancer (15). I didn't go to Upper Oso where the Lavender Dancers lurk.

…….

Riverside County

Peter Siminski

Dos Palmas Preserve; Dos Palmas and Felger Oases and Fish Ponds; Elev. -100’ to  -240’; 7:00-11:35, 77-98F, cloudless, calm to light breeze SE.

Powdered Dancer, Argia moesta 1

Blue-ringed Dancer, A. sedula 7

Desert Forktail, Ischnura barberi 6

Citrine Forktail, I. hastata 1

Rambur’s Forktail, I. ramburii 13

Common Green Darner, Anax junius  4

Red-tailed Pennant, Brachymesia furcata 14

Western Pondhawk, Erythemis collocata >50

Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis >50

Comanche Skimmer, Libellula comanche 24

Bleached Skimmer, L. composita 2

Widow Skimmer, L. luctuosa 3

Flame Skimmer, L. saturata 11 including one ovipositing female.

Roseate Skimmer, Orthemis ferruginea 7

Marl Pennant, Macrodiplax balteata >50 including 3 tandem ovipositing pairs.

Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerata 13 including one tandem ovipositing pair.

Red Saddlebags, T. onusta 15 including one tandem ovipositing pair.

Wandering Glider, Pantala flavescens 11

…….

Los Angeles County

Bruce Aird

along the creek coming down from Mt Baldy in extreme eastern LA County

Pacific Spiketail (Cordulegaster dorsalis). I first found a female ovipositing (photographed), and then we later had a second fly-by of unknown gender. OC# 431439

Grappletails (Octogomphus specularis). All I got photos of were males, but I had at least four of them. OC# 431440

Two spectacular life odes on a 1/4-mile stretch of one creek! Very nice!

…..

Siskiyou County

Michael and Muriel Plank

Gumboot Lake  -Very warm. Upper 80's by 10:00

Boreal Bluet

Western Forktail

Common Green Darner

Crimson-ringed Whiteface

Four-spotted Skimmer

Twelve-spotted Skimmer

Black Saddlebags

…….

Glenn County

Greg Kareofellas and Christine Melvin

Pantala flavescens Wandering Glider a specimen upgrades a sight only record, CA Chart #28  OC# 432803

 

June 6, 2015

Sonoma County

Mark Hullinger

Quarry Hill Botanical Garden

Flame Skimmer – many

Cardinal  Meadowhawk

Blue Dasher – many

Widow Skimmer 

Common Whitetail
8-spotted Skimmer -  1
Black Saddlebags - 
two weeks ago there was a Beaverpond baskettail

 

June 4, 2015

Santa Clara County

Leslie Flint

Alum Rock Park (San Jose) looking for butterflies. The most wonderful thing was that there was a swarm of

#Wandering Gliders,

Common Green Darners and

Blue-eyed Darners right above me at my favorite butterfly

 

June 3, 2015

Riverside County

Chris Rasmussen

Moreno Valley

#I was walking in the old olive grove behind my parents house and ran across

*Pale-faced Clubskimmers Brechmorhoga mendax, a half dozen

Red Rock Skimmers male/female

Flame Skimmers. male/female Not a drop of water anywhere close. Interesting movement of odes.

 

June 2, 2015

Sonoma County

Kathy & Dave Biggs
Bigsnest Pond, their Sebastopol backyard
Flame Skimmer – a few males

Cardinal  Meadowhawk – several, ovipositing

Blue Dasher – a male
California Darner – a male

Common Green Darner – none at the pond today, but several have emerged in the last week

Pacific Forktail

Western Forktail

 

June 1, 2015

Santa Clara County

Leslie Flint
Ogier Ponds - Dozens of the following: 
Flame Skimmer 
Widow Skimmer 
Common Whitetail 
8-spotted Skimmer 
Variegated Meadowhawk 
Black Saddlebags 
Common Green Darner 
Blue Dasher 
Blue-eyed Darner - a few 
And what I believe was a Western River Cruiser (Steve Rottenborn confirms they occur there near Coyote Creek) - definitely black and yellow banded with enlarged end of abdomen

…….

Siskiyou County

Dave Payne
Klamath River - floated from Portuguese Creek to Seattle Creek today with Gina. 
Saw two bald eagles, an active eagle's nest, two river otters, an osprey nest or two, and several western pond turtles. 
River Jewelwing were common, with several pairs in wheel.
 
May
 

 

May 31, 2015

Alameda County 

Coyote Hills - in hopes of finding Red Saddlebags reported last week by Robin Agarwal (first county record). I arrived about 11:30 and went to the boardwalk where Robin had seen them.

It was mid-60s and blowing a gale. I saw nothing. So I decided to go to the Nectar Garden to photograph butterflies. Around 2:00 I made the circuit again around the marsh - it was a bit sunnier but still windy –

I saw only Variegated Meadowhawks (clinging to the ground) and one darner sp. So I disappointedly went back to the Nectar Garden - as I crossed under the arbor I noticed a dragonfly above me.

It settled into the foliage about 10' up and it was a RED SADDLEBAGS. I couldn't have been more surprised! It sat and then moved and sat again for about 5 minutes - enough for a photo.

…….

Santa Barbara County

Nick Lethaby, Peter Gaede, and Hugh Ranson

Los Padres National Forest-Manzana Creek near Nira Campground, and a tributary next to Davy Brown Campground. The highlight was the discovery of

4 Grappletails, a tough species to find in SB County; it was a lifer for me. Other odes included OC# 431422

Red Rock Skimmer

Desert Firetail

Sooty Dancer

California Dancer

Lavender Dancer Argia hinei

 

May 29, 2015

Plumas County
Ron LeValley
Lakes Basin Camp Ground

Four-spotted Skimmer – many

American Emerald – a female photographed

Grappletail – a female photographed

…….

Lassen County

Wayne Steffes

Summit Lake

*Crimson-ringed Whiteface Leucorrhinia glacialis – 100s, ties old earliest date, Photo of a teneral female

 

May 25, 2015

Siskiyou County
Kathy Biggs, Nancy Bauer 
Dragonfly Roost backyard pond, Mt. Shasta Forest, McCloud
Twelve-spotted Skimmer – 1 male, 1 female solo ovipositing, 3 females emerged
1 other small skimmer type nymph walked about the beach and then returned to the pond!
California Darner – 1 male
Forktail – one exuvia found
 

May 24, 2015

Alameda County 
iNaturalist submission - Robin Agarwal
Coyote Hills Regional Park
Red Saddlebags (Tramea onusta) submitted to iNaturalist -: http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/1540060 [upgrade from sight only record] CA Chart #141, OC # 431022
 

May 21, 2015

Siskiyou County
Kathy Biggs, Nancy Bauer 

Soda Springs on Squaw Creek, McCloud, ~ noon  (Kathy didn’t have sunglasses or binoculars, so just a short time there)
Western Red Damsel - 1 male
Western Forktail - some
Swift Forktail - a few males noted
California Darner - a  few
12-spotted Skimmer - some
Common Whitetail - true to their name, common!! At least 6
Cardinal Meadowhawk – some

 

May 17, 2015

Imperial County
BJ Stacey

* *Double-striped Bluets Enallagma basidens [ONLY report 2015]

 

May 19, 2015

San Diego County

Michael Ouellette

Mission Trails Regional Park in the City of San Diego

Filigree Skimmer, Pseudoleon superbus – two females
Flame Skimmer, Libellula saturata – one female

 

May 16, 2015

Stanislaus County
Leslie Flint

Adobe Springs - In all the years I have driven down that road (Del Puerto Canyon) I have never stopped at this spot. The open area of the creek is pretty small but there were lots of Odes.

Grappletail

male and female Red Rock Skimmer (in wheel and then the female ovipositing in the creek- loved it).

Two Flame Skimmers

several American Rubyspots

lots of Vivid Dancers and bluets

 

May 16, 2015

San Joaquin County

Bob Stahmer
Lodi, along the Mokelumne River in the Lodi Lake Nature Area
Emma’s Dancer Argia emma – a male colored female, photo taken CA Chart #140, OC #tbd
Western Pondhawk - male and female 

 

May 15, 2015

SonomaCounty

Alan Wight

Nagasawa Park, Santa Rosa

The big highlight was a male Red Saddlebags that made several passes as I stood on the edge of the pond.  It was flying over the water along the first dam reached by taking the trail over the hill from the parking lot.  The large red saddlebags on the hindwings stood out immediately.  Its overall size was a little smaller than the male Flame Skimmers that it was flying near.  It was red with a bit of a pink cast and without the orange color of the Flame Skimmers.  The eyes and face were red.  It unfortunately didn’t hang around long so I didn’t see more than what I’ve described.

Tule Bluet - many

Pacific Forktail – many

Darner sp. – 3+

Blue Dasher – 4

Red Saddlebags – 1 male [first reappearance in the county in ~ a decade – kb]

…….

San Joaquin County

Bob Strahmer

Lodi Lake Nature Area

Emma’s Dancer Argia emma CA Chart #140  OC #431215

 

May 10, 2015

Siskiyou County

Kathy & Dave Biggs, Celise Sharp & Dennis Ball

Shasta River @ Hudson Rd, 8 miles north of Yreka; 83F, light high overcast, light breeze; 12:30-4:00

Celise and Kathy told their husbands that all they wanted for Mother’s Day was Jewels…..River Jewelwings! And they delivered.

*River Jewelwing Calopteryx aequabilis - about three dozen, but we sat and had them displaying behaviors right in front of us:

- males in territorial disputes – holding their wings to make “X”es  (I always think of  the X-wing fighter ‘jets’ in Star Wars movies)

- males doing ‘canoeing’ – they float on the water surface and then lift off – after 10 yrs of visiting this site, we had never witnessed this display before

- males dancing just inches away from a female (one guy danced behind two females and both females accepted him by briefly opening her wings, while another guy danced in front, and was also accepted)

- copulation (timed at 2 mins for one, and 2+min for another)

- ovipositing with male guarding by perching nearby and flying out to thwart any other male; after 20 mins, the female submerged, he stayed 10 mins. continuing to guard her, but then was completely distracted by another female, who he again danced behind and was accepted. Celise ended up ‘rescuing’ the submerged female as we were leaving and were afraid that she wouldn’t be able to break the water tension when she attempted to get out.

American Rubyspot – only about 6 seen, inc. at least one female

Emma’s Dancer – dozens, mostly females

Vivid Dancer - few, as usual at this site, they were mostly seen along the road, not at the water

No/Bo Bluet – a few males at the water

Western Forktail - ~12, mostly pruinose females, 1 mature male seen

California Darner – 3-6 males seen cruising the shoreline, 2 in-hand

Pacific Clubtail – many, all over the place, and as has been noted before, those perched on the road would let you almost touch them before they flew off!!

Beaverpond Baskettail - ~3 cruising midstream

…….

Riverside County

Peter Siminski

Dos Palmas Preserve; Dos Palmas Oases and Fish Ponds; Elev. -100’ to  -240’; 7:00-11:50, 68-88F, cloudless, calm to light breeze S.

Blue-ringed Dancer, Argia sedula 4

Desert Forktail, Ischnura barberi 4

Rambur’s Forktail, I. ramburii 8

Common Green Darner, Anax junius  11 including one tandem ovipositing pair.

Variegated Meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum 1

Red-tailed Pennant, Brachymesia furcata 3

Western Pondhawk, Erythemis collocata >45

Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis >40

*Comanche Skimmer, Libellula comanche 3

*Bleached Skimmer, L. composita 9 including two tandem pairs.

Flame Skimmer, L. saturata 9

Roseate Skimmer, Orthemis ferruginea! 3

*Marl Pennant, Macrodiplax balteata >20

Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerata 5 including one tandem pair.

Red Saddlebags, T. onusta 1

Wandering Glider, Pantala flavescens 7 including one female ovipositing.

Spot-winged Glider, P. hymenaea 1

…….

Shasta County

Michael & Muriel Plank

a little pond/tule  spot in the road off of highway 44 on Ponderosa and Withrow Roads below Shingletown. Thanks to Ray Bruun for turning us on to this place a few years ago.

*Hoary Skimmer Libellula nodisticta - quite a few flying and landing. Male and female.

Lake McCumber above Shingletown

Beaverpond Baskettails,

American Emerald,

Four-spotted Skimmers,

Dot-tailed Whiteface,

Pacific Forktail,

Northern Bluet,

Tule Bluets.

 

May 9, 2015

Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson

I spent a couple of hours along the middle Santa Ynez River along Paradise Road. Temps were quite cool--67-69 degrees, but there were still quite a few odes around. I photographed a meadowhawk at Live Oak Day Use Area

Red-veined Meadowhawk (1), only the second for Santa Barbara County. The first was on Santa Cruz Island in 1983.

Giant Darner (2),

Common Green Darner (1),

Red Rock Skimmer (5),

Flame Skimmer (7),

Cardinal Meadowhawk (8),

California Dancer (5),

Vivid Dancer (20),

*Lavender Dancer Argia hinei (4--my FOS--photo attached),

Western Forktail (1),

Northern Bluet (15)

…….

Stanislaus County

Matthew Dodder
Del Puerto Canyon… 12 species of Odes. The grassy hills close to Hwy 5 and the new cherry orchards had Wandering Glider, while he rocky creek sections further west had various Darners, Skimmers and Whitetails. 
The most interesting area was Adobe Springs where we had 2 Grappletail, 1 Pacific Spiketail, 3 Red Rock Skimmers, about a dozen American Rubyspots, and many Vivid Dancers. Additionally, the Butterflies were numerous, but that's another list...
Wandering Glider
Common Green Darner
California Darner
Blue-eyed Darner
Common Whitetail
Flame Skimmer
Red Rock Skimmer
Grappletail
*Pacific Spiketail Cordulegaster dorsalis
Vivid Dancer
American Rubyspot
…….
Humboldt County
Sandra Hunt-von Arb 
Korbel Ponds (Private)
Red-veined Meadowhawk (Sympetrum madidum), Still have lots emerging, but I'm finally finding some that are fully colored up. I found all the adult males on the gravel road while all the adult
cardinal meadowhawks (Sympetrum illotum) were perched on vegetation.

 

May 8, 2015

Sonoma County

Alan Wight

Nagasawa Park in Santa Rosa

Black Spreadwing – 5

Vivid Dancer – 1

Tule Bluet – several

Pacific Forktail – several

California Darner – 2

Darner sp. – several

Beaverpond Baskettail – 1

Western Pondhawk – 1

Eight-spotted Skimmer – several

Flame Skimmer – several

Blue Dasher – 3

Common Whitetail – 1, male, first of year

Cardinal Meadowhawk – 4

Black Saddlebags – 1, first of year, early

 

May 7, 2015

Colusa County

Kathy & Dave Biggs

Bear Creek @ Hwy 20, 2-2:30, 68F with gusty winds

We were disappointed to not see as many species as were seen on the 3rd

We accessed the area approached from under the bridge & at ~1/4 mile as seen from the road.
Northern/Boreal Bluet  ~12

Tule Bluet – 1 male by the cattle chute

California/Aztec Dancer ~12

Pacific Forktail – 1 female under the bridge (the bunny is still living under the bridge!!)

Western River Cruiser -1

NO darners

NO Clubtails
Western Pondhawk -1 male by the beaver dam

but the best was the “also seen” – a male Lawrence’s Goldfinch drinking from the creek, and the Mariposa and other lilies were blooming.

 

May 6, 2015

Siskiyou County

Dave Payne

Shasta River @ Hudson Rd, 8 miles north of Yreka

*River Jewelwings Calopteryx aequabilis - about three dozen today

Pacific Clubtail, many

Vivid Dancers

 

May 4, 2015

Santa Clara County

Leslie Flint

Ogier Ponds

 a Beaverpond Baskettail. I was looking for them in the usual places there and didn't see any, until I must have scared one from a perch because it flew right over me and then disappeared

many Flame Skimmer

 8-spotted Skimmers

1 Blue Dasher

5-10 Widow Skimmers (my first for the season and I think the females are just too beautiful).

Several Blue-eyed Darners but no Common Green Darners (!)

several Cardinal Meadowhawks

2 Variegated Meadowhawks

1 Pacific Clubtail which I found by walking through the grasses away from the ponds.

The only damsels saw were California Dancers and there were dozens all along the trails.

…….

Marin County

Allen Fish

Marin Headlands

A female darner was photographed being eaten by a Black Phoebe!...wings and all.

…….

Shasta County

Michael Plank

a trail along Clear Creek in south Redding. Saw my first of season

Sinuous Snaketail 1

Sooty Dancer  1

*Band-winged Meadowhawk Sympetrum semicinctum 1

 

May 3, 2015

San Diego County

Sylvia Maulding

Santee Lakes

Filigree Skimmer – female photographed, this is a 2nd from this site today, with the other being darker and possibly a male

Red Saddlebags – male photographed

…….

Colusa County

Steve Rottenborn

Bear Creek, I looked along a 100-m reach of creek about 0.7 mi south of Highway 20 from 13:45 to 15:00. 

I was hoping to find Giant Darner but did not see that species (nor, surprisingly given the abundance of odonates in general, any Common Green or Blue-eyed Darners either).  Still, odonates were plentiful:
*White-belted Ringtail Erpetogomphus compositus  1
Western River Cruiser  30+
California Darner  40
Pacific Clubtail  125+
Cardinal Meadowhawk  1
Flame Skimmer  150
Red Rock Skimmer  1
Common Whitetail  15
Northern/Boreal Bluet  100s
California/Aztec Dancer  20
Western Forktail  50

…….

Solano County

Leslie Flint

Lake Solano County Park had lots more dragonflies today than last week when I was there.  

at least six 8-spotted Skimmers

4 Cardinal Meadowhawks

1 Common Whitetail

several Western Pondhawks

a few Blue Dashers.  

The children's fishing pond there is very low so the Odes were concentrated in a small space and hard to be sure of the count and even more difficult to get close to them.  I could see

bluets on the water.  

*Exclamation Damsels Zoniagrion exclamationis.  [last report 2015!]

In Mix Canyon I was re ally excited to see

one Grappletail sitting on a rock in the creek below me.  

Darners on the road in several places, but it was difficult to determine what exactly they were

 

May 2, 2015

Yolo County

Stephan Telm

California Raptor Center's Open House.  It id located right by Putah creek, so i checked it out afterwards; Upper 80s, light breeze, 14:00-14:15

1 Common green darner

1 Black saddlebags

1 *Widow skimmer Libellula luctuosa (immature male)

No/Bo bluets - dozens

Vivid dancer - dozens

1 American rubyspot (male)

…….

Santa Clara County 
Matthew Dodder
While leading a birding tour of Sanborne Park, we explored Lake Ranch Reservoir. 
Common Green Darner
California Darner
Common Whitetail
Cardinal Meadowhawk. 
I fully expected to see Flame Skimmer here, but did not. Instead, there was what I believe to be a RED SADDLEBAGS. It was considerably larger than the Cardinal Meadowhawk, and it's hind wings were generously, but very sharply, marked with dark red areas at their base, but otherwise clear, the abdomen was dark red. 
The pointed abdomen appeared short, like Black Saddlebags, but perhaps slightly longer. I cannot reconcile these field marks with any other more common species, but am happy to consider alternatives. We did not get photographs.
…….

Inyo County

Ron and Barbara Oriti

along a rocky creek near the Keough Hot Springs a few miles south of Bishop.

Red Rock Skimmer Paltothemis lineatipes - no less than six males and one female ovipositing.  CA chart #100 (photo record), OC # tbd

Eight-spotted Skimmers - our first of year

*Gray Sanddragon Progomphus borealis – first of the year

Mono County

Fish Slough

Four-spotted Skimmers our first of the year 

…….

Sonoma County

Jackie Sones

Pine Flat Road

*Western River Cruiser Macromia magnifica -  photo of a male

Grappletails (Octogomphus specularis) -  photo of a male

…….

Modoc County

Steve Rottenborn
Seyferth’s Hot Spring, in Surprise Valley northeast of Cedarville:
Variegated Meadowhawk  1
Western Pondhawk  8
Paiute Dancer  5
Western Forktail  6
Pacific Forktail  2

May 1, 2015

Riverside County

Peter Siminski

The Living Desert, Palm Desert; 33.7001825N,  -116.37313929W; 11:00; 100F, high cirrus, calm air.

Filigree Skimmer, Pseudoleon superbus 1 male

…….

Modoc County

Steve Rottenborn

Modoc National Wildlife Refuge:As nighttime temperatures are still in the 30s or even upper 20s F in much of eastern Modoc County, odonate numbers and diversity were still low.,
Common Green Darner  <100
California Darner  5
Variegated Meadowhawk  <100
Western Forktail  <20

Three Springs Ranch, southwest side of Goose Lake:
*Western Red Damsel Amphiagrion abbreviatum  100+
Western Forktail  15

 
April
 

April 30, 2015

Sonoma County

Len Blumin

2 hours (10-noon) at Lake Nagasawa Checked the swale on the left as you approach the main boat launch lot. It's downhill from the white fire hydrant. Thick grass in this moist low spot. First survey yielded a single Black Spreadwing. Returning at bit later I was rewarded with a pair in tandem who stayed long enough for some digiscoped shots. The lake itself had good numbers of male odes, including

dozens of 8-spotted Skimmers

10 or more Flame Skimmers

8-10 Blue Dashers

4-5 Western Pondhawks (including one female)

at least one Pacific Forktail male

3-4 Cardinal Meadowhawks

3 species of damsels, with Western Forktail the most common

a Blue-eyed Darner

…….

Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson

Exactly one year to the day after Santa Barbara County's first Roseate Skimmer was recorded at a Goleta pond, a PAIR showed up at the same location. The female was ovipositing, with the male buzzing intently around her.

She disappeared after a few minutes, but the male stuck around and put on quite a show. I haven't seen female Roseate before, and the pics are pretty awful--but I can't think what else it could be.

Also present was a Common Whitetail, only the third for the site. Intriguing was a bright green dragonfly that flew past me and didn't stop. My gut reaction was that it was on the large side--Great Pondhawk? Or perhaps I was just getting giddy.

 

April 28, 2015

Shasta County

Ray Bruun

On my noontime walk today, in Redding

**Neon Skimmer Libellula croceipennis – a male  Got an ID shot (barely) with my iPhone, then went back to the office for the bug camera.  Those pictures turned out better:

 https://www.flickr.com/photos/bruunphoto/ [Old early date was 5/24/2011!]

…….

El Dorado County

Dave Johnson

Serrano Parkway Nature Area in El Dorado Hills, after I crossed Silva Parkway I checked the small creek that flows north to south and saw

a few Vivid Dancers

*Black-fronted Forktails Ischnura denticollis, at least 50 - a lifer ode, and in order to get the photos that I wanted I had to get down on my belly, often in dampish soil, to get down to their level.

Unfortunately, the area that I located these small forktails in has had much of the vegetation removed, probably by the Serrano Parkway Nature Area maintenance staff.

 

April 27, 2015

Solano County

Leslie Flint

Lake Solano County Park (Putah Creek). It was quite hot but very windy.

1 Common Whitetail (I took one photo and then a Black Phoebe snatched it!),

2 Cardinal Meadowhawks

1 Western Pondhawk.

Tule and Arroyo Bluets (photo here actually shows the appendages)

Exclamation Damsels - all in large numbers. The Exclamation Damsel I photographed would be confusing if I had never seen them before pretending to be a spreadwing!

……..

Riverside County

Jennifer Tobin

Palo Verde Ecological Reserve

*Great Pondhawk Erythemis vesiculosa OC# 430701 [last report 2015]

Photographed along the edge of a grove of trees which it was flying back and forth along, perching occasionally. I got the impression there may have been more than one of this species, as I saw the one I photographed fly off quickly west down the road and then just after ran into another heading west as I walked back east.

 

April 26, 2015

Shasta County

Ray Bruun

near Viola

one immature Bison Snaketail Ophiogomphus bison 

a 12-spotted Skimmer Libellula pulchella

un-IDed meadowhawk

…….

San Diego County

Doug Aguillard

near Potrero

female *Mexican Amberwing Perithemis intensa

 

April 25, 2015

Marin County

Sandra Hunt-von Arb

Five Brooks, Pt. Reyes NP

Great group of folks came to the dragonfly tour at the Point Reyes Bird Festival.

We had a classroom session and then headed to Five Brooks pond where we found
-Pacific forktail - many
*-Boreal bluets Enallagma boreale- many (some in hand)
-Arroyo bluets - few
-Cardinal Meadowhawk - dozens
-Western Pondhawk - dozens, all female, most teneral
-Blue dasher, one young male
-California Darner – dozens

Every species was seen in hand (my net was possessed by a dragon god or something).

…….

Sonoma County

Jackie Sones

The Cedars

Bison Snaketail

 

April 24, 2015

San Mateo County

Leslie Flint

Clarkia Trail at Edgewood.  I was looking for birds and butterflies, but found two dragonflies:

Variegated Meadowhawk

Red-veined Meadowhawk (first for me this year).

…….

Sacramento County

Dave Johnson

pond off Illinois Avenue at Sailor Bar, American River Parkway

Blue-eyed Darner (1),

Common Green Darner (4 including one mating pair),

Pacific Clubtail,

Common Whitetail (4),

Flame Skimmer (4),

Twelve-spotted Skimmer (1),

Variegated Meadowhawk (1),

Blue Dasher (1)

Black Saddlebags (1, a female ovipositing in floating vegetation).

Arroyo Bluet (6),

Tule Bluet (8),

California Dancer (2)

Vivid Dancer (6).

Although the level of the pond is down about 2-3 feet from where it was last year because of the 4th year of drought, there is still some vegetation growing near the edge of the pond to allow for perching position

…….

Los Angeles County

Robb Hamilton

Rio Hondo in Rosemead

Vivid Dancer

 

April 22, 2015

Humboldt County

Van Duzen River

Tony Westkamper

Pacific clubtail

…….

Placer County

Dave Johnson

Miner's Ravine Nature Preserve

20 Vivid Dancers,

1 female Exclamation Damsel (first one I've ever seen here),

2 Common Whitetails (1 adult male and 1 immature male)

8 Pacific Clubtails including one mating pair

…….

Alameda County

Leslie Flint

Sunol RP.  It got sunny around noon and things began to appear.  Here's my list:

Exclamation Damsel - many

Tule Bluet - a few teneral but no adults seen

Vivid Dancer - abundant on all the trails

American Rubyspot - 5-10

Pacific Forktail - 2

Cardinal Meadowhawk - 2

California Darner - 1

Blue-eyed Darner - several patrolling the fields

Red Rock Skimmer - 6 in two locations

Pacific Clubtail - 4 in two locations

…….

Shasta County

Michael Plank

Coleman Wildlife Area this evening and saw

 ten or more Pacific Clubtail,

One Male Grappletail,

California Darner,

Pacific Forktail,

Vivid Dancer. Nice to be out seeing the new year unfolding.

…….

Contra Costa County

Had a female Red Rock Skimmer in my yard today. 

As far as I know the only regular spot for them in the county is Donner and Mitchell Canyons on Mount Diablo which is over 12 miles away.

 

April 21, 2015

Sacramento County

Dave Johnson

William Pond Rec Area, American River Parkway

Exclamation Damsel

 

April 19, 2015

Shasta County

John Plank & wife

Darrah Springs Fish Hatchery, East of Redding (for our April Grappletail hunt).

*Grappletail Octogomphus specularis – five, 3 male and 2 female

Cardinal Meadowhawks - more than we have ever seen there.

Grace Lake near Shingletown

Swift Forktail

Pacific Forktai

Vivid Dancers

California Darner

 

April 19, 2015

Mono County

Ron & Baraba Oriti

Fish Slough

We photographed our first

Desert Whitetails of the season......two young males.  So good to see them!  

**Desert Whitetails Plathemis subornata [old early date 4/22/2008] Ron actually saw one yesterday, but didn't get a picture.

Western Pondhawk

 

Week of April 12-18, 2015

Sonoma County

Alan Wight

Nagasawa Park, Santa Rosa

April 15, 2015, I saw:

Black Spreadwing – 8

Tule Bluet Enallagma carunculatum – several

Pacific Forktail - several

Flame Skimmer – 3, first of year

Cardinal Meadowhawk – 2

Eight-spotted Skimmer – 2

Western Pondhawk2, 1 male, 1 female

Darner sp. – 4

Beaverpond Baskettail – 3

On April 17, 2015, I saw:

Pacific Forktail – many

Bluet sp. – a few

Cardinal Meadowhawk – 3+

Eight-spotted Skimmer Libellula forensis8+

Flame Skimmer – 4

Western Pondhawk 1, female

Darner sp. – 2

Pacific Clubtail – 2, first of year

Beaverpond Baskettail – 1

Kathy & Dave Biggs

Bigsnest Pond, Sebastopol

Vivid Dancer – one seen on the 15th

Pacific Forktail – a few

Western Forktail – a few

Exclamation Damsel – 1 seen several of the days this week

California Darner – a few

Blue-eyed Darner – a male showed up on the 16th

Cardinal Meadowhawk – 6 or more, lots of ovipositing and emerging

Eight-spotted Skimmer  – 1 male seen on 2 different days

Flame Skimmer – 1 male showed up on the 17

 

April 17, 2015

Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson

I ventured  into the Los Padres National Forest) to look for dragonflies along Manzana Creek upcreek from Nira campground, an area that, to my knowledge, has not been surveyed before.

(Nick Lethaby has oded downcreek).

The creek was, to my surprise, flowing strongly, and there were lots of odes out. I did not, however, see my target species--Grappletail--though the habitat looked good.

I walked in the creek bed for over 3 hours, and Red-rock Skimmers were my constant companion. My conservative estimate is 150 individuals, all males except for 3. I even saw one hanging up (see photo).

Desert Firetail (4)

*Sooty Dancer Argia lugens (2). These are also county early dates.

American Rubyspot (1)

Pacific Forktail (1)

Black-fronted Forktail (2)

California Dancer (15)

Vivid Dancer (30)

Bluets (100+--the 2 I netted were Northern Bluets)

Flame Skimmer (2)

Cardinal Meadowhawk (15).

I will definitely return to this location--there's lots more to explore.

Nick Lethaby

middle Santa Ynez River whilst Hugh was at Nira. Nick reports a mostly disappointing time, with

a few Flame Skimmers

Cardinal Meadowhawks,

2 Giant Darners

 

Weeks of April 5-16, 2015

Napa County

Alex Greene

Napa

Vivid Dancer - many, starting on 4/9

Exclamation Damsel - 1, 4/15

California Darner - 1, 4/16

Beaverpond Baskettail, 5, 4/16

Common Whitetail, beginning 4/5

Flame Skimmer, beginning 4/8

*Eight-spotted Skimmer Libellula forensis, beginning 4/8

*Twelve-spotted Skimmer, Libellula pulchella1, 4/16

Cardinal Meadowhawk, beginning 4/9

 

April 16/17, 2015

Louis Hoeniger

Imperial County

near the Imperial Dam

Familiar Bluet

*Powdered Dancers, Argia lugens

Blue-ringed Dancers

American Rubyspot

 

April 15, 2015

Humboldt County

Sandra Hunt-von Arb

Korbel Ponds (private)

*red-veined meadowhawk (Sympetrum madidum)  - male. If I remember my lessons from last year correctly, I see two rows of cells in the radial planate. 
……. 
San Benito County
Leslie Flint
I led a birding field trip yesterday  to the Pinnacles National Park (). I go every spring, but I have never seen as many Odes … 
Up at the Reservoir there were dozens (maybe hundreds) of Blue-eyed and California Darners, 1 Common Whitetail and at least 2 Flame Skimmers. 
Bluets (maybe Familiar) and Pacific Forktails were in the reeds. 
Along the creek at the Bear Gulch parking area were several Cardinal Meadowhawks. 
A beautiful cool day at the Pinnacles with 4 CA Condors and pairs of Lawrence's Goldfinches foraging on the ground just feet away making it a perfect day.
 

April 12, 2015

Santa Cruz County

Matthew Dodder and wife

Henry Cowell Redwoods Park 
RED ROCK SKIMMERS several along the creek
VIVID DANCER on several trails.
....... 
Alameda County
Allen Fish
First yard odonate of the year today 
Cardinal Meadowhawk, male
…….
Inyo County

Ron and Barbara

Death Valley – golf course pond. 

many Roseate Skimmers

many Red Saddlebags, more Reds than

Black Saddlebags

several Flame Skimmers,  a little confused by the dark stigmas

Variegated Meadowhawks,

Common Green Darners

a few Pondhawks

Wandering Gliders

Spot-winged Gliders

 

April 11, 2015

Alameda County

Matthew Dodder and class

Sunol Regional Wilderness 
RED ROCK SKIMMERS along the creek
CALIFORNIA DARNER, 1
PACIFIC CLUBTAIL
VIVID DANCER
Spreadwing sp.
.......
Santa Barbara County
Hugh Ranson
Seaside Nursery, Carpinteria
Rambur's Forktails were first discovered here in September 2014. There was one individual at the same location today.
…….
San Diego County
B.J. Stacey and Jay Keller
Cibbetts Flat Campground
Filigree Skimmers http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/1461375
Mosaic/Neo-tropical Darner
Variegated Meadowhawk
We went out looking for whatever we could run into. 
Filigree Skimmers were on the hoped for list with the invasion that is happening in southern California this year. 
We went and found one in the same spot near Cibbetts Flat Campground as previously reported 
(my photos at http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/1390992) and also had two probably others at a spot a couple of miles away along the same creek that Doug Aguillard thought he may have had one a few days prior. 
Those two are thought to have been a male and female but photos weren't obtained so we have to say unsure. 

 

April 10, 2015

Sacramento County

Dave Johnson

William Pond Rec Area, American River Parkway

Pacific Forktails

Exclamation Damsels

bluets

Vivid Dancer

*Pacific Clubtail Gomphus kurilis

 

April 9, 2015

Sacramento County

Dave Johnson

I had my FOY male Flame Skimmer at Sailor Bar, American River Parkway

…….

Amador and Calavaras Counties

Pete Gunrow

Lancha Plana Bridge, Mokelumne River.

Pacific Clubtail Gomphus kurilis – found on both sides of the river. County voucher photo for Amador. CA Chart # 143, OC# 435116

 

April 8, 2015

Humboldt County

Sandra Hunt-von Arb

Korbel Ponds (private).
*EMERALD SPREADWING Lestes dryas  FOY (or black- about 200 of them and most looked young yet),
CALIFORNIA DARNER (dozen+/-)
COMMON GREEN DARNER FOY(one)
WESTERN FORKTAIL (many- 50+ mostly females, many ovipositing)
PACIFIC FORKTAIL (~25, female to male ration ~ 5:1 ?!?)

…….

Sonoma County

Don Loarie

Alexander Valley

**Bison Snaketail Ophiogomphus bison http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/1378368 - old early date 4/17/2004.

 

April 5, 2015

Riverside County

Peter Siminski

Dos Palmas Preserve; Dos Palmas Oases, Fish Ponds, Agua Farms and Core Marsh; Elev. -100’ to  -240’; 7:55-12:25, 56-86F, cloudless then cirrus, calm to light breeze S.

Paiute Dancer, Argia alberta 3

Blue-ringed Dancer, A. sedula 6

Citrine Forktail, Ischnura hastata 2

Rambur’s Forktail, I. ramburii >10

Common Green Darner, Anax junius  3

Blue-eyed Darner, Rhionaeschna multicolor 1

Variegated Meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum 2

Western Pondhawk, Erythemis collocata >20 including one pair in wheel.

Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax l! ongipennis >30

Flame Skimmer, Libellula saturata ~15

Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerata ~10 including a tandem pair ovipositing.

Red Saddlebags, T. onusta 3

Spot-winged Glider, P. hymenaea 3

 

April 4, 2015

Sacramento County

Tim Manolis

American River Parkway behind Rio Americano High School.  Had a number of FOS odes for me… 

*Emma's Dancer Argia emma -- 1 female

Exclamation Damsel -- 1 male

Arroyo Bluet -- 1 male netted

Common Whitetail Plathemis lydia -- about 10, most patrolling males, and also

Sinuous Snaketail – another male

Tule Bluet

Spot-winged Glider

Pacific Forktail

Common Green Darner

Blue-eyed Darner

…….

San Diego County

Christopher Adler

Kitchen Creek, Cleveland National Forest

Pseudoleon superbus Filigree Skimmer (male) photographed: https://www.flickr.com/photos/9638954@N07/16850744209/

 

April 3, 2015

Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson

middle Santa Ynez River, Falls Day Use area.

Spurred by recent reports of exotic skimmers, I went over to the middle Santa Ynez River this afternoon. Lo and behold, one of the first dragons I looked at was …

*Filigree Skimmer Pseudoleon superbus - a female photographed: CA Chart # 120, OC# 430369

American Rubyspot   1

Pacific Forktail       6

Northern Bluet    30

California Dancer Argia agrioides    8

Vivid Dancer   20

Red Rock Skimmer   20+

Flame Skimmer    10

*Common Whitetail Plathemis lydia    1

**Giant Darner Anax walsinghami   2+ (new early date for state, I believe) [yes, old early date 4/12/2002 -kb]

Cardinal Meadowhawk  6

 

April 2, 2015

Sonoma County

Alan Wight

Nagasawa Park in Santa Rosa

Black Spreadwing – 10+

Tule Bluet – 6+

Pacific Forktail – many

Western Pondhawk – 1 male, first of year, possibly an early date for Sonoma County, photographed

Beaverpond Baskettail – 1

…….

Santa Clara County

Matthew Dodder

Charleston Slough in Mountain View

BLUE-EYED DARNERS – two, the first I've seen this spring. The Mosaics I saw last week all California Darners.

 

April 1, 2015

Colusa County

Kathy & Dave Biggs

Bear Ck in Colusa Co., (between Williams and Upper Lake off Hwy 20) to check for dragonflies, there were some, but the WILDFLOWERS were FANTASTIC - best we've ever seen. 
I put a set of our photos up Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/…/26704961@N…/sets/72157651716581531/
Calif. Darners – 3-5 males
Vivid Dancers – very few
Northern Bluets – a few
Pacific Forktail – 1 female
Lake County
Nearby at Cache Creek @ HWY 20
*American Rubyspot Hetaerina americana – 1 male
…….
Riverside County
Jim Pike 
Mill Creek within the Prado Basin of western Riverside County (Corona)
Filigree Skimmer Pseudoleon superbus – a male working a wooded trail, photographed CA Chart #139  OC # 430368
 
 
 
March

 

March 30, 2015

Mono County

Ron & Barbara Oriti

We checked out all locations in Fish Slough 

*Paiute Dancer Argia alberta – photo of a male was taken at Pupfish Pond.  

Pacific Forktails

a couple old Variegated Meadowhawks

several Mosaic Darners.  I can't tell you what kind, because all were flying….

 

March 29, 2015

Mono County

Kristie Nelson

our yard near Mono Lake (elevation is 6800')

Red Rock Skimmer Paltothemis lineatipes – a male photographed. Apparently the first ever east of the Sierra Nevada. CA Chart #138    OC# 430355

Also, now having seen this, I'm pretty sure I had at least a couple other Red Rocks come thru our yard on March 19.

 

March 28, 2015

Inyo County

Ron & Barbara Oriti

Death Valley

Black Saddlebags, some

Red Saddlebags, some

Common Green Darners, some

Variegateds, especially tenerals, a few

Flame Skimmers, a few

Western Pondhawks, some

lots of damselflies.

There was assorted exuvia on the vegetation.  Was hoping for Roseates, but didn't see any.

However, there were a couple teneral skimmers that I could not identify. By ovipositing behavior, they may have been Spot-winged Gliders

 

March 26, 2015

Humboldt County

Sandra Hunt-von Arb

"speed oding" (10-15 minute visits) at two locations - one pond habitat that is inland and creek/beach coastal habitat.

Inland 

Pacific Forktails, many

*Swift forktails Ischnura erratica, some and a possible

surprisingly vastly outnumbered by - a possible

There were also two individual surprisingly vastly outnumbered by that I was unable to ID beyond Blue-type darner...

 beach/creek there were

Pacific Forktails a few but they were

Swift Forktails (I had two in hand) surprisingly vastly outnumbered by

Spot-winged Glider - 1 buzzed above my head for quite a while and as I was leaving,

I did see a darner type in wheel. I'm still in awe of how much ode activity we have as there's usually pretty much nothing until April.

…….

Santa Clara County

Matthew Dodder

Matadero Creek in Palo Alto

California Darner (2)

Cardinal Meadowhawk (3)

Variegated Meadowhawk

Common Green Darner

Pacific Forktail

…….

Sonoma County

Kathy & Dave Biggs

Sonoma Horticultural Gardens (all but the Cardinal Meadowhawk seen in the “Yellow Garden

Pacific Forktail – 1

Exclamation Damsels - 97 counted

California Darner – 1-3

Cardinal Meadowhawk – 1 male

……

Santa Cruz County

Alex Rinkert

Quail Hollow Ranch County Park

*Tule Bluet Enallagma carunculatum -  an adult male netted

 

March 25, 2015

San Francisco County

Michael Chassé

Fort Winfield Scott, Presidio, San Francisco, Golden Gate National Recreation Area,

Red Rock Skimmer (Paltothemis lineatipes)

…….

Sonoma County

Kathy & Dave Biggs

Yahoo! 5 species of Odes on the backyard pond (Sebastopol) today- #5 being my "totem Ode" –

*Zoniagrion exclamationis, Exclamation Damsel. Not a new early date for the species though, they have been seen as early as March 19th.

Pacific Forktail

Western Forktail

California Darner

Cardinal Meadowhawk

 

March 23, 2015

Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson

Goleta pond this afternoon 
**Great Pondhawk Erythemis vesiculosa - brief looks and poor photos at rest. [new early flight data by MONTHS for CA, new early flight data for the whole greater Southwest area by 3 wks - kb] CA Chart #120, OC# 430283
Flame Skimmers, multiple
Cardinal Meadowhawks, multiple
Red Saddlebags, multiple
Blue-eyed Darners, multiple
Wandering Gliders, multiple
bluets, many
 

March 20, 2015

Sacramento County

Tim Manolis

Glen Hall Park in Sacramento

**Sinuous Snaketail Ophiogomphus occidentis - One-two male were on the sand/gravel bar in the afternoon-previous early date for this species was 30 or 31 March, in Roseville, Placer County.

 

March 19, 2015

Marin County

Len Blumin

Sunny day with a light breeze encouraged me to visit Five Brooks pond, Route 1, south of Olema
The temp was in the low 70's at 2-3 pm. 
There were hundreds of damselflies along the paths around the pond at just about every sunny spot. 
Many were in tandem or a wheel, and some ovipositing. 
Bluet sp.[Northern &/or Boreal] outnumbered the Forktails 
Pacific Forktails
My vision and field skills are not up to ID most dragonflies in flight, but there numbers were small compared to the damsels. 
California Darners a pair of in a wheel.

 

March 18, 2015

Sonoma County

Kathy & Dave Biggs

Bigsnest Pond, Sebastopol

California Darner – a female emerged in the morning. Our first exuvia was seen on the 16th

Cardinal Meadowhawk – a young male came in to claim the pond as his. Our first exuvia was seen on the 16th

Sonoma County

Alan Wight

 Keysight Technologies site near Nagasawa Park, in Santa Rosa

Vivid Dancers - two

 

March 17, 2015

Santa Cruz County

Scott Pedan

BB State Park, Redwood DO coastal division
Red Rock Skimmer – 1 f photographed http://smu.gs/1O4t8Pv
Variegated Meadowhawk – photographed
…….

Alan Wight

Sonoma County

at lunch, I saw the following at Nagasawa Park in Santa Rosa

**Black Spreadwing Lestes stultus3-4, photographed, first of year, earlier than normal - new early date, old early date 3/27/2003

Pacific Forktail – lots

Bluet sp. – 4, likely Tule Bluets

Beaverpond Baskettail – 3-5

Variegated Meadowhawk - 2

 

March 15, 2015

Riverside County

Peter Siminski

Dos Palmas Oasis and Fish Ponds, Dos Palmas Preserve; Elev. -100’; 7:05-11:35, 67-94F, cirrus, calm to light breeze S.

*Blue-ringed Dancer, Argia sedula! 4

Familiar Bluet, Enallagma civile 1

*Desert Forktail, Ischnura barberi 3 including one female ovipositing.

Citrine Forktail, I. hastata 4 including one tandem pair.

Rambur’s Forktail, I. ramburii 5

Common Green Darner, Anax junius  11

Variegated Meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum 9

*Western Pondhawk, Erythemis collocata 7

*Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis 20

Flame Skimmer, Libellula saturata 21 including one female ovipositing.

*Roseate Skimmer, Orthemis ferruginea 2

Red Saddlebags, T. onusta 4 including one ovipositing pair.

Spot-winged Glider, P. hymenaea 4

 

March 14, 2015

Orange County

Michael A. Patten/Rob Hamilton

Lower Silverado Canyon, approximately 4300 feet upstream of the crossing of Black Star Canyon Road.

This was a wide spot in the creek with limited standing water and knocked-down cattails and other emergent vegetation.

A path was recently created into this area through the dense willow scrub downstream, making it more accessible and open than it normally would be.

**Filigree Skimmer, Pseudoleon superbus – this one appeared to be a female, but there isn’t a photo, CA Chart #137, OC#430249 (pending as a sight record only)

…….

Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson

I spent a couple of hours late morning/early afternoon along Paradise Rd. Temps ranged from 77-88 degrees.

*Black-fronted Forktail Ischnura denticollis 3+

Pacific Forktail   5+

Western Forktail   2+ (ph)

Vivid Dancer   3

*Northern Bluet Enallagma annexum -- many, 4 netted

Cardinal Meadowhawk -- 4

Red-rock Skimmer -- 4, including ovipositing

…….

San Diego County

Robyn Waayers

Coyote Creek, Coyote Canyon, Anza Borrego Desert. Desert riparian area

Pseudoleon superbus (Filigree Skimmer) Individual was perched on a small rock in Coyote Creek in the mid-afternoon. Temperature in the high 80s on a sunny day Photo at OC#:430258

 

March 13, 2015

Sonoma County

Alan Wight

at lunch, I saw the following at Nagasawa Park in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County:

Pacific Forktail – lots

Bluet sp. – 4, 1 photographed appears to be Tule Bluet which is the species expected here

Darner sp. – 1 or 2, very likely California Darner based on small size and time of year

*Beaverpond Baskettail Epitheca canis – 1 or 2, 1 seen well and photographed, second one got away before I could identify it for sure

The Tule Bluet (if the photo proves conclusive for identification) and the Beaverpond Baskettail are potentially new early records for Sonoma County by about a week per the records I currently have.

 

March 11, 2015

San Diego County

Michael Ouellette

Backyard pond near Mission Trails Regional Park and Lake Murry, in the City of San Diego

Filigree Skimmer, Pseudoleon superbus –a female photographed AND egg laying witnessed!! OC # 430235

…….

Sonoma County

Kathy& Dave Biggs

Bigsnest Wildlife Pond, our Sebastopol backyard

Western Forktails - a male and a pruinose female seen (the pond’s FOY)

Pacific Forktail – 1 male

 

March 10, 2015

San Diego County

Michael Ouellette

City of San Diego, backyard pond

Filigree Skimmer, Pseudoleon superbus – this one appeared to be a female, but there isn’t a photo

 

March 9, 2015

Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson

I saw species #12 on the wing today at a pond in Goleta, CA,

*Flame Skimmer Libellula saturata -1 (a new county early date).

Cardinal Meadowhawk

Blue-eyed Darner

California Darner

Pacific Forktail

Arroyo Bluet

Familiar Bluet

…….

Glenn County

Greg Kareofellas

Knoville Road, Eticuerra Creek about 1:30

Paltothemis lineatipes, a male

Sympetrum corruptum, several

 

March 8, 2015

San Mateo County

Leslie Flint

Alpine Pond

Not a single dragonfly; but I did find a few damsels - very few.  

Pacific Forktails - maybe 6 and

Western Forktail - a singe my first of the season.

…….

Monterey County
Don Roberson 
Salinas River NWR
Western Forktail (photo'd, several teneral orange ones) 
Calif. Darner (in flight, apparent i.d. on size) 
These provides an early date for MTY for each species that is 10 days to 3 weeks earlier than prior earliest dates.

 

March 6, 2015

Inyo County

Ron & Barbara Oriti

Death Valley, at the golf course pond:

**Black Saddlebags Tramea lacerata --  15 or more – new early date by ~2 wks, old early date 3/20/2004

Red Saddlebags  -- 12 or so

Common Green Darners  --  half a dozen

Variegated Meadowhawk  --  20+ mature to aged,              

Damsels  --  and a similar number of tenerals as well

…….

Santa Barbara County

Ranch pond, Goleta

Hugh Ranson

*California Dancer Argia agrioides  

 

March 5, 2015

Santa Clara County

Matthew Dodder

ditch beside the trail at the Emily Renzel Wetlands in Palo Alto

COMMON GREEN DARNER

VARIEGAGED MEADOWHAWKS - 2

 

March 3, 2015

Sonoma County

Kathy& Dave Biggs, Sandra Hunt-von Arb

Pine Flat Rd, east of Healdsburg

*Western Forktail Ischnura perparva – 1 m, 1 f –at tiny pond above Ferguson Seep

Cardinal Meadowhawk – 1 male, fully mature, but not ‘old’ –at tiny pond above Ferguson Seep

Vivid Dancers Argia vivida – 2, at least one a female, very teneral, seen on maiden flight! At ‘Doug’s seep’ (first nocal report)

Calif. Darners – pair in wheel, just above Rebizzo Ranch

 

March 1, 2015

Sonoma County

Gloria Diamond Conley

Sebastopol backyard - TWO Cardinal Meadowhawks emerged today our foy! Here are past years' dates:
2010 3/20
2011 3/28
2012 3/18
2013 3/15
2015 3/13
2015 3/1 !!! Almost two weeks earlier than last year's record date for our pond.

 
February

 

February 28, 2015

Sonoma County

Kathy & Dave Biggs

Their Sebastopol backyard

CA Darner -1 – our foy Ode!

 

February 26/27, 2015

Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson

Goleta, CA pond

*Red Saddlebags Tramea onusta on 2/26 (though Nick Lethaby has seen them several days earlier at nearby Devereux Slough)

Wandering Glider - that last sighting brings the number of species at the pond for the year to ten.

Blue-eyed darner

 

February 26, 2015

Santa Clara County

Ken A. Wilson

Alum Rock Park in San Jose

Red Rock Skimmer -1

Variegated Meadowhawks -2

 

February 25, 2015

Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson

Goleta

*Cardinal Meadowhawks Sympetrum illotum - (3) my first of season, one day later than my FOS last year.

CA Darners (estimated at 5-10; they move so fast!)

Common Green Darners

Pacific Forktails

Arroyo and Familiar Bluets

…….

Santa Clara County

Leslie Flint

Alum Rock Park

Variegated Meadowhawk

Red Rock Skimmer!  I didn't see a Red Rock Skimmer all of last year so was surprised to find one in February at this location.

…….

Humboldt County

Sandra Hunt-von Arb

Korbel Ponds

pacific forktails - two

Blue Lake Fish Hatchery (just across the river from the Korbel Ponds)

pacific forktail - one

 

February 24, 2015

Sonoma County

Alan Wight

Nagasawa Park in Santa Rosa

Pacific Forktail – many, covering the wide range of variation due to sex and age

Variegated Meadowhawk – 1

Mosaic Darner – 1, blue, seen briefly in flight, likely an early California Darner

 

February 23, 2015

Humboldt County

Sandra Hunt-von Arb

Centerville Beach (Ferndale, CA) in the dunes near some brackish marsh/ponds

variegated meadowhawk - a young one

pacific forktail – a male. That's an early record for Humboldt County, CA for the forktail.

…….

Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson

Goleta, CA ranch pond I frequent.

Common Green Darners ovipositing

California Darner (my first of season)

Blue-eyed Darners

Variegated Meadowhawk

Glider sp. flyover

Pacific Forktails

Arroyo Bluet Enallagma praevarum

 

Familiar Bluets

I’ve noticed California Darners in flight seem to move extremely rapidly and usually within a foot of the water, darting in and out of the tules and low vegetation, making it very difficult to follow them with binoculars.

On the other hand, Blue-eyed Darners will often fly higher, at eye level or above, and will hover for relatively long periods making them somewhat easy to observe

 

February 22, 2015

Marin County

Leslie Flint

Five-Brooks Pond along Hwy 1

Pacific Forktails - there were dozens (maybe hundreds).

 Bear Valley Visitor's Center in Pt. Reyes

*California Darner Rhionaeschna californica - a fresh female

…….

Imperial County

Jeanne Tinsman
Unit 1, Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refugeat 33.08099° N 115.70993° W

Wandering Glider Pantala flavescens – a few OC#: 429728

**Spot-winged Glider Pantala hymenaeaa few

February 21, 2015

Imperial County

Jeanne Tinsman

Borrego Palm Canyon, Anza Borrego Desert State Park

Red Rock Skimmer Paltothemis lineatipes – 3 males, 1 female ovipositing, OC#:429727

…….

Los Angeles County

Amy Jaecker Jones

George F Canyon Nature Preserve, Los Angeles

*Vivid Dancer Argia vivida – male posted @ http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/1250890

February 17, 2015

San Diego County

Michael Ouellette

Mission Trails Regional Park, San Diego River

A lot of activity with plenty of dragonfly blurs. I was only able to get a good picture of one of them

Pacific Forktail, Ischnura cervula - male

 

February 15, 2015

San Diego County

Michael Ouellette

My backyard pond near Cowles Mountain

**Filigree Skimmer, Pseudoleon superbus - male hunting on rocks, photographed

 

February 13, 2015

San Diego County

Michael Ouellette

My backyard pond near Cowles Mountain

Wandering Glider, Pantala flavescens - lone female laying eggs

 

February 12, 2015

Orange County

John Sterling 
Osos Creek in Mission Viejo
*Red Rock Skimmer Paltothemis lineatipes - a pair 

…….

Monterey County

Don Roberson 
Laguna Grande Park, Seaside
Common Green Darner is recorded year-round elsewhere in California, but the known date span in Monterey County was apparently 14 May to 3 Dec.  
Today I saw a male in flight along the creek.  This extends the 'early' date forward in this county by 3 months.  
Today it was 75 degrees when the darner was flying -- a local record, I believe, for this date.
…….

Santa Barbara County

Ranch pond, Goleta

Hugh Ranson

**Arroyo Bluet Enallagma praevarum [new early date]

*Familiar Bluet Enallagma civile

 
February 8, 2015

Riverside County

Peter Siminski

Dos Palmas Oasis and Fish Ponds, Dos Palmas Preserve; Elev. -100’; 7:05-11:10, 61-80F, cloudless, light air to light breeze E.

*Citrine Forktail, I. hastata 1 male

*Rambur’s Forktail, I. ramburii 2

Common Green Darner, Anax junius  2

Variegated Meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum 1 yellow

Note: two large (2˝”) fresh exuvia and one medium sized.

 

February 2, 2015

San Diego County

Doug Aguillard

Shelter Island

*Wandering Glider Pantala flavescens – 1 observed and photographed

 
January
 

January 28, 2015

Sonoma County

Dave Barry

Laguna Uplands

I saw a dragon fly by me. Size of Variegated or Striped Meadowhawk. [surely a variegated=-kb]

 

January 24, 2015

Humboldt County

Tony Westkamper

My usual walk along my stretch of the Van Duzen River

Variegated Meadowhawks –a female photographed

 

January 23, 2015

Sonoma County

Alan Wight

Nagasawa Park in Santa Rosa

*Pacific Forktail - a teneral

…….

Humboldt County

Sandra Hunt-von Arb

Mad River Hatchery

I got a report that there were "lots of dragonflies at the Mad River Hatchery settling ponds during my walk at lunch yesterday", so I went to check it out. 

I got there a little late (at 3pm), I didn't find any at the ponds, but managed to find one Variegated Meadowhawk on the wing in a backwater region of the river in a calm warm windless spot

it was either a juvenile or a female as there was no red color to it at all, but I never got a great look at it- the winter variegated meadowhawks seem very flighty/shy compared to the summer ones.

The river is ridiculously low again this year- fishermen are lining the river and they can walk all the way across with their waders-- it should be several feet above their heads at this time of year.

…….

Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson

Ranch pond, Goleta

*Common Green Darner Anax junius

 

January 21, 2015

Sonoma County

Kathy Biggs

Sebastopol, backyard pond

I went into my pond,(in my chest waders) to do some clean-up as things are feeling a bit 'spring-like'

I found the undamaged exuvia of a Green Darner floating.....I must have knocked it off the plant matter I'd been pulling out.

I can't see where it could have made it thru the winter with the 8" of rain that fell one weekend!! A migrant???

 

January 17-23, 2015

Santa Barbara County

Nick Lethaby

Devereux Slough

We have many Variegated Meadowhawks around in SBA the last week or so.

 

January 17, 2015

Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson

Ranch pond, Goleta

Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson

There is a Santa Barbara record of three Great Spreadwing from 14th January, 1960, taken on "a mountain stream." We have wondered about the veracity of the date of this record.

Today I visited Upper Oso Creek in the Santa Ynez River drainage and found one (possibly two) male

**Great Spreadwing Archilestes grandis. Unfortunately it didn't stick around long enough to be photographed. So, it looks like the date from 1960 is likely accurate. [This is being counted as a new LATE date as the species hasn’t been recorded in Feb. – kb] The temperature at Upper Oso today was 69 degrees.

At Lower Oso there were 5 Variegated Meadowhawks, and another 3 were at Live Oak.

 

January 7, 2015

Humboldt County

Tony Westkamper

My usual walk along my stretch of the Van Duzen River  turned up 3 specimens for sure and glimpses of maybe 4 more.

We have had frost hard enough to kill sensitive grasses etc, and these little ladies persist.

This is the 3 rd. year I've photoed them overwintering here. Today I looked on Yager creek (a nearby tributary) and saw none.

Variegated Meadowhawks – 3-7

 

January 6, 2015

Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson

Goleta - With temps down into the high 20s last week, I was surprised to find [these]

**two Blue-eyed Darners Rhionaeschna multicolor- new early flight date by a week.

a Variegated Meadowhawk

 

January 5, 2015

Monterrey County

Don Roberson

a small rain puddle in what we call the "Virgin St. patch" at Laguna Grande park on the Seaside-City of Monterey border
an ovipositing pair of Variegated Meadowhawk

 

January 3, 2015

San Benito County

Paul Johnson

I usually see variegated meadowhawks through the fall and then not again until late spring or early summer.  

I assumed that they were killed off by heavy freezes.  

However, on the Pinnacles Christmas Bird Count (Jan 3, 2015) I saw several, despite low temps the preceding several nights in the mid to high 20s.  

None were mature males.  In fact, I've never seen a mature male late in the season.  

 

January 1, 2015

Sonoma County

Ken Wilson

Ledson Marsh, Annadel State Park
*Variegated Meadowhawk S. corruptum – 2  (a pair ovipositing photographed!!)
 
 
 
 =I=  =I= =I=  =I=  =I= =I= =I=  =I= =I=  =I=  =I= =I=  =I=  =I= =I= =I=  =I= =I= =I=  =I= =I=  =I=  =I= =I=  
 
Note: The record for 4-spotted Skimmer to be in San Diego County was found to be in error. It has been removed. KB 2/2015
 
11New County Records found/reported in 2015 with original data from prior years:
Most of these new county records below were found while using information collected by Joan Ball ~2015 for her Master’s Thesis.  These were discovered while comparing her extensive collection of specimen data to the data we had already accumulated while I was adding information to the 2005 Odonata Central (OC) Dot-map records (those records previously lacked locations and dates) –Kathy Biggs
 

September 13, 2014

Merced County

Peter Gunow

Western River Cruiser Macromia magnifica

George Hatfield SRA on the Merced River. SIGHT RECORD ONLY CA Chart #143

 

July 10, 2014

Calaveras County

Peter Gunow

Emerlad Spreadwing Lestes dryas

Big Meadow and the adjacent campground by CA Chart #143, OC # 434964

 

July 10, 2014

Calaveras County

Peter Gunow

Spicer Ski Area parking lot pond

Emerald Spreadwing Lestes dryas CA Chart #143, OC #434966

 

July 10, 2014

Calaveras County

Peter Gunow

Spicer Ski Area parking lot pond

Four-spotted Skimmer Libellula quadrimatulaca CA Chart #143, OC # 434967

 

 

May 23, 2013

Glenn County

Amelia Ryan

North Fork Stony Creek

Hoary Skimmer Libellula nodisticta - one male photographed CA chart# 136, OC# 429522  

 

July 7, 2012

Fresno County

Tony Kurz

37.24757° N 119.13739° W This road gets up on top of the mountain and it's looks to be an old burned area with lots of snags

Mountain Emerald Somatachlora semicinctum photo record - female CA Chart #119, OC#432282  

 

September 16, 2005

San Mateo County

USNMNH (fide J.Ball)

Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, Stanford University

Western Red Damsel Amphiagrion abbreviatum CA Chart #131 OC#429137

 

June 21, 2004

Lassen County

Tim Manolis

Silver Lake area, Cooper Swamp

Mountain Emerald, Somatachlora semicirularis- CA Chart #6, OC# 5941

 

May 16, 2004

Yuba County

Peter Gunrow

Waldo Bridge Trail, Spenceville Wildlife Area,

Emma’s Dancer, Argia emma - Photo, CA Chart #143, OC#  434925 

 

October 1, 2004

Calaveras County

USNMNH (fide J.Ball)

19884 US Route 26, 4 kilometers southwest of West Point

California Spreadwing, Archilestes californicus - CA Chart #131, OC#  436637

 

June 25, 2003

Calaveras County

Dennis Paulson

Calaveritas

Pacific Clubtail, Gomphus kurilis - Photo, CA Chart #9OC# 430225

 

May 26, 2003

Colusa County

Greg Kareofellas

Little Stony Creek at Goat Mountain Road Colusa County, California 1400 ft

Pacific Spiketail Cordulegaster dorsalis - male; CA Chart #28, OC# 317970

 

October 14, 1978

Yolo County

Bohart, UCDavis (fide J.Ball

Davis

Western Red Damsel Amphiagrion abbreviatum CA Chart #2 OC# 421100

 

May 30, 1976

El Dorado County

R. DiLeo Essig Museum of Entomology (fide J.Ball)

Blodgett Forest, 13 miles east of Georgetown

Beaverpond Baskettail, Epitheca canis  - CA Chart #136, OC# 438541

 

October 18, 1975

Solano County

Rosser Garrison/ Florida State Collection of Arthropods, Gainesville FL (fide J.Ball)

Vacaville, 5 miles west, end of Bucktown Road, T7N, R2W,Sec 36

California Spreadwing, Archilestes californicus - CA Chart #10, OC# 436642

 

July 6, 1965

Inyo County
T. Neehaus/University of Michigan Museum of Zoology (fide J.Ball)

Upper Lamarck Lake (near), small stream
Mountain Emerald Somatochlora semicircularis – CA Chart #130, OC# 438498

 

July 18, 1965

Alpine County
R. W. Cruden/University of Michigan Museum of Zoology (fide J.Ball)

Duck Lake
Twelve-spotted Skimmer Libellula pulchella – CA Chart #130, OC# 429330

 

July 18, 1965

San Bernardino County

M. Ellis/ Essig Museum of Entomology (fide J.Ball)

Mill Creek

California Spreadwing, Archilestes californicus - CA Chart #131, OC# 436641

 

June 19, 1962

Madera County

J.F.S S/Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History (fide J.Ball)

North Fork
Hoary Skimmer Libellula nodiscta    CA Chart #45, OC# 429508

 

September 25, 1959 

Tulare County

Florida State Collection of Arthropods, Gainesville FL (fide J.Ball)

Camp Wishon

Great Spreadwing, Archilestes grandis - CA Chart #23, OC# 436646

  

July 4, 1936

Mariposa County
Florida State Collection of Arthropods, Gainesville FL (fide J.Ball) (fide J.Ball)

Glacier Point, Yosemite National Park
Mountain
Emerald
Somatochlora semicircularis – CA Chart #130, OC# 438514

 

September 11, 1933

Mono County

C. Dammers/ University of California, Riverside (UCR), Entomology Research Museum (fide J.Ball)

Snow Creek

Great Spreadwing, Archilestes grandis - CA Chart #21, OC# 436645

 

August 6, 1932

Mono County
LACM (fide J.Ball)

Mono Lake
Comanche
Skimmer
Libellula comanche
– CA Chart #31, OC# 429575

 

June 14, 1930

Calaveras County

Essig (fide J.Ball)

Bloods Creek

Western Red Damsel Amphiagrion abbreviatum CA Chart #17, OC # 429133,

 

June 2, 1902

Los Angeles County

UMMZ (fide J.Ball)

Mt. Wilson

Pacific Spiketail  Cordulegaster dorsalis CA Chart #130, OC # 4085

updated Dot Map Record – county and possibly state voucher

 

September 25, 1897 

Los Angeles County

Essig Museum of Entomology (fide J.Ball)

Pasadena

Great Spreadwing, Archilestes grandis - CA Chart #17, OC# 436644 This may be the oldest record for CAf