California's Year 2016

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  (any new, but prior to 2016 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
# = probably a migratory event
MO = many observers (usually means a field trip full of observers)
 
As of the most recent date below,

100 species (out of the 114 species known to have occurred in California) have been reported to this site as flying in California in the 2016 season.

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

In 2015, new county records were found by accessing specimens in museum collections or late reports. All were entered at Odonata Central by “Calif Records”.

`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

EVERYONE is encouraged to record flight data for their home &/or favorite county and to upload such files to CalOdes: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/CalOdes/files &/or Odonata Central.

 

December

 

 
December 31, 2016
Riverside County
Peter Siminski
Dos Palmas Preserve; Dos Palmas oasis, Felger oasis, Agua Farms and fish ponds; Elev. -100’ to -240’; 7:00-10:40, 48-63F, 30% stratocumulus to clearing, light air. 3.6 miles.
**Rambur’s Forktail, Ischnura ramburii 2 [last report 2016\
 
December 30, 2016
Humboldt County
Matthew Dodder
Stone Lagoon near Orrick
*Variegated Meadowhawk Sympetrum corruptum – 2 [last report 2016\
We found one more at Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge south of Eureka the day before
 
Dec 29, 2016
San Benito County
Paul Johnson
Panoche Valley
Variegated Meadowhawk - 3

……

Santa Barbara County

Wim van Dam

Alamo Pintado Creek in Solvang,- This small creek seems to start from a nearby spring and its water feels indeed relatively warm. It also helps that I was 70+ F and sunny

*Vivid Dancers Argia vivida 2 [last report 2016\

*American Rubyspot Hetaerina americana  1 [last report 2016\

 

Dec 28, 2016
San Benito County
Paul Johnson
Pinnacles National Park
Variegated Meadowhawk - 1

 

December 22, 2016

Humboldt County

Tony Westkamper

Van Duzen Watershed

 …on the Winter Solstice I walked my path along the Van Duzen River and counted (n about 500 meters).

Variegated Meadowhawk 12 - 16

They're back and doing well. This is the greatest number I've seen during my winter walks for the past several years.

…….

Santa Barbara County

Wim van Dam 

Alamo Pintado Creek in Solvang

 4 Vivid Dancers - Two of them were copulating.

…….

Yuba County

Tim Manolis & Ellen Manolis

Sacramento Valley Christmas Bird Count,

Variegated Meadowhawks - a fairly dark, adult male, hovering over a mud puddle along a dirt road through rice fields. 

Later in the afternoon, I saw a Black Phoebe gobble down a dragonfly; by the size of it, probably another Variegated Meadowhawk. 

We also saw a butterfly, one of the painted ladies, in a residential part of Marysville.

 

December 2, 2016

Humboldt County

Tony Westkamper

Van Duzen Watershed Carlotta. On a freshly cut branch on a slash pile in my front yard.

Variegated Meadowhawk

 

November

 

November 18, 2016

Monterey County

Laguna Grande Park in Seaside

Rita Carratello

**Red Saddlebags Tramea onusta - a female found and photographed  this is  a new late record for California. The previous record was 11/5/2015. [last report 2016]

 

November 17, 2016

Sonoma County

Kathy& Dave Biggs, Delora Porter

Delora took us to a new place today, between Sebastopol and Bodega Bay. Sones Ranch may someday go public, and it has several created and natural ponds, plus creeks and meadows and redwoods. Today we saw a few species on the wing:

*Common Green Darner Anax junius [last report 2016]

*Shadow Darner Aeshna umbrosa [last report 2016]

Variegated Meadowhawk

The habitat looked good for either Calif. Spreadwing (on the ponds) or Great Spreadwing, but we saw neither. Great to see some Odes again!!

 

November 12, 2016
Riverside County
Peter Siminski
Dos Palmas Preserve; Dos Palmas oasis, Felger oasis, Agua Farms and fish ponds; Elev. -100’ to -240’; 7:1 0-11:20, 62-80F, sky 90% cirrus, light air. 3.5 miles.
*Blue-ringed Dancer, Argia sedula 1 [last report 2016]
Rambur’s Forktail, Ischnura ramburii 3
Common Green Darner, Anax junius  11
Variegated Meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum 7
*Flame Skimmer, Libellula saturata 1 [last report 2016]

…….

Imperial County

Bob Miller

Alamo River Wetlands Project a few miles east of Brawley… The season slips away!
one Common Green Darner 
one Blue-ringed Dancer

 

November 10, 2016

Sonoma County

Harry Conley

Conley Pond, Sebastopol

Shadow Darner – a male checked out the pond late afternoon

 

November 9, 2016

Sonoma County

Alan Wight

Fountaingrove Parkway in Santa Rosa

*Striped Meadowhawk Sympetrum pallipes – new late date for Sonoma County [last report 2016]

Dave Biggs

Bigsnest Pond, Sebastopol

Shadow Darner – a male checked out the pond late afternoon

 

November 5, 2016

San Mateo County

Michael Dawson

Harborview Park

*Blue-Eyed Darners Rhionaeschna multicolor- several still sticking it out. [last report 2016]

 

November 4, 2016

San Bernardino County

Jim Pike

Calif Desert Studies Center at the end of Zzyzx Road near Baker

**Great Pondhawk, E. vesiculosa - 2nd county record, 6th state record, new late flight date by a month and 2 days.

 

 

OCTOber

 

October 21, 2016

Colusa County

Kathy & Dave Biggs

Bear Creek, ¼ mile in on Bear Crk Rd and at bridge over Hwy 20. 4 PM, 80F, 20 mins stop

*Northern Bluet Enallagma annexum – some [last report 2016]

Green Darner – 2, although when they interacted a black bird swooped down and grabbed at least one of them!

Blue-eyed Darner – 1 male

Flame Skimmer – 1 male

 

October 20, 2016

Glenn County

Greg Kareofellas

Elk Creek

*Paltothemis lineatipes Red Rock Skimmer   - sight record only CA Chart #28 [last report 2016]

Little Stony creek,

*Aeshna walker. Walker’s Darner  -- sight record only CA Chart #28 [last report 2016]

*Hetaerina Americana American Rubyspot  (both male and female) [last report 2016]

*Archilestes californicus California Spreadwing [last report 2016]

Sympetrum corruptum Variegated Meadowhawk

Anax junius Co, Green Darner

…….

Alameda County

Nancy Asquith

Sunol Regional Wilderness

*California Spreadwing Archilestes californicus – a male [last report 2016]

 

October 12, 2016

Santa Clara County

Nancy Asquith

Ogier Ponds

*Black Saddlebags Tramea lacerata – several flying [last report 2016]


October 9, 2016

Santa Barbara County

Doug Karalun

I visited Badger Basin … hoping to refind the California Spreadwing found by Tom Benson. I found three individuals that flew anytime I got near enough to swing a net. 
California Spreadwing
*Tule Bluet Enallagma carunculatum
[last report 2016]
*Familiar Bluet Enallagma civile
[last report 2016]
Vivid Dancer
*Pacific Forktail Ischnura cervula
[last report 2016]
*Black-fronted Forktail Ischnura denticollis
[last report 2016]
*Desert Firetail Ischnura barberi
[last report 2016]

Green Darner

Blue-eyed Darner

Variegated Meadowhawk

*Cardinal Meadowhawk Sympetrum illotum [last report 2016]

Flame Skimmer

*Western Pondhawk Erythemis collocata  [last report 2016]

*Pale-faced Clubskimmer Brechmorhoga mendax [last report 2016]

 

October 7, 2016

San Francisco County

Paul Saraceni

#.. during 6 hours of bird-migration sky-watching from Battery Godfrey in San Francisco (NW corner of SF overlooking Golden Gate Channel/Bridge) during warm easterly winds, there was a notable movement of dragonflies, though nothing approaching the magnitude of what was reported from coastal San Mateo Co. the day before.  

As we scanned for birds there were always odes visible. The viewing location is an old artillery battery atop a coastal bluff -- no freshwater anywhere nearby.

Species observed and conservative estimates:

Common Green Darner 20+

Blue-eyed Darner 2

Variegated Meadowhawk 400+

Flame Skimmer ! 2

The Flame Skimmers were of the most interest in odes-challenged SF -- this species is occasional at best in SF. Species that are typically observed during these hot weather movements in SF but were missing yesterday were gliders and Black Saddlebags.

Other insects moving in the warm weather were butterflies (mostly Monarchs and Red Admirals) and "balloon spiders".

The most prevalent birds on the wing among a nice variety of migrants were 3000+ Violet-green Swallows in big pulses heading

…….

San Mateo County

Alvaro Jaramillo

Half Moon Bay

#I saw one of the best coastal insect migrations in sometime today, and I almost missed it had I not gone out for a run in the early afternoon.

There were offshore winds today, which push much of the migration moving south to the coast. Today at 2:30 pm in Half Moon Bay along the beach a sizeable migration of Variegated Meadowhawks was easily visible along the coast.

In fact they were mostly coming off the ocean, so many of these bugs had been pushed offshore and were making their way to the East, rather than the south.

I think they were re-orienting after being pushed offshore. The winds were not strong, but consistent from the NE; the direction of the bugs was not downwind, but quartering into them somewhat.

I made a few counts at the beach, immediately at the shoreline. Then I also made some more counts inland a few hundred meters where the insects were a bit easier to see as they were higher up.

At the beach, they were hugging the surface, very low, perhaps minimizing effect of the wind there? One can only speculate. In any case, I made counts of bugs moving across a line approximately 25 m long.

I counted number of Variegated Meadowhawks crossing in ten seconds. These were just a few counts, but it gives one an idea of how many individuals were involved.

The density was higher inland, rather than at the beach, perhaps they were just harder to detect at the beach as they were moving so close to the sand?

From my estimates, I saw 1/sec/25 m inland, and 0.167/sec/25 m at the beach. If these numbers were consistent, then per hour per km then 24,000 were moving at the beach; and 144,000 a bit inland. Even if I am off by a factor of ten… these are impressive numbers!!!

Otherwise, a number of other bugs were associated with them at < 10% of the Variegated Meadowhawk numbers; Green Darner as well as Red Admiral (fresh looking individuals), and a few Monarchs.

Monarchs have been much more common this year moving through Half Moon Bay than I can ever remember. In the last few days, they have been noticeable and common. The first showed up in late August.

 
September

 

 

September 26, 2016

San Mateo County

Paul Saraceni

South San Francisco

I photographed a female-type RED SADDLEBAGS.

The location was a brushy area, including a lot of fennel, above a small water channel adjacent to the entrance kiosk of the Oyster Point Marina, which is on the SF Bay-side of San Mateo Co.

(This ode observation was tangential to a big birding "twitch" which took place at that location for a first-county-record, mega-rarity Dusky Warbler found by Ron Thorn on 9/24 and present through 9/26)

 

September 18, 2016

Mono County

Leslie Flint

River Springs things were pretty quiet but saw the following:

Mosaic-type Darners - dozens
*Black Meadowhawk Sympetrum danae - females only - 6 [last report 2016]
*Saffron-winged Meadowhawk Sympetrum costiferum - 4-5 [last report 2016]
Flame Skimmer - 6
* *RIVER BLUET Enallagma anna - 5-10 based on photos taken [only report 2016]
*Spotted Spreadwing Lestes congener- abundant [last report 2016)
Vivid Dancer - 12+

 

September 17, 2016

Plumas County

Sandra Hunt-von Arb

Madora Lake in the Eureka Plumas Recreational Area - beautiful. Saw tons of darners, caught a few and they were

all Shadow Darners. Also there were lots of

*Autumn Meadowhawk Sympetrum vicinum in tandem and ovipositing-year [last report 2016]

Also, single Forktail spp., single Bluet Spp., and a

single Common Green Darner. I suspect there might be another species of mosaic type Darner that spent most of its time over the floating vegetation far from shore.
Mill Pond (aka Yacht Club) in Graeagle. It's the area's municipal water source. I got there in the late afternoon and it was already windy but still observed several species, albeit few individuals.
1-Blue-eyed Darner
1- Mosaic type Darner
1- Striped Meadowhawk
2-Northern/Boreal Bluets
1- Tule Bluet

 

September 14, 2016

Calaveras County

Leslie Flint

White Pine Lake . It was coolish - 59 deg - 63 deg and breezy over 3 hours I was there.

Mosaic-type darners - never saw one land - dozens
Common Green Darner
- hundreds
Striped Meadowhawk Sympetrum pallipes
- 2-3  
*Band-winged Meadowhawk Sympetrum semicinctum
 -1 [last report 2016]
Autumn Meadowhawk
- 2-3
*Widow Skimmer Libellula luctuosa
 – several [last report 2016]

Alpine County.

Hwy 4 @ Mosquito Lake in Much higher here - 6000'? Saw 4 darners flying and one landed on a log nearby and was able to get a few pics.

*Variable Darner Aeshna interrupta [last report 2016[

 

September 9, 2016

Siskiyou County

Kathy & Dave Biggs

Medicine Lake Highlands – Blanche, Bullseye, and No Name Lakes. Plus Little Medicine Lake and Pumice Stone Well. – by far the most Odes were at Blanche.
Spotted Spreadwing – few
Tule Bluet – only a very few at LML
Aeshna Darner – all caught were Variable, others possible
Common Green Darner – some
Possible Somatochlora nymph found under rock in dry lake bed along with some froglets.
* *Cherry-faced Meadowhawk Sympetrum interum  – possibly one of this species at Blanche Lake [ONLY report 2016]
Striped Meadowhawk – the most abundant ode at all stops
 

September 6, 2016

San Mateo County

Leslie Flint

Alpine Pond. Unfortunately part of the trail that circles the pond was closed because of bees/wasps, meaning my favorite place for spreadings was also closed.

Western Pondhawk - 2
*Blue Dasher Pachydiplax longipennis
1 [last report 2016]
Flame Skimmer
- 6+
Variegated Meadowhawk
- 1
Cardinal Meadowhawk
- 1
Striped Meadowhawk
- 8
Black Saddlebags Tramea lacerata
1
Blue-eyed Darner
- 2
Vivid Dancer
- 2
*California Dancer Argia agrioides
– 1 [last report 216]
Bluets - Tule/Arroyo
- 10+

 

September 4, 2016

San Bernardino County

Matthew Grube

the pond in Nipton

Great Pondhawk Erythemis vesiculosa CA Chart #144, OC # 454680

also 472541 by Michael Woodruff

 

September 3, 2016

Siskiyou County

Michelle Gabriel (from England)
Gumboot Lake
* *Lyre-tipped Spreadwing OC# 456627 [only report 2016]

 

September 1, 2016

Humboldt County

Tony Westkamper
Van Duzen River
Dozens of Anax junius
one Pale Faced Clubskimmer ovipositing
One Blue Eyed Darner
*Western River Cruiser Macromia magnifica – one [last report 2016]
 
AUGUST
 

August 30, 2016

Siskiyou County

Kathy & Dave Biggs; Celise Sharpe & Dennis Ball

Juanita Lake and what we call “Strawberry Ponds” (just sw of McDoel in the strawberry fields).

Odes seen at JL unless indicated otherwise.

Spotted Spreadwing – some, other species unlikely

Tule Bluet – some, other species unlikely

No/Bo Bluet – some, other species unlikely

Pacific Forktail – one male, one female, a few more at strawberry ponds

*Western Forktail Ischnura perparva – few, but abundant at strawberry ponds [last report 2016]

*Paddle-tailed Darner Aeshna palmata (in hand) – 1 male, a few others probably this species [last report 2016]

Common Green Darner – some

Variegated Meadowhawk- @ strawberry ponds

*Red-veined Meadowhawk Sympetrum madidumsome [last report 2016]

Saffron-winged Meadowhawk - @ strawberry ponds

Band-winged Meadowhawk - @ strawberry ponds

Striped Meadowhawk – many

*Autumn Meadowhawk Sympetrum vicinum - 4 teneral females and one mature male

…….

Trinity County

… a call from a friend who reports thousands and thousands of dragonflies migrating along Hwy 299 west of Whiskeytown Lake (reservoir).

She didn't know the species, but said she'd check her front bumper when she got home!!!

Now, to add to that, 8 days ago I saw hundreds of Common Green Darners using the river corridor in the construction zone (a little further west from where my friend is now).

She said they're all over the river corridor and the highway now and even noted a stream of them coming from a drainage to the north.

 

August 28, 2016

Sonoma County

Dave Barry

A Place to Play Park. Santa Rosa

Common Green Darner

Pacific Forktail,

Tule Bluet,

Flame Skimmer,

Blue Dasher,

Blue-eyed Darner,

Black Saddlebags

…….

Mono County

Kristie Nelson

Dechambeau Ponds.

Highlight was a Common Whitetail - sounds like they are not much known from Mono Co.

It was at the far south pond, and briefly landed for me to get a photo & confirm it was a Common & not a desert. Bleached skimmers present - some ovipositing.

In addition to some bluet & damsel spp.'s, I estimated at least:

Spotted (I think) Spreadwings --- 20

western forktail          5

Blue-eyed darner       12

Band-winged Meadowhawk    5

Black Meadowhawk                15

*Saffron-winged Meadowhawk Sympetrum costiferum     50 [last report of 2016)

Variegated MH      12

*Western Pondhawk Erythemis collocata      10

*Eight-spotted skimmer  Libellula forensis        20+  [last report of 2016)

*!! Common Whitetail Plathemis lydia   1 (maybe a second) New county record for Mono. CA chart #, OC# tbd

Bleached Skimmer   6+

Flame Skimmer      15

 

 

August 26, 2016

Imperial County

Nathan Moorhatch

Calexico Ode expedition.....found along the All American Canal adjacent to Hwy. 111

* *Brimstone Clubtail Stylurus intricatus [ONLY report 2016]

*Russet-tipped Clubtail Stylurus plagiatus [last report 2016]

*White-belted Ringtail Erpetogomphus compositus – in wheel [last report 2016]

*Mexican Amberwing Perithemis intensa [last report2016]

*Powdered Dancer Argia moesta [last report2016]

 

August 25, 2016

Humboldt County

Sandra Hunt-von Arb

A quick unplanned stop at the Korbel Ponds (private) yielded a pair of Blue-eyed darners (Rhionaeschna multicolor). The blue form female had more green to her coloring than I'm used to seeing, even though it matches the picture in Paulson's western guide. She also had more tint in her wings than I'm used to and the smallest thoracic frontal stripes I've seen on this species.
Blue-eyed darners (Rhionaeschna multicolor)
Paddle-tailed Darner (Aeshna palmata)
likely
Western Pondhawk (Erythemis collocata)
Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis)
Cardinal Meadowhawk (Sympetrum illotum)
Western Forktail (Ischnura perparva)
Pacific Forktail (Ischnura cervula)

No skimmers, but they don't seem to stay out as late.

…….

San Bernardino County

Steve Myers, Jennifer Tobin, Michelle Tobin, Vesta Myers

 this morning at the Deep Creek site near Lake Arrowhead

*Great Spreadwing  (Archilestes grandis) OC #453895 [last report 2016!]

 

August 24, 2016

Siskiyou  County

Kathy & Dave Biggs; Celise Sharpe & Dennis Ball

Martin’s Dairy, NE of Yreka, drier than usual and trashed by off-roaders

No/Bo Bluet

Vivid Dancer

Variable Darner

Co Green Darner

Striped Meadowhawk

Orr Lake, near Bray, CA and the meadow along Butte Ck on the way into the lake

*Black Spreadwing Lestes stultus – 2 males in hand; only 2nd time this species found there last 10 yrs. [last report 2016]

Spotted Spreadwing - few

Pacific Forktail – a few

Western Forktail – a few

No/Bo Bluet – very few

*Pacific Spiketail Cordulegaster dorsalis – along Butte Ck. [last report 2016]

Blue Dasher – one male

Eight-spotted Skimmer Libellula forensis – one male [last report 2016]

Co Green Darner – a few

Aeshna sp – probably Variable

And a whole mess of Meadowhawks!!

*White-faced Meadowhawk Sympetrum obtrusum – some [last report 2016]

Western Meadowhawk – many

Saffron-winged Meadowhawk – LOTS

Striped Meadowhawk – some

No Variegated Meadowhawk!!

 

August 22, 2016

Marin  County

Kathy & Dave Biggs

Martin Griffin Preserve of Audubon Canyon Ranch
Blue-eyed Darner - 1
Pacific Spiketail - 2
Cardinal Meadowhawk - 1
*Wandering Glider Pantala flavescens - +/- 12  [last report 2016]
Vivid Dancer - dozens
I have seen Pacific Spiketail many times, but was really delighted that one was perched by the ponds just 6 inches off the ground.

 

August 23, 2016

Siskiyou  County

Kathy & Dave Biggs

Pumice Stone Well, Harris Springs Rd, Medicine Lake Highlands

A short stop revealed that the Emeralds are over with L

Western ForktailOne (only) pruinose female, no other damselflies

Variable Darner – several in hand and photographed in wheel

Co Green Darner – several

Striped Meadowhawk – a few

 

August 21, 2016

Plumas County

Sandra Hunt-von Arb + MO

Dragonfly Class/Field Trip for the Grebe Festival at Willow Lake

Highlight was finding a Canada Darner.

It was patrolling the edge of a floating sphagnum moss island on the east side of the lake and would foray into the center of the island periodically.

A paddle-tailed Darner was netted a short while later in the same spot.

Species encountered were:

Common Green Darner
Paddle-tailed Darner
* *Canada Darner Aeshna canadensis
[first report in CA since 2013, only report in 2016 – kb]
Striped Meadowhawk
Band-winged Meadowhawk
White-faced Meadowhawk
*Northern Spreadwing Lestes disjunctus
[last report 2016]
Vivid Dancer
*Boreal Bluet Enallagma boreale  
(in hand) [last report 2016]
Tule Bluet
Pacific Forktail

Notably absent considering their being present in significant numbers a month ago were

Chalk-fronted Corporal
American Emerald
Dot-tailed Whiteface
Emerald Spreadwing

Only one participant fell through the floating sphagnum moss getting completely wet including camera and binoculars.

He survived unharmed except perhaps his ego, and took it like a champ.

I mention this mostly to warn anyone going there. It's important to test every step, and I mean EVERY STEP, before putting your full weight down when on the floating mats.

 

August 14, 2016

San Bernardino County

Matt Grube

San Timoteo Creek in Redlands.

* *Filigree Skimmer Pseudoleon superbus – 1 photographed 452961 [only report 2016]

Last year there were both a male and female in this area, and we even saw a female ovipositing.  However, the area was completely bulldozed with all the vegetation removed and the dirt turned over and leveled.
The Filigree was seen near a small pond just downstream from the second dam structure when entering from the Fern Ave side.  Approx GPS: 34.031134, -117.206072
Flame Skimmer,

*Neon Skimmer, Libellula croceipennis [last report 2016]

Red Rock Skimmer,

Blue Dasher,

Western Pondhawk,

Pale-faced Clubskimmer,

Common Green Darner,

Wandering Glider,

*Spot-winged Glider Pantala hymenaea - likely this species on a flyby [last report 2016]

 

August 13/14, 2016

San Bernardino County

Doug Karalun

Colorado River Temp was 112.
American Rubyspot
Familiar Bluet
53016
* *Double-striped Bluet Enallagma basidens
(Jack Smith Park in Needles) 453022 [only report]
Powdered Dancer
453021 453015
Blue-ringed Dancer
(Jack Smith Park in Needles)
Rambur's Forktail
(Jack Smith Park in Needles) 453026
Green Darner
White-belted Ringtail
453023 453021
Blue Dasher
Western Pondhawk

*Comanche Skimmer Libellula comanche  453017 [last report 2016]
Widow Skimmer
453025 453014
*Twelve-spotted Skimmer Libellula pulchella  
(photographed at Bullfrog Day Use Area) Upgrade of prior sight only record. CA Chart #146, OC # 453013 [male with very pale wingtips –kb] [last report 2016]
Wandering Glider
Spot-winged Glider
453024
Red Saddlebags
Black Saddlebags

 

August 13, 2016

San Francisco County

Hugh Ranson and friend

Fort Point in San Francisco

I didn't know I would be going there so hadn't brought a camera, hand lens, etc. There was a small pool in the roadside ditch about 300 yards before the fort…

*San Francisco Forktail Ischnura geminaI counted at least 17 [last report 2016]

One even landed on me and allowed inspection of his appendages through the wrong end of my binoculars. Photos taken with my friend's phone.

 

August 9, 2016

Siskiyou County

Kathy & Dave Biggs; Celise Sharp & Dennis Ball

Cedar Lake, east of Gumboot Lake. ~5700ft

This lake is very difficult to get into….so we were surprised to have a bunch of folks show up.

Northern Spreadwing – a few males in hand

Vivid Dancer – a few

No/Bo Bluets - some

Pacific Forktail - few

Variable Darner – a few, one in hand that hardly had any spots on the thorax sides at all.

Co Green Darner - some

*Four-spotted Skimmer Libellula quadrimaculata – a few [last report 2016]

Variegated Meadowhawk – ONE

Striped Meadowhawk – ONE

The Sweet Spot – above Gumboot Lake

Vivid Dancer – a few

Pacific Forktail - few

Co Green Darner – a few

no Petaltails

Gumboot Lake

Northern Spreadwing – a few males in hand, exuviae, tandems

No/Bo Bluets – some

Pacific Forktail - few

Aeshna Darner sp – a few, Variable or Shadow Darners, checking out the logs in the water.

Co Green Darner – HUNDREDS (500?), swarming all over, all young, about 3/4th of those caught or found floating in the water were males. Everyone was aware of them as they swooped all around people.

Four-spotted Skimmer – a few

Twelve-spotted Skimmer – 1-3

Saffron-winged Meadowhawk – a few, all tenerals

 

August 8, 2016

Madera County

Peter Gaede

Sotcher Lake near Red's Meadow Campground.

Paddle-tailed Darner Aeshna palmata CA Chart #112, OC # 453342

 

August 6, 2016

Alpine County

Beulah Brow
Mosquito Lake, 8050 foot elevation
No/Bo Bluet
*Paddle-tailed Darner Aeshna palmata
Variable Darner
*American Emerald Cordulia shurtleffii [last report 2016]
Four-spotted Skimmer
White-faced Meadowhawk
American Emerald

 

August 4, 2016

Sacramento County

Dave Johnson

https://flic.kr/p/JTWw4R - Sailor Bar on the American River Parkway

Common Green Darner
Western Pondhawk
Widow Skimmer
Twelve-spotted Skimmer
Flame Skimmer
Blue Dasher
Wandering Glider
Common Whitetail  Plathemis lydia   
Variegated Meadowhawk
Black Saddlebags

 

August 1, 2016

Siskiyou County

Kathy & Dave Biggs; Celise Sharp & Dennis Ball

Fawn Meadows, east of Gumboot Lake. ~6000ft

We had found what seemed to be ideal Petaltail habitat here in prior years, but then it was too late in the season.

Our exploration of the site got put off by 3 wks due to weather, illness and other travels.

We did not find any Petaltails, but hope to go back earlier next year as the habitat is perfect.

Northern Spreadwing – 1 male in hand

Vivid Dancer – a few

Darner sp – a few, one probably a green darner

Pacific Spiketail – 5 males, one in hand

…….

San Diego County

Marceline Vandewater

Mission Trails Regional Park at the San Diego River

Vivid Dancer, Argia vivida – 8+

California Dancer, Argia agrioides

Flame Skimmer, Libellula saturata

Wandering Glider, Pantala flavescens

Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis

Familiar Bluet, Enallagma civile

Mexican Amberwing, Perithemis intensa

Western Pondhawk, Erythemis collocata

*Lavender Dancer, Argia hinei [last report 2016]

*Red-tailed Pennant, Brachymesia furcata [last report 2016]

 

JuLY

 

July 30, 2016

Mono County

Leslie Flint

Crowley Lake

*Alkali Bluet Enallagma clausum [only report 2016]

 

July 29, 2016

Mono County

Leslie Flint

An hour + at de Chambeau Ponds at Mono Lake this afternoon in 96 deg. heat.  

There were lots of Odes - really too many to count.  

Western Pondhawk - many especially in the bushes

*Bleached Skimmer Libellula compositus - 1 male seen perched high in a shrub near the parking area [last report 2016]

8-spotted Skimmer - abundant

Flame Skimmer - abundant

*Desert Whitetail Plathemis subornata - 1 male in the 3rd pond; I have never seen it here but it was a thrill [last report 2016]

Variegated Meadowhawk - abundant

*Saffron-winged Meadowhawk Sympetrum costiferum - 1 seen hiding in the bushes right near pond 1

Black Saddlebags - abundant

Red Saddlebags - 4-6 seen only in pond 1

Darners sp. - many but none perched for ID

Damsels - abundant - took a few photos but haven't yet ID'd - certainly bluets and Western Forktail

…….

Humboldt County

Tony Westkamper

Van Duzen River

Pale-faced Clubskimmer – pair in cop photographed 451616

…….

Tuolumne County

Ron Oriti

Yosemite NP, near Tuolumne Meadows

* *Mountain Emerald, Somatochlora semicircularis – photographed in flight [only report 2016]

 

July 27, 2016

Yosemite

Leslie Flint

Yosemite

*Emerald Spreadwing Lestes dryas [last report 2016]

 

 

July 23, 2016

Mariposa County

Matthew Matthiessen

Butterfly Creek Winery.  Vineyard fields near a creek.

Wandering Glider Pantala flavescensfemale netted, photographed and released CA Chart #101, OC # 451327

 

July 21, 2016

San Bernardino County

Doug Karalun

Applewhite Picnic Area Lytle Creek
Vivid Dancer
*Grappletail Octogomphus specularis -
spotted in a shaded tree [last report 2016]
Pacific Spiketail

Cajon Creek
American Rubyspot
Northern Bluet
*Arroyo Bluet Enallagma praevarum
[last report 2016]
Vivid Dancer
*Aztec Dancer Argia nahuana
(Brown wing veins seen and small tori gap observed in hand) [last report 2016]
Lavender Dancer
Forktail sp.
Blue-eyed Darner
Pacific Spiketail
Flame Skimmer
Pale-faced Clubskimmer

North Badger Basin
Familiar Bluet
Arroyo Bluet
California Dancer
Green Darner
*Gray Sanddragon Progomphus borealis
[last report 2016]
Flame Skimmer
Blue Dasher
Variegated Meadowhawk
Red Saddlebag
Black Saddlebag

 

July 20, 2016

Alameda County

Leslie Flint with Donna Pomeroy

Sunol Regional Wilderness
Western Forktail
Vivid Dancer

California Dancer
*Sooty Dancer Argia lugens 
[last report 2016]
*Emma's Dancer Argia emma
[last report 2016]
American Rubyspot
Bluets
Blue-eyed Darner
Flame Skimmer

 

July 18, 2016

Siskiyou County

Sandra Hunt-von Arb, Greg Kareofelas, Kathy & Dave Biggs

Gumboot Lake (GL), Gumboot Creek (GC) and “Sweet Spot” (SS)

Spreadwing sp – all teneral (GL)

Vivid Dancer – some (GC) – they are patterned quite differently here.

Bluetstbd

Pacific Forktail – few GL

Western Forktail – few GL

*Black Petaltail Tanypteryx hageni  1 @ GL, 5 @ GC, 2 @ SS [last report 2016]

Common Green Darner – a few

Grappletail – only 1, GC

American Emerald – a few (GL)

* *Ringed Emerald  Somatochlora albicincta GL – Sandra caught a female, maybe one other seen [only report 2016]

*Dot-tailed Whiteface Leucorrhinia intacta - a few (GL) [last report 2016]

*Crimson-ringed Whiteface Leucorrhinia glacialis - a few (GL) [last report 2016]

Black Saddlebags – one male GL

Four-spotted Skimmers – many GL

Twelve-spotted Skimmers some GL

Variegated Meadowhawks – many, no other Meadowhawks seen GL, SS

also seen Cascade Frogs (GL, SS). The frogs at the creek seemed to all be Pacific/Tree/Sierra/Chorus Frogs.

…….

Lassen County

Michael & Muriel Plank

Blue Lake It was very windy but a beautiful day.

* *Spiny Baskettail Epitheca spinigera -  spent about 4 hours searching the area we found them in 2103. We found 1 when we first arrived. No other confirmed. I did see what seemed to be more of them near the lake, but not for sure. [ONLY report 2016]

Common Whitetail

Four-spotted Skimmers

Eight-spotted Skimmers

Twelve-spotted Skimmers

Modoc County

Chicken Hot Springs Near Cedarville

Desert Whitetails

Comanche Skimmers

Western Pondhawk

Variegated Meadowhawk

 

July 17, 2016

Plumas County

Sandra Hunt-von Arb, Doug Aguillard, Kathy & Dave Biggs

Willow Lake – our initial plan was to spend 2 days here, but it was quite cool, there were many mosquitoes and the ode density was quite low.

We decided to leave and go elsewhere the next day.

Northern Spreadwing – all teneral in the tall grasses and sedges

Emerald Spreadwing Lestes dryas - in the tall grasses and sedges on the south end

Tule Bluetssparse

No/Bo Bluet – some, haven't checked those yet to determine spp.

Pacific Forktails- especially abundant on South end
Western Forktails-few
Vivid Dancers - many in protected/calm microhabitats along the eastern shore and trail.

American Emerald - several- both on lake edge, and at/near springs in the forested areas on East side of trail

Four-spotted Skimmers – quite a few

*Chalk-fronted Corporal Ladona julia – a few, none chalky yet [last report 2015]

Dot-tailed Whiteface - - few on Lilly leaves on northern end of Lake

*Hudsonian Whiteface Leucorrhinia hudsonica – One female (based on vulvar lamina, I ruled out Belted; So far, 5 years without a confirmed sighting ~bummer~) [last report 2016]

Twelve-spotted Skimmer-few

White-faced Meadowhawks – many, but young mostly in the tall grass/sedge
Variegated Meadowhawk- few
NO DARNERS SEEN AT ALL

15 species

…….

Sonoma County

Diane Fritz

North Sonoma Mt. Regional Park.

*Hoary Skimmer Libellula nodisticta - 451109 -s in a meadow (not far from the edge of a Redwood grove) in This location is very near to the handicap parking spot, up the hill from the "regular" parking lot.

There were many other dragonflies (I couldn't distinguish) flying in the area, but this was the only one which landed for a photo.

 

July 16, 2016

Colusa County

Len Blumin and Leslie Flint with Tim Manolis (leading a Sacramento Audubon trip)

Bear Valley Creek - We worked the creek from 9:30-12 with Tim and then spent another 90 minutes further up the creek in a spot I like to go on our own. The creek has a lot of water so some spots were flooded.
Western Pondhawk - 2 -3
Pale-faced Clubskimmer - 2-3
Widow Skimmer - 1
Flame Skimmer - 10
Blue Dasher - 4
Spot-winged Glider - 3
Variegated Meadowhawk - dozens
Black Saddlebags 4
*California Darner Rhionaeschna californica (seen by Tim)
Common Green Darner - 2
*Giant Darner Anax walsinghami  (at least 6 woohoo!) [last report 2016]
Blue-eyed Darner -1
White-belted Ringtail -6
Gray Sanddragon - 12
American Rubyspot - 12-15
California Dancer (seen by Tim before we got there)
Vivid Dancer 2
Tule Bluet - hard to count
Familiar Bluet (seen by Tim)
Northern Bluet - hard to count
Western Forktail (seen by Tim while trying to find Desert Forktail - alas)

…….

Yolo County

Len Blumin and Leslie Flint
Hwy 16 along Cache Creek
Emma's Dancer - 6
Sooty Dancer - 4
23 species! Wow a great day.

…….

San Mateo County
Michael Dawson

Seal Slough, San Mateo

# The place was teeming with Variegated Meadowhawks, which had been scarce until now.

The Eight-Spotted Skimmer had been guarding an ovipositing female and remained agitated for some time after she completed her task and disappeared. Green Darner -  pair

two Blue Dashers,

lots of Blue-Eyed Darners,

a few Wandering Gliders,

one Widow Skimmer

…….

Tuolumne County

Peter Grunow

Rock River Road

Desert Firetail Telebasis salva – CA Chart#136, I viewed these through a scope, so they were too far to take pictures. SIGHT RECORD ONLY

 

July 15, 2016

Del Norte County

Tony Kurz

gravel quarry - take the Klamath River road on the south side of the river until you get to Coastal drive. Park there and access the trail that takes you to a marsh, but also goes to a service road where there is a small gravel quarry. The quarry is where I had the Snaketail.

*Sinuous Snaketail Ophiogomphus occidentis CA Chart #119, OC # 453302 [last report 2016]

 

July 14, 2016

Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson, Mark Bright

Middle Santa Ynez River

White Rock

Black Fronted Forktail, Ischnura denticollis – 4

Pacific Forktail, Ischnura cervula – 12

Western Forktail, Ischnura perparva – 1

Vivid Dancer, Argia vivida – 5

California Dancer, Argia agrioides – 1

Blue-eyed Darner, Rhionaeschna multicolor – 1

Cardinal Meadowhawk, Sympetrum illotum – 2

Flame Skimmer, Libellula saturata – 8

Wandering Glider, Pantala flavescens – 2

Falls

Common Green Darner, Anax junius – 1

Giant Darner, Anax walsinghami – 2

Flame Skimmer, Libellula saturata – 6

Northern Bluet, Enallagma annexum – 20

California Dancer, Argia agrioides – 2

*Serpent Ringtail, Erpetogomphus lampropeltis – 1 male briefly [last report 2016]

 

July 13, 2016

Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson

Elings Park in Santa Barbara

At 9:30 this morning, while taking the dog for a walk, I came across many hundreds of

#Wandering Gliders feeding over grassland, about a half mile from the ocean. There was at least one

#Spot-winged in the swarm, and there were 6

#Variegated Meadowhawks present. There was a light southerly wind.

I haven't before witnessed so many dragonflies on the wing at one time. [this is surely a migratory event – kb]

…….

El Dorado County

Steve Rovell

I was lounging on the beach reading a book at South Lake Tahoe, roasting in the sun, when a snaketail landed on the sand just two feet from my face, so I got a good look at this 
*Great Basin Snaketail Ophiogomphus morrisoni.  Also interesting was a coupled pair of damsels landed on the corner of my book and attempted to oviposit, or so it seemed.  Didn’t get a great look at that one, as it was too quick, but I believe they were [last report 2016]
Vivid Dancers.

 

July 12, 2016

San Bernadino County

Nathan Moorhatch
Zzyzx Desert Studies Center

White-belted Ringtail (Erpetogomphus compositus) - A beautiful female photographed 

…….

Sacramento County

Dave Johnson

Mather Regional Park

No damselflies
Common Green Darner
Western Pondhawk
Widow Skimmer
Flame Skimmer
Blue Dasher
Wandering Glider
Spot-winged Glider
Variegated Meadowhawk
Black Saddlebags

Spot-winged Glider, immature male - https://flic.kr/p/K5jxdn

 

July 11, 2016

Siskiyou County
Kathy & Dave Biggs; Tim & Annette Manolis
Soda Springs @ Squaw Creek & Squaw Ck Rd, McCloud

No/Bo Bluets

Pacific Forktail

Western Forktail

Blue-eyed Darner

Common Green Darner

Twelve-spot Skimmer

Common Whitetail – 6+

Variegated Meadowhawk

Cardinal Meadowhawk

Red-veined Meadowhawk

Larry Weyhmeyer Environmental Center, Frog Pond – just 15 mins at this overgrown site, looking for Canada Darner

Vivid Dancer

Blue-eyed Darner in hand

Twelve-spot Skimmer

Flame Skimmer

Meadowhawk sp. – many

Black Saddlebags – 1M

Gumboot Lake (GL), Gumboot Creek (GC), Sweet Spot (SW)

Vivid Dancer - GC

No/Bo Bluets - all

Pacific Forktail - GL

Western Forktail – GL

Black Petaltail – GL & SW

Blue-eyed Darner - GL

Common Green Darner - GL

Grappletail – more than 9

Pacific Spiketail – GC – 1 m; 1 f ovipositing – this is NOT a mud lined creek, it is rock lined and the female, instead of ‘sewing machine-like’ ovipositing, was more like a Clubtail, she’d dip her tail into the water, but at a 45° angle, then move a foot or two and repeat only once, then move again.

Chalk-fronted Corporal – 1-3 males

Crimson-ringed Whiteface

Twelve-spot Skimmer - GL, GC

Common Whitetail – GL

Variegated Meadowhawk – all

Dragonfly Roost Pond, Biggs’ backyard, Mt. Shasta Forest, McCloud 5470’

No/Bo Bluets

Pacific Forktail

Western Forktail

*Shadow Darner? Aeshna umbrosa male flying seemed to be this species, and Tim identified exuviae from this species around the pond.

Twelve-spotted Skimmer

Striped Meadowhawk – 3 tenerals- seemed to indicate breeding in our pond

…….

Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson

I spent a couple of hours along the middle Santa Ynez River in Santa Barbara County today.

Notable by their absence--after a recent good showing--were Western River Cruiser, Gray Sanddragon, and Cardinal Meadowhawk.

The highlight was an Aztec Dancer, a scarce species in the county.

Spotted Spreadwing, Lestes congener – 2

Black Fronted Forktail, Ischnura denticollis – 1

Western Forktail, Ischnura perparva – 1

Pacific Forktail, Ischnura cervula – 3

Desert Firetail, Telebasis salva – 6

Vivid Dancer, Argia vivida – 2

California Dancer, Argia agrioides – 4

*Aztec Dancer, Argia nahuana – 1

Northern Bluet, Enallagma annexum – 1+

Tule Bluet, Enallagma carunculatum – 6+

Red Rock Skimmer, Paltothemis lineatipes – 2

Flame Skimmer, Libellula saturata – 19

Common Green Darner, Anax junius – 3

Giant Darner, Anax walsinghami – 2

Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis – 4

 

 

July 9, 2016

Humboldt County
Tony Westkamper

Wheeler Grove on the Avenue of the Giants on the Eel River

several Pale-faced Clubskimmers working a hatch of Mayflies.

Several Flame Skimmers,

a couple of Western River Cruisers,

*Bison Snaketail Ophiogomphus bison [last report 2016]

several Emma's Dancers

…….

Monterey County

Steve Rovell & son Marco - rode our bikes out onto Fort Ord in to check some of the lakes/ponds that may still have water in them.  We only found one, Mud Hen Lake along Eucalyptus Road.  
While there, we enjoyed the near solitude you get when there is no motorized vehicle traffic allowed.  Nice and quiet.  Here is what we found:
Common Green Darner   10+
Blue-eyed Darner   6 (+1) see note below
Black Saddlebags   7
Red Saddlebags  5
Common Whitetail   2
Variegated Meadowhawk   6
Flame Skimmer    3
bluet sp.  many

…….

Mariposa County

Matt Matthiessen

Short stretch of ripples along the Merced River. Rocks along edge and in the river.

Emma's Dancer

Sooty Dancer

Bison Snaketail Ophiogomphus bison, CA Chart #101, OC #449020

Small stream cascading over granite forming small pools.  This spot is on the west side, and visible from, Kemble Rd.

Red Rock Skimmer Paltothemis lineatipes CA Chart #101, OC #449018 PHOTO record;

 

July 8, 2016

Tulare County
Alan Wight
Groundhog Meadow above Mineral King Valley, Sequoia National Park
Black Petaltail (Tanypteryx hageni) - I found this dragonfly while hiking with my family around 8700 feet. This location is approximately 100 miles south of the prior southernmost known location for this species in California. CA Chart #37, OC#449169 PHOTO record;  Most southern site for the species.

 

July 6, 2016

Tehama County
Greg Kareofelas
Wilson Lake, All these years that I have stopped by on the way to Willow Lake, never seen a Petaltail there before

I did not do an exhaustive survey, but concentrated on trying to find N irene, so this is a list of what I came across on that “search”. For example, there were a number of, that I did not catch, and a number of and Argia that I did not catch or ID.

That said:

Wilson Lake – a five minute stop:

Tanypteryx hageni (Black Petaltail) 1 male collected CA Chart #28, OC# 448576 upgrade to specimen voucher.

Aeshnids

Libellula pulchella

Libellula quadrimaculata

Ladona julia

Lestes dryas Emerald Spreadwing –1 male collected CA Chart #28, OC# 448712 upgrade to specimen voucher

Sympetrums

Plumas County

Willow Lake about a 3 hour visit

Libellula pulchella

Libellula quadrimaculata

Ladona julia

*Leucorrhinia hudsonica Hudsonian Whiteface

Ishnura cervula (caught looking for N Irene)

Corduliid

…….

Humboldt County

Hugh Ranson

Fish Hatchery, Blue Lake

*Pacific Clubtail Gomphus kurilis  1 [last report 2016]

Emma's Dancer  20+

American Rubyspot  1

Cardinal Meadowhawk  15

Blue-eyed Darner   8

Western Pondhawk  2

 

July 5, 2016

Siskiyou County
Kathy & Dave Biggs; Celise Sharp & Dennis Ball
Strawberry Field Ponds, between Juniper Lodge & the exit to Juanita Lake off Hwy 97, north of Weed
Spotted Spreadwing
Emerald Spreadwing
No/Bo Bluet
Tule Bluet
Western Forktail
Pacific Forktail
Blue-eyed Darner
Aeshna sp.
Western Pondhawk
Four-spotted Skimmer
Eight-spotted Skimmer
Twelve-spotted Skimmer
Common Whiteface
Red-veined Meadowhawk
Cardinal Meadowhawk
Band-winged Meadowhawk
Variegated Meadowhawk
Juanita Lake off Hwy 97, north of Weed
THIS WAS THE MOST DRAGONFLIES WE’VE EVER SEEN IN ONE PLACE. Every step we took, dozens flew off.
Spotted Spreadwing
Emerald Spreadwing
No/Bo Bluet
Tule Bluet
Western Forktailmaybe a million or more, all phases of maturity and colors
Pacific Forktail
Blue-eyed Darner - few
Variable Darner – one – the first flier reported
Western Pondhawk
*Beaverpond Baskettail Epitheca canis - one female [last report 2016]
Dot-tailed Whiteface - hundreds
Four-spotted Skimmer
Eight-spotted Skimmer - many
Twelve-spotted Skimmer - many
Common Whiteface
Red-veined Meadowhawk - many
Variegated Meadowhawk – many
 

July 3-5, 2016

Humboldt County

Hugh Ranson

private residence, Trinidad

*Swift Forktail Ischnura erratica-- max. of 4 [last report 2016]

 2 Pacific Forktail

3 Cardinal Meadowhawk

 

July 3, 2016

Colusa County

Diane Heckman

Williams on I-5.

#I saw thousands of Variegated Meadowhawks - Not sure if they were migrating or just swarming.

…….

Fresno County

Tony Kurz

Mono Hot Springs

Emerald Spreadwing –OC# 450052

 * *Western Red Damsel Amphiagrion abbreviatum –OC#450051 [only report 2016]

Hoary Skimmer Libellula nodisticta – CA Chart #119; OC#450050 PHOTO record;

Heading up Kaiser Pass road from Huntington Lake just before you reach Kaiser Pass park at bend in road. Just down slope form road is a creek with a wet boggy fin.

Black Petaltail Tanypteryx hageni– CA Chart #119; OC#450049 PHOTO record; 2nd most southern site for the species.

 

July 2, 2016

San Diego County

Michael Ouellette

Santa Margarita River, Sunny upper 70s. Stream bed almost completely dry.

Vivid Dancer, Argia vivida – 3 male

Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis – 5 male

Flame Skimmer, Libellula saturata – 4 male, 1 female

Pacific Forktail, Ischnura cervula – 2 male and 1 female

American Rubyspot, Hetaerin americana – 5 male

Pale-faced Clubskimmer, Brechmorhoga mendax – 1

Mexican Amberwing, Perithemis intensa – 1 male

Common Green Darner, Anax junius – 1x

Blue-eyed Darner, Rhionaeschna multicolor  – 4 male

Los Jilqueros Preserve

Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis – 10 male

Flame Skimmer, Libellula saturata – 1 male

Mexican Amberwing, Perithemis intensa – 1 male

Common Green Darner, Anax junius – 2 male

Guajome County Park

Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis – abundant male

Flame Skimmer, Libellula saturata – 1 male

Mexican Amberwing, Perithemis intensa – 1 male

Common Green Darner, Anax junius – 2

Red-tailed Pennant, Brachymesia furcata – 1 male

Blue-eyed Darner, Rhionaeschna multicolor  – 1 male

Wandering Glider, Pantala flavescens – 1

Red Saddlebag, Tramea onusta – 1 male

 

July 1, 2016

San Mateo County

Leslie Flint

a park in Pacifica off Oddstad
Spot-winged Glider – one  was cruising the grassy area.  This is the first I have ever seen in San Mateo County.
……..
Siskiyou County
Kathy & Dave Biggs; Celise Sharp & Dennis Ball
We went to Pumice Stone Well in the Medicine Lake Highlands. Previously I’d found Sedge Sprites there, the only known occurrence in the county.  Also this is the best site I know of for Mountain Emeralds & Lyre-tipped Spreadwings. Also it usually has a lot of Variable Darners….but not this visit!!
Emerald Spreadwing – a few
Northern Spreadwing – a few, no Lyre-tipped found
No/Bo Bluet – some
Western Forktail – many males, a few pruinose females, one im. female
Pacific Forktail – a few
Blue-eyed Darner – a few dead ones floating in the water
Common Green Darner – a few
American Emerald – abundant, 20 males IDed in hand, no Mt. Emeralds found
*Crimson-ringed Whiteface Leucorrhinia glacialis – some, very flighty
Dot-tailed Whiteface – few, very flighty
Eight-spotted Skimmer – some, more than observed there in prior yrs
Twelve-spotted Skimmer – few
Four-spotted Skimmer – 1-2
Striped Meadowhawk – some
Next we went off to look for Pygmy Short-horned Lizards at Grasshopper Flat. This is a dry location, near no water at all. In the past we’ve seen darners here.
Spreadwing sp – possibly a Black Spreadwing, seen by Dave and Kathy
Pond Damsel sp – probably a female Pacific Forktail
Meadowhawk sp – seen by Celise & Dennis
Then we drove to the north of Mt. Shasta to Butte Creek, as it flows out of Orr Lake. We were hoping for Great Basin Snaketails, alas, none found
Emerald Spreadwing – a few
Vivid Dancer – a very few
No/Bo Bluet – some – one bluet might have been an Alkali (Kathy)
Western Forktail – many males, a few pruinose females, one im. female
Pacific Forktail – a few
Twelve-spotted Skimmer – several
Four-spotted Skimmer – 1-2
Striped Meadowhawk – some
*White-faced Meadowhawk Sympetrum obtrusum – one mature male, and several im. females
Red-veined Meadowhawk – some, mostly females and immatures
Band-winged Meadowhawk – female
Orr Lake, still hoping for Great Basin Snaketails, alas, none for sure
Emerald Spreadwing – a few
No/Bo Bluet – some
Western Forktail – few
Pacific Forktail – a few
Aeshna sp – few
Common Green Darner – a few
Snaketail sp – 2 seen poorly, but in 16 yrs of observation, that’s the ONLY species of Clubtail reported, so we’re calling it
*Great Basin Snaketail, Ophiogomphus morrisoni
Eight-spotted Skimmer – abundant
Four-spotted Skimmer – some
Striped Meadowhawk – some
Red-veined Meadowhawk – some
June

June 30, 2016

Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson

Middle Santa Ynez River along Paradise Road. Temps ranged from 79--91 degrees. 19 species were observed.

Falls day use:

Western River Cruiser, Macromia magnifica 1 ovipositing

Flame Skimmer, Libellula saturata – 3

Vivid Dancer, Argia vivida – 1

California Dancer, Argia agrioides – 1

Cardinal Meadowhawk, Sympetrum illotum – 1

Red Rock Skimmer, Paltothemis lineatipes – 1

Red Rock (the small pool after the 1/2 mile walk from the car park)

Western River Cruiser, Macromia magnifica 1 (prolonged close flight views)

Giant Darner, Anax walsinghami – 1

Spotted Spreadwing, Lestes congener – 3

Wandering Glider, Pantala flavescens – 1

California Dancer, Argia agrioides – 3

Flame Skimmer, Libellula saturata – 4

Red Rock -- pools by the car park

Gray Sanddragon, Progomphus borealis – 3

Western River Cruiser, Macromia magnifica 1

Flame Skimmer, Libellula saturata – 4

Giant Darner, Anax walsinghami – 1

Live Oak

Sooty Dancer, Argia lugens – 1

Tule Bluet, Enallagma carunculatum – 1+

Familiar Bluet, Enallagma civile – 1+

Western River Cruiser, Macromia magnifica 1

Flame Skimmer, Libellula saturata – 10

Giant Darner, Anax walsinghami – 1

California Dancer, Argia agrioides – 2

Wandering Glider, Pantala flavescens – 1

Common Green Darner, Anax junius – 1

White Rock

Desert Firetail, Telebasis salva – 1

Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis – 4

Flame Skimmer, Libellula saturata – 8

Pacific Forktail, Ischnura cervula – 3

Northern Bluet, Enallagma annexum – 1+

Arroyo Bluet, Enallagma praevarum – 1+

…….

San Bernadino County

Doug Karalun

Finally got a chance to follow up on Tom Benson's finds.

North Badger Basin 11:00 AM

Familiar Bluet, Enallagma civile – 20ish

Giant Darner, Anax walsinghami – 2

Common Green Darner, Anax junius – 8

Gray Sanddragon, Progomphus borealis – 1

Western Pondhawk, Erythemis collocata – 3

Variegated Meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum – 15

Flame Skimmer, Libellula saturata – 5

Black Saddlebag, Tramea lacerata – 3

Red Saddlebag, Tramea onusta – 4
Deep Creek 1:00 PM
American Rubyspot, Hetaerina americana – 10

No/Bo Bluet 15 1 Northern Netted Northern Bluet, Enallagma annexum

Lavender Dancer, Argia hinei – 12

Vivid Dancer, Argia vivida – 20

Sooty Dancer, Argia lugens – 14

Bison Snaketail, Ophiogomphus bison – 3

Gray Sanddragon, Progomphus borealis – 2

*Serpent Ringtail, Erpetogomphus lampropeltis – 1

Grappletail, Octogomphus specularis – 1

Red Rock Skimmer, Paltothemis lineatipes – 10

Didn't go far enough downstream for Western River Cruiser.

 

June 28/29, 2016

San Mateo County

Alvaro Jarmillo

Wandering Gliders -Seemingly they are moving south, from what I can see.

Today (29) a big surprise was a Red Saddlebags in with them, flying very close to me and below eye level. It was a pretty awesome view, but no camera to document it unfortunately.

 

June 29, 2016

San Bernardino County

Tom Benson

North Badger Basin

Giant Darner Anax walsinghami  447776

 

June 28, 2016

Alpine County

Dave Johnson

campground and boat ramp. Indian Creek Reservoir

Common Whitetail Plathemis lydia CA Chart #142, OC # 447861

Black Saddlebags Tramea lacerata CA Chart #142, OC # 447860

Red Saddlebags Tramea onusta 447858

*Dot-tailed Whiteface Leucorrhinia intacta

…….

Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson

Rattlesnake Canyon, Santa Barbara

Great Spreadwing, Archilestes grandis, – 447700 7 wks earlier than ever before in SB Co.

Grappletail, Octogomphus specularis – several

Pacific Spiketail, Cordulegaster dorsalis – several

…….

Mono County

Ron & Barbara Oriti

River Spring

*Black Meadowhawk Sympetrum danae

 

June 25, 2016

San Diego County

Michael Ouellette

San Pasqual Open Space, Sunny upper 70s. Stream bed almost completely dry.

Vivid Dancer, Argia vivida – 1 female

Cardinal Meadowhawk, Sympetrum illotum – 1 male

Neon Skimmer, Libellula croceipennis – 1 male

Elfin Forest Escondido River, Sunny low 80s.

Vivid Dancer, Argia vivida – Abundant male and female

Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis – 3 male

Flame Skimmer, Libellula saturata – at least 8 male

Pacific Forktail, Ischnura cervula – at least 3 male and 3female

Tule Bluet, Enallagma carunculatum – Abundant male and female

American Rubyspot, Hetaerin americana – 3 male

Red Rock Skimmer, Paltothemis lineatipes – 3 male

*Pale-faced Clubskimmer, Brechmorhoga mendax – 3 male

…….

Sonoma County

Kathy & Dave Biggs, Kevin Munroe, MO

After the morning presentation at the Laguna Foundation's Heron Hall, participants came to our

Bigsnest Wildlife Pond to observe dragonfly behavior and to practice field identifications.

84-88F, clear, slight breeze. Odes seen, in Taxonomical order:

Pacific Forktail Ischnura cervula - 1 M, 1 teneral female

Western Forktail  Ischnura perparva - many pruinose females ovipositing, 1 m seen briefly by Dave

Common Green Darner Anax junius - exuvia found

Pacific Spiketail Cordulegaster dorsalis - 1 male(?), flying over and perching

Western Pondhawk Erythemis collocata - 1 female ovipositing (perhaps a male seen?? pair 'in-wheel')

Flame Skimmer Libellula saturata - several males in constant battle

Blue Dasher Pachydiplax longipennis - several males, 1 female ovipositing with male hover-guarding

Common Whitetail Plathemis lydia - 1 female seen briefly, ovipositing near beach

Cardinal Meadowhawk Sympetrum illotum - 1 male @ kitty pond, exuvia found, nymph found

…….

Sierra County

Steve Garrow

The loop trail at Sand Pond, near Sardine Lakes.  Odes were in very large numbers

Chalk-fronted Corporal Ladona julia – male and female photographed.

Red-veined Meadowhawk Sympetrum madidum – female photographed

Striped Meadowhawk

 

June 24 & 25, 2016

San Bernardino County

Tom Benson & Matthew Grube

Cajon Creek at Swarthout Canyon Road

Giant Darner Anax walsinghami   CA Chart #136 OC#447281 Male photographed, upgrade of prior sighting only record

Miller Canyon--Seeley Creek at Pilot Rock Conservation Camp –

*Walker’s Darner Aeshna walkeri – male photographed in flight 447280

Deep Creek--vicinity of PCT bridge

Western River Cruiser Macromia magnifica CA Chart #136 OC# 447279 Male photographed

Gray Sanddragon 5-10 447289

Flame Skimmer only 2-3 447288

Pacific Spiketail 447287

Sooty Dancer 20-30 447286

Deep Creek--first deep pool downstream from Pacific Crest Trail bridge. General area is rocky stream with riparian woodland along stream and cattails around pools, surrounded mixed oak and conifer woodland and chaparral. Elevation approx. 4600 feet.

Pacific Spiketail – female photographed 447278

Western River Cruiser Macromia magnifica female ovipositing 447277, male patrolling 447276

San Bernardino Mtns, near the Splinters Cabin day use area at Deep Creek.

Grappletail – male 447291

Lavender Dancer Argia hinei 5 447290

Bison Snaketail – still many 447286

American Rubyspot 10-15 447284

Red Rock Skimmer ~ 20 447283

Western River Cruiser 3-4 447282

 

June 23, 2016

San Diego County

Michael Ouellette

Otay River Valley Park, Sunny mid 70s around noon

Pacific Forktail, Ischnura cervula – 20+ male and female

Red-tailed Pennant, Brachymesia furcata – 1 male

Blue-eyed Darner, Rhionaeschna multicolor  – 3 male

Red Saddlebag, Tramea onusta – 3 male, 1 female

Wandering Glider, Pantala flavescens – 1 male

Mexican Amberwing, Perithemis intensa – 4 male

Common Green Darner, Anax junius – 6 male

Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis – 3 male, 1 female

 

June 22, 2016

Los Angeles County

David Bell

Eaton Canyon

Pale-faced Clubskimmer, Brechmorhoga mendax 447104

 

June 21, 2016

Los Angeles  County
David Bell
Eaton Canyon--Mt Wilson toll road bridge to first waterfall
*1 Great Spreadwing Archilestes grandis OC# 447062
500 vivid dancer 447061
10 sooty dancer
3 grappletail 447058
1 red rock skimmer
5 flame skimmer 447060
 

June 20, 2016

Siskiyou County

Kathy & Dave Biggs
Dragonfly Roost Pond, Mt. Shasta Forest, McCloud
*Variable Darner Aeshna interrupta – exuvia found
Twelve-spotted Skimmer – one male on territory for the FOY
Bluet sp – a few, FOY for our pond here.
 

June 19, 2016

Humboldt County

Tony Westkamper

Van Duzen River

Gray Sanddragon 446959

Western River Cruiser

…….

Shasta County

Ray Bruun

near Viola

*Olive Clubtail Stylurus olivaceous  Saw a male, ode land in an Incense Cedar tree which seemed unusual at this elevation (around 4,000 feet) and habitat (dense forest).  This is the second location I've found Olive Clubtail in Shasta County [last report 2016]

 

June 18, 2016

San Bernardino County

Matthew Grube

San Timoteo

Black-fronted Forktail 446765

Flame Skimmer

Gray Sanddragon 446763

Western Pondhawk 446762

Desert Firetail 446761

 

June 17, 2016

Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson, Liz Muraoka, Mark Bright, Larry Ballard

we visited several spots on the middle Santa Ynez River, along Paradise Road, in Santa Barbara County. Temps ranged from 80 to 90 degrees. We saw 20 species.

Pacific Forktail  6

Black-fronted Forktail  3

Western Forktail  1

Desert Firetail  1

Northern Bluet  1 netted

Arroyo Bluet  1 netted

Bluet sp.  30

*Lavender Dancer Argia hinei   30  (photographed)

Vivid Dancer  30 

California Dancer 15

American Rubyspot  1

Spotted Spreadwing  21 (photographed)

California Spreadwing 1

Cardinal Meadowhawk  3

Flame Skimmer   20

Red Rock Skimmer  1

Gray Sanddragon  2  (photographed)

Blue-eyed Darner   1

Common Green Darner  2

Giant Darner  2

Western River Cruiser 

…….

San Diego County

Michael Ouellette

Laguna Mountains, Water of the Woods, Sunny mid 70s to mid 80s.

Tule Bluet, Enallagma carunculatum – dozens male and female

Western Forktail, Ischnura perparva – counted 8-10, likely much more

Western Pondhawk, Erythemis collocata – three male, two female OC#446734

Cardinal Meadowhawk, Sympetrum illotum – at least 8 male

Blue-eyed Darner, Rhionaeschna multicolor  – one or two male

Red Saddlebag, Tramea onusta – one or two male

Desert Firetail, Telebasis salva – three male

No/Bo Bluet, Enallagma sp. many

Cuyamaca Mountains, Lake Cuyamaca

Spotted Spreadwing, Lestes congener – one female, very coppery (immature?) OC#446732

Tule Bluet, Enallagma carunculatum – abundant male and female

Western Forktail, Ischnura perparva – abundant male and female

Flame Skimmer, Libellula saturata – 20+ male

Variegated Meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum – one male

Blue-eyed Darner, Rhionaeschna multicolor  – one male

Red Saddlebag, Tramea onusta – two male

…….

Inyo County

Ron & Barbara Oriti

Owens Dry Lake area

*Desert Whitetail Plathemis subornata – female photographed – the abundance of yellow is a characteristic of those found in this area

 

June 15, 2016

San Bernardino County

Thomas A. Benson

North Badger Basin, a flood control basin behind California State University, San Bernardino 34.189339, -117.313304

Flame Skimmer

Red Saddlebags

Black Saddlebags

Variegated Meadowhawk

Blue-eyed(?) Darner,

Common Green Darner

Giant Darner [this is a 2nd only sight record for the county]

June 14, 2016

San Diego

Michael Ouellette

Mission Trails Regional Park
Blue-eyed Darner  Rhionaeschna multicolor  1 male
Common Darner  Anax junius   1 male
Variegated Mea1-2dowhawk  Sympetrum corruptum  1 female
*
California Spreadwing  Archilestes californicus  1 male
California Dancer  Argia agrioides   3 male
*
Neon Skimmers  Libellula croceipennis  2 males
…….
Siskiyou County
Celise Sharp, Dennis Ball, Kathy & Dave Biggs
Railroad Park Ponds just south of Little Castle Creek, overcast, windy, 68F
Bluet sp.
Vivid Dancer – few
Western Forktailfew
Common Green Darner – 1-2
California Darner – 3-4
Pacific Clubtail – 1 male
Grappletail – 1 female
American Emerald – 1-2
Twelve-spotted Skimmer – 3
Common Whitetail – 6
Meadowhawk sp. – 1-2
Mt. Shasta Hospital Pond, overcast, windy, 65F
Pacific Forktail – few
Darner sp. – 1-2
Soda Springs, McCloud, overcast, 65F
Western Forktail – abundant, esp. females
California Darner – 1 male in-hand
Four-spotted Skimmer – 3-4
Common Whitetail – 5-6 males
Cardinal Meadowhawk  – 3-4 males, 1 male in-hand
Variegated Meadowhawk  – 1female
14 species on a cool overcast day made for a nice birthday for Celise!!

…….

Sierra County

Len Blumin

The loop trail at Sand Pond, near Sardine Lakes.

*Chalk-fronted Corporal Ladona julia – male photographed.

 

 

June 13, 2016
Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson

my first visit to the middle Santa Ynez River for some time. A trumpian wind was blowing, making most odes keep their heads down. There were, however, a few things of note:

California Dancer  6

Pacific Forktail   1

Bluet sp.  20 (forgot my net)

Common Green Darner  1

Giant Darner   1

Flame Skimmer  15

Cardinal Meadowhawk  2

Common Whitetail    1

Western River Cruiser  1 or 2

…….

Santa Clara County.

Leslie Flint

Ogier Ponds

What a surprise I had today! There was water everywhere - the normally small series of ponds were connected by waterways and the fields around were completely flooded. Hard to find the Odes.  I've never seen so much water there!

Blue-eyed Darner - many patrolling the channels
Flame Skimmer - several
Common Green Darner - 2 seen
Western Pondhawk - 1 male seen
Blue Dasher - 1
Variegated Meadowhawk - a few
Widow Skimmer - 1
8-Spotted Skimmer - several
Pacific Forktail - extremely numerous
Spreadwing - (perhaps spotted) I have never seen a spreadwing here but Coyote Creek is pretty close

Then I went up to Monte Bello Open Space to the Gate 5 pond.  The area was very overgrown and since it it tick-heaven, I wasn't doing too much bushwhacking.  I couldn't really see the pond and couldn't find a way to the edge to check for damsels.

Blue-eyed Darner - a few

Flame Skimmer - 1

Black Saddlebags - 1

Striped Meadowhawk - 1

Cardinal Meadowhawk - 2

Variegated Meadowhawk - 1

Vivid Dancers (on the path) - several

California Spreadwing - (I think).  Wasn't spreading it's wings; very coppery, white stigma, but the thorax pattern seemed wrong.  

…….

Colusa County

Kathy & Dave Biggs

Bear Creek - We stopped for about 30 minutes at 2 o'clock. 88 degrees.

White-belted Ringtails – 1-2

Flame skinners -really abundant.

Giant darners Maybe one or two

Western pond Hawks

many widow skinners

some black saddlebags

vivid and other dancers.

No/no bluets,

variegated Meadowhawks,

12 or 8 spotted skimmer

…….

Glenn County

Greg Kareofellas

Stony Point Creek Seep meadow

Hoary Skimmer Libellula nodisticta  - male collected, 4 present. CA Chart #28 OC # 446578 [upgrade of prior photo record]

 

June 12, 2016

Alameda County

Noah Arthur
A little after noon today, I was walking across the parking lot of my church in San Leandro -- net in hand, fortunately -- when a dragonfly that looked like a 'What the heck is that?' made a beeline for my head. I whipped my net up just in time and surprised myself by actually catching it. It turned out to be a
PALE-FACED CLUBSKIMMER Brechmorhoga mendax-- the first I've ever seen in the East Bay [and a new county SIGHT record - kb]
…….
Colusa County
Sandra Hunt-von Arb

Quick stop at Bear Creek (Hwy 20, California). It was 8am, and 70 F, so little ode activity. I was looking for Macromia exuvia on the cement bridge pilings, and found these exuvia.
Rubyspot
Bluet sp.
Blue eyed Darner

*White-belted Ringtail Erpetogomphus compositus

…….

Siskiyou County

Celise Sharp and Dennis Ball

Castella Loop

*American Emerald Cordulia shurtleffii – photo of female

…….

Los Angeles  County
David Bell
Apollo Park--Park and overflow parking
American Rubyspot 446599
Variegated Meadowhawk 446602
Flame Skimmer 446600
Red Saddlebags 446601
Common Green Darner 446598
Familiar Bluet 446596
Blue-eyed Darner 446597
Tule Bluet 446595
 
June 11, 2016

San Bernardino County

Doug Karalun

I went back to Deep Creek to get Bison Snaketail for a friend.
15 or so Bison Snaketails Ophiogomphus bison on a few hundred yards of creek I checked. Upgrade to specimen voucher. CA Chart#146, OC# tbd 
1 Northern Bluet (Netted)
4 Sooty Dancers

20 Vivid Dancers

2 Grappletails
10 Red Rock Skimmers

Green Valley Lake

5 Tule Bluet

20 Pacific Forktail

2 Western Forktail

1 Blue Eyed Darner

1 Flame Skimmer

1 Cardinal Meadowhawk

Green Valley Campground

1 Pacific Spiketail

Bluff Lake

50 Emerald Spreadwing

100s of NoBo Bluets (The one I netted was a *Boreal Bluet)

2 Darners that appeared to be Californias but not confirmed with a good visual or photo.

…….

Monterey County

Paul Johnson

Santa Lucia Preserve -  Dry pond beside road. Private property, entry by permission only

Red-veined Meadowhawk Sympetrum madidum – photo of a male OC# 446204

…….

Humboldt County

Tony Kurz

I spent my day on the South Fork Trinity River doing some swimming and naturalizing.

This was a new location I had never been too called Sandy Bar.

It was a great spot for odes.
Bison Snaketail
Pacific Clubtail
Western River Cruiser Macromia magnifica
Cardinal Meadowhawk
Flame Skimmer
Eight-spotted Skimmer
Twelve-spotted Skimmer
Widow Skimmer
Common Whitetail
Western Pondhawk
California Darner
Bluet Sp.
Emma's Dancer
Sooty Dancer

 
June 10, 2016

San Bernardino County

Doug Karalun

I went looking for Grappletails up on Deep Creek in the San Bernardino Mountains.  Got a surprise.
American Rubyspot oc# 446149
Northern/Boreal Bluet
Vivid Dancer  oc#
446153, 446150
Sooty Dancer oc#
446151
Bison Snaketail Ophiogomphus bison
https://www.flickr.com/photos/48652948@N07/27517686101/in/dateposted-public/ CA Chart#146, OC # 446146  PHOTO record
Grappletail oc#
446147
Red Rock Skimmer oc#
446148

Pacific Spiketail OC# 446152

…….

Imperial County

Louis Hoeniger

East Highline canal, just North of the I8 bridge in El Centro

*Russet-tipped Clubtail Stylurus plagiatus - FOY and new early date by 4 days, old early date 6/14/2014 OC #446337

June 9, 2016

San Diego

Michael Ouellette

Kitchen Creek
Flame Skimmers  Libellula saturata  1 male
Familiar Bluets  Enallagma civile   4 M, 2F  Two pairs mating
Pine Creek
Flame Skimmers  Libellula saturata  ~4 male
Western Forktail   Ischnura cervula  many male and female, several ovipositing
Familiar Bluets  Enallagma civile  two dozen male and a few female
Vivid Dancer  Argia vivida  dozen male three female seen 446740
*Lavender Dancer  Argia hinei  one male 446731
Back yard pond in San Diego
*Neon Skimmers  Libellula croceipennis  1 female emerged

 
June 7, 2016

Glenn County

Greg Kareofelas

unreported location

*Black Petaltail Tanypteryx hageni – photo of a female ovipositing

 

June 6, 2016

Humboldt County

Tony Kurz

Between Ferndale and the Eel Rv, on the gravely side of a road!!

*Progomphus borealis  Gray Sanddragon – 1 male photographed OC# 445971

 

June 4, 2016

Sonoma County

Dave and Kathy Biggs + MO

We led a dragonfly outing for Audubon Canyon Ranch at The Mayacamas Preserve in Sonoma County (aka Pine Flat Rd). 75-85F, calm, overcast

Our report in order seen - (no photos as we were leading)

Common Green Darner - one fly by as we all gathered on lower Pine Flat Rd.
Ferguson Spring - habitat looking much better for the cattle having grazed it. Although the Hoary Skimmers have not (yet) returned, several other species were showing off for us.
Vivid Dancer - several
Flame Skimmer - several males, and several large nymph in the stock tank
Cardinal Meadowhawk - one male
Black Saddlebags - 2 males on our return back down the hills

Seep & creek above the Ribezzo ranch and pond
Vivid Dancer - several, inc. a pair in wheel
Grappletail - an immature male alongside the road and a few mature males in the creek below the road

Lunch was at the pretty pondlet along Little Sulfur Creek
Flame Skimmer - 1 male
No/Bo Bluet - one only!!
Black Spreadwing - several
Red-veined Meadowhawk - 1 male
a possible darner seen in flight

MM10 site - the habitat is looking great! The moss is growing in the seep, but alas no Petaltails, but perhaps they could be reintroduced
Vivid Dancer - a few inc. tandem pairs
Black Spreadwing - 1 female

Ribizzo Pond
Flame Skimmer- 5+
Red-veined Meadowhawk - 1 m
Vivid Dancer - a few
Dasher/Pondhawk - distant views
8-spot/12-spot/whitetail - a tandem pair flew by very quickly

MM1@Suasal Creek
Bison Snaketail - one alongside the road
American Rubyspot - several in the creek

Species total: 13 (~1 per attendee!!)

Also seen:
deer - inc several small fawns
David A. Hofmann !! - the human who originally showed me this site!!
Many CA Sister Butterflies & Acorn Woodpeckers, Ravens and more.
One rattlesnake slithered off away from us at the tank at Ferguson Spring

…….

Napa County

Alan Wight

St. Helena

Pacific Forktail – 1-2

Western Forktail – 4

Arroyo Bluet – 1 male

Bluet sp. - 4

Vivid Dancer – 1

Desert Firetail - 1

Darner sp. – 1, probably Blue-eyed

Blue Dasher – 1 male

Western Pondhawk – 2

Flame Skimmer – 2

Common Whitetail – 2

Cardinal Meadowhawk – 1 male

*Band-winged Meadowhawk Sympetrum semicircularis – 1 male, http://www.sonic.net/~shwand/odonata/band_winged_meadowhawk_4905.jpg

Red-veined Meadowhawk – 1 male

 

June 2, 2016

San Diego County

Michael Ouellette

Mission Trails Park at the San Diego River.
Wandering Glider  Pantala flavescens   1  male
Green Darner  Anax junius  
1  male
Blue Dasher  Pachydiplax longipennis  ~5 male
Flame Skimmers  Libellula saturata
 ~10 male
Red Saddlebag  Tramea onusta 1 male
Mexican Amberwing  Perithemis intensa
 1 male
Pacific Forktail   Ischnura cervula  6-8 male, 2 female
Familiar Bluets  Enallagma civile
 > dozen male and female, many ovipositing
California Dancer  Argia agrioides  ~5 male

 

 

May
 
May 30, 2016
Sandra Hunt-von Art
Korbel
*Western River Cruiser Macromia magnifica – 1 male photographed

Anthony Westkamper

Van Duzen River
Western River Cruiser Macromia magnifica -4 or 5
…….
Los Angeles County
David Bell
Hains Creek at Big Tujunga Wash
10 Flame Skimmer
10 Vivid Dancer
1 arroyo (?) bluet
6 blue dasher
1 California Dancer
10 Pacific Forktail
 2 Blue-eyed (?) Darner (no photo)
1 Wandering Glider
 
May 30, 2016

Sonoma County

Dave and Kathy Biggs

Bigsnest Wildlife Pond, Sebastopol, CA - an extraordinary/Memorial day on the pond. 9 species

9 of the 13 species of Odonata that have visited the pond so far this year were there for us to photograph today. That ties several other "Big" days where the daily high species count is 9. Missing were the Black Spreadwing, Exclamation Damsel and the California & Blue-eyed Darners.

Common Green Darner

Flame Skimmer

Eight-spotted Skimmer

Cardinal Meadowhawk

Pacific Forktail

Western Forktail

Western Pondhawk

Blue Dasher

Pacific Spiketail

 

May 29, 2016
Riverside County
Peter Siminski
Dos Palmas Preserve; Dos Palmas oasis, Felger oasis, part of Agua Farms, and fish ponds; Elev. -100’ to -240’; 7:00-11:45, 72-87F, cloudless sky, light breeze SW. 3.6 miles.
*Paiute Dancer, Argia alberta 1 [last report 2016!]
Powdered Dancer, A. moesta 1
Blue-ringed Dancer, A. sedula 7
*Desert Forktail, Ischnura barberi 9 [last report 2016]
*Citrine Forktail, I. hastata 2 [last report 2016]
Rambur’s Forktail, I. ramburii  4
Common Green Darner, Anax junius  5
Variegated Meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum 1
Red-tailed Pennant, Brachymesia furcata 7
Western Pondhawk, Erythemis collocata >35
Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis >75
Comanche Skimmer, Libellula comanche 14 including female ovipositing.
Bleached Skimmer, L. composita 3
Widow Skimmer, L. luctuosa 2
Flame Skimmer, L. saturata 4
*Roseate Skimmer, Orthemis ferruginea 2 [last report 2016]
* *Marl Pennant, Macrodiplax balteata >20 [ONLY report 2016]
Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerata 8 including two tandem pairs. 
Red Saddlebags, T. onusta 
Wandering Glider, Pantala flavescens 6
Spot-winged Glider, P. hymenaea 1
…….

Santa Clara County

Matthew Dodder
Ogier Ponds, Morgan Hill.
Most exciting was a single RED SADDLEBAGS. After last season's invasion, I thought maybe it would show up here again, so I was on the lookout for it. 
Common Green Darner
Blue-eyed Darner
California Darner
Black Saddlebags
Red Saddlebags
Flame Skimmer
Eight-spotted Skimmer
Widow Skimmer
Cardinal Meadowhawk
Variegated Meadowhawk
Western Pondhawk
Blue Dasher
Wandering Glider
Pacific Forktail
Tule Bluet
Northern/Boreal Bluet
California/Aztec Dancer
 
May 28, 2016

San Mateo County

Matthew Dodder
Alpine Pond, Skyline Ridge OSP:
Common Green Darner
Blue-eyed Darner
California Darner
Black Saddlebags
Common Whitetail
Flame Skimmer
Eight-spotted Skimmer
Cardinal Meadowhawk
Blue Dasher
Western Pondhawk
Pacific Forktail
Tule Bluet
Northern/Boreal Bluet
…….
San Francisco County
Paul Sarencini
Lobos Creek Valley Trail boardwalk -- a restored coastal dune area -- in The Presidio of SF.
Wandering Glider Pantala flavescens - It never perched so I just have flight photos – upgrade to photo record from his prior sight record only CA Chart # 58 ;OC# 445133
…….
Stanislaus County
Leslie Flint
Del Puerto Canyon

Owl Rock

Flame Skimmer - 10+

Blue-eyed Darner - 1

Eight-spotted Skimmer - 1 (no photo)

Giant Darner - 2 (poor photos) - I was really surprised to see this here.  The creek is small but there were 2 patrolling up and down

Adobe Springs

Flame Skimmer - a few

American Rubyspot - many

Vivid Dancer - several

Bluets - many - the ones I saw were more blue than black, so thinking No/Bo

 
May 27, 2016
Sonoma County

Alan Wight

Nagasawa Park, Santa Rosa

Black Spreadwing – 10+

Vivid Dancer – 1

Tule Bluet – several

Arroyo Bluet – 1+, probably my first at this location, photographed

Pacific Forktail – many

Western Forktail1

Western Pondhawk - 3

Eight-spotted Skimmer - 4+

Widow Skimmer – 1

Common Whitetail – 3

Flame Skimmer – 5

Blue Dasher – 2

Variegated Meadowhawk – 1

Cardinal Meadowhawk – 2

Red-veined Meadowhawk – 2-3

Black Saddlebags – 2

Blue-eyed Darner – 2

Grappletail – 1, male, my first at this location

Also, a probable Beaverpond Baskettail flying around that I couldn’t quite get a good enough look at.

…….

Calaveras County

Kathy & Dave Biggs

Calaveras Big Trees SP

no odonates found L
 
May 23, 2016
Humboldt County
Tony Westkamper
Van Duzen River
Pacific Clubtail Gomphus kurilis
…….
San Mateo County
Michael Dawson
Seal Slough
tule bluets
Pacific Forktail
Blue-eyed Darner
Flame skimmer
Variegated Meadowhawk
Cardinal Meadowhawk
Blue dasher

 

May 19, 2016

Santa Cruz County

Steve Gerow

Neary Lagoon Park in Santa Cruz

Red Saddlebags - a male was working up and down a weedy area near the west entrance to the park.  I managed to get a couple of photos which are quite poor in quality, but show some diagnostic detail:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/40132546@N07/27085902406/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/40132546@N07/26513664864/in/dateposted-public/

…….

Placer County

Phil Robertson

Auburn Ravine in Lincoln

American rubyspot

Emma’s Dancer

Vivid Dancer

Pacific Clubtail

Sinuous Snaketail Ophiogomphus occidentis

Common Whitetail

Western Pondhawk

 

May 18/19, 2016

Siskiyou County

Kathy & Dave Biggs

Dragonfly Roost Pond, Mt. Shasta Forest, McCloud ~4750’

Twelve-spotted Skimmer - a female ovipositing on the 18th

*Four-spotted Skimmer Libellula quadrimaculata – one emerged on the 19, a first for our pond (that we know of)

 

May 18, 2016

Siskiyou County

Greg Kareofellas

Klamath River accessed from I-5

*River Jewelwing Calopteryx aequabilis - everywhere, LOTS, hundreds. It was hard to take a pic as the minute one would land, 4 or 5 males would come by and off they all would go [last report 2016]

American Rubyspot – a few

Emma's Dancer –some

Vivid Dancer – some

Bluet sp – plenty, but I was too involved to check them
Western Forktail  I perparva - some
Common Green Darner - 1-2
California Darner - always in view, patrolling the river edge, old and new ones, some mated pairs

Pacific Clubtail - lots all stages

Grappletail - Some, both teneral and Young, didn’t see any I considered Mature.

*Sinuous Snaketail Ophiogomphus occidentis – Many emerging (see some of the pix I’m putting on FB)

Beaverpond Baskettail – always in view, patrolling about 10 feet away from the river edge

Blue Dasher – 1 male seen

Eight-spotted Skimmer L forensis, did not catch and only saw one

 

May 17, 2016

Siskiyou County

Kathy & Dave Biggs

Things are really starting to 'hop' at the Shasta River @ Hudson Rd. site.
Dave and I were able to stop by there on our way back from Oregon today.
82F, 4-4:30 next to the water, and 4:30-5 along the entrance Rd.
Our friends the Sharp/Balls went a week ago, and things weren't on territories much then. That's changing now:
River Jewelwing - 100+ with about 25 of them on territories on the water
American Rubyspot - 12-20, about 6 of them on the water.
Emma's Dancer - 100 - 200. they were everywhere!
Vivid Dancer - ~12, mostly on the water (which is the opposite of on most visits)
No/Bo Bluet - ~24, almost all on the water
Western Forktail - 2 males, 1 still immature
Common Green Darner - 1-2
California Darner - 1
Pacific Clubtail - 6-12, only a few mature enuf to show blue eyes
Grappletail - 12+ (most immature)
we couldn't find a single Snaketail
Beaverpond Baskettail - 6-12, most seen cruising along the road
Eight-spotted Skimmer - 3
I just counted them, that's 12 species, just one shy of the "teen" that Tim long ago said always constituted a good day in northern California.....but it was still good!!
This spot is a piece of heaven. While you Ode, you are serenaded by Chats, Warblers, Sparrows, buzzed by Flycatchers, bees and butterflies and it's drop dead gorgeous! Hope you get to go someday.
Directions: The location is about 7 miles north of Yreka on the old highway, now called Highway 236.
The turn off for Hudson Road is quite obscure and easy to miss. It's on the west side of the road and just south of one of the beautiful old bridges that cross the Shasta River soon before it joins with the Klamath River. It's true that you can see many of the same species from the Collier's Rest Stop on I-5, but this place is so beautiful, many of us make 'pilgrimages' to it at least annually.

…….

Sacramento County

Dave Johnson

Sailor Bar, American River Parkway in, CA, 5/17/2016, the first time I have been out with a camera since returning from the 2 week trip to eastern and southern Texas and had my best day ever with odes:

California Green Darner
California Dancer with photos
*Arroyo Bluet Enallagma praevarum with photos
Western Pondhawk with photos
Pacific Forktail with photos
Black-fronted Forktail with photos and a new Sacramento County record for me
Western Forktail with photos
Widow Skimmer with photos
Twelve-spotted Skimmer with photos
Flame Skimmer with photos
Blue Dasher
Common Whitetail
with photos
California Darner
Blue-eyed Darner

*Desert Firetail Telebasis salva - with photos and only my second record for Sacramento County for me
Black Saddlebags

10 dragonflies
6 damselflies

 

May 14, 2016

Inyo County

Ron & Barbara Oriti  

Rawson Ponds

Red Saddlebags couple

Variegated Meadowhawks, couple

Common Green Darners, couple

Mosaic Darners, couple

Damsels some

            

May 12, 2016

Lake County

Greg Kareofellas

Knoxville Public Lands

Cordulegaster dorsalis

*Libellula nodisticta Hoary Skimmer (saw, not caught)

Octogomphus specularis

*Argia lugens, Powdered Dancer

 

May 11, 2016

Siskiyou County

Kathy & Dave Biggs

Collier’s Rest Stop, I-5 north of Yreka; 11:30 72F
*River Jewelwing Calopteryx aequabilis – 3, 1 M, 1F, 1? – all looked newly emerged
Emma's Dancer – 1

No/Bo Bluet – 1

Forktail – 1
Pacific Clubtail – 2

 

May 10, 2016

Inyo County

Ron & Barbara Oriti  

a pond south of the old Mazourka pond --

one Eight-spotted Skimmer 

…….

Mono County

Ron & Barbara Oriti  

Fish Slough 

Emerald Spreadwings a few

 

May 8, 2016

Colusa County

Kathy & Dave Biggs

bear Creek @ Hwy 20; 1:30, 73F

Flame Skimmer -  few

CA Darner – 1-2

Green Daner 1

No/Bo Bluet – many

Pacific Clubtail – 1M

 

May 7, 2016

Sonoma County

Kathy & Dave Biggs

Bigsnest Wildlife Pond, Bloomfield Rd, Sebastopol. Overcast, breezy, 63F

Pacific Forktail – many

Western Forktail – a few

Flame Skimmer – THREE emerged, 2males and one possibly a female

Cardinal Meadowhawk– at least 2 emerged; 5 adults flying

…….

Riverside County
Peter Siminski
Dos Palmas Preserve; Dos Palmas oasis, Felger oasis, and fish ponds; Elev. -100’ to -240’; 6:50-11:40, 64-80F, cloudless to high cirrus sky, calm to light breeze SW. 3.6 miles.
Blue-ringed Dancer, Argia sedula 2
Desert Forktail, Ischnura barberi 1
Citrine Forktail, I. hastata1
Rambur’s Forktail, I. ramburii  5
Common Green Darner, Anax junius  3
Variegated Meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum 5
*Red-tailed Pennant, Brachymesia furcata 3
Western Pondhawk, Erythemis collocata 11
Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis 25 including one pair in wheel.
*Comanche Skimmer, Libellula comanche 2
*Bleached Skimmer, L. composita 2
Flame Skimmer, L. saturata9
Red Saddlebags, T. onusta 1
Wandering Glider, Pantala flavescens 1
Spot-winged Glider, P. hymenaea 1

 

May 6, 2016

Inyo County

Ron & Barbara Oriti  

Rawson Ponds

Wandering Gliders two

 

May 7, 2016

Humboldt County

Shannon  Mendia

Bull Creek

*Bison Snaketail Bison Snaketail (Ophiogomphus bison) – teneral found at night

Darner nymph – 2 clambering about, Rhionaeshna/Aeshna size

 

May 5, 2016

Mono County

Ron & Barbara Oriti  

Fish Slough

Spot-winged Glider one

 

May 2, 2016

San Joaquin County

Bob Stahmer

Lodi Lake

*Emma’s Dancer Argia emma

*Common Whitetail Plathemis lydia – 1 male photographed

Blue-eyed Darner – photo of 1 male, swarm of 30 possibly this specie seen

…….

Sonoma County

David Hofmann

Santa Rosa Creek Trail towards Delta Pond, the most abundant dragonfly that patrolled the trail was

Pacific Clubtail. There were at least twelve of them, maybe more. All of the ones I saw well were males.

 

May 1, 2016

Sonoma County

Kathy & Dave Biggs

308 Bloomfield Rd.

Pacific Forktails

Western Forktails

California Darner

Flame Skimmer – 1 male

Cardinal Meadowhawk – at least 5 flying and 9 emerging

...

Mark Hullinger

Quarry Hill Botanical Garden (Glen Ellen)

Beaverpond Baskettails 5 to 7

Grappletail 7 or 8

vivid dancers Many

…….

Humboldt County

Sandra Hunt-von Arb

Big Lagoon Pond (private) - sunny warm (74F) . Winds were variable, but plenty of windless microclimates can be found in this location. The theme of the day was "love is in the air" with many of each species found in wheel or ovipositing and many damsels were actively emerging on the lillies.
California Darner, Aeshna californica (still no blue-eyed) Many, significant numbers in wheel
Cardinal Meadowhawk, Sympetrum illotum dozen+
Variegated Meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum few
Tule Bluet, Enallagma carunculatum dozen +
NoBo (Northern/ Boreal) Bluet, Enallagma annexum/boreale few dozen (two in hand were northern, but sample size not enough to rule out boreal)
Pacific Forktail, Ischnura cervula

…….

Santa Cruz County

Steve Gerow

DeLaveaga Park in Santa Cruz

Pacific Spiketail - my first this season, and seeming on the early side.  It was working up and down a trail near the west branch of Arana Gulch. [early yes, but not foy for 2016]

Vivid Dancers, a few

one or two darners (probably California).

.......

Inyo County

Ron & Barbara Oriti  

Rawson Ponds

Black Saddlebags two

…….

Solano County

Leslie Flint

*Exclamation Damsel  Zoniagrion exclamationis  [last report 2016]

 

 

April

 

 

April 30, 2016

Marin County

Len Blumin

Lake Lagunitas - for a picnic, but brought my gear to check the odes. Excited to see

4 grappletail males on sunny rocks in the creek 80' below the spillway. Best seen by 1 pm, as it gets shady after that.

Many Vivid Dancers ovipositing nearby, plus unidentified forktails.

Numerous Eight-spotted Skimmers along the shoreline of the lake.

 

April 26, 2016

Mono County

Ron & Barbara Oriti  

Fish Slough

Western Pondhawks couple 

*Four-spotted Skimmer Libellula quadrimaculata 

Mosaic Darners

Common Green Darners            

 

April 24, 2016

Sonoma County

Kathy & Dave Biggs and Sandra Hunt-von Arb

Bloomfield Ck @ Petaluma-Valley Ford Rd – very windy day

San Francisco Forktails – we easily saw 3 dozen today plus many tenerals were seen on their maiden flights

Pacific Forktails – a few m& F seen

Western Forktails – a few m& F seen

Arroyo Bluet – 1 male netted

We looked for other SF Forktail sites in this and the Two Rock area, but found none.

Bigsnest Pond, Sebastopol

Cardinal Meadowhawks – many, including emergers

CA Darners – a few, but new exuvia too

Pacific Forktails – a few m & f seen

Western Forktails – a few m & f seen

 

April 20, 2016

Humboldt County

Sandra Hunt-von Arb

Korbel Ponds (Private),

Emerald Spreadwing (Lestes dryas)!!! All were teneral, mostly females, I found several hundred but still not as many as I've seen at this location in previous years.

Females still seemed to outnumber males (about 4:1)- Most were still teneral, although a few looked like they were beginning to finish final colors and getting a little bit of blue in their eyes; none were seen in wheel or ovipositing.

…….

Alameda County

Nancy Asquith

Sunol Regional Wilderness

Creek near parking area was still quiet; Little Yosemite area, reached late in the day, was somewhat better.

3 Vivid Dancer [2 M 1 F]

1 possible Red Rock Skimmer: blurry photo posted to CalOdes photos

1 unidentified dragon

 

April 19, 2016

Mendocino County

Kathy& Dave Biggs

Mendocino Botanical Gardens

Swift Forktail – 1 female

California Darner – 3-6

Cardinal Meadowhawk – 3-9 males

…….

Sonoma County

Alan Wight

Nagasawa Park

Pacific Forktail – many

Western Forktail – 1  female

Tule Bluet – many

Black Spreadwing – 4+

Beaverpond Baskettail – 2+

Darner sp. – 4+

Cardinal Meadowhawk – 3+

Western Pondhawk – 2+

Eight-spotted Skimmer – 6+

Red Saddlebags – 1 male

The highlight was clearly the Red Saddlebags, a photo of which is here - http://www.sonic.net/~shwand/odonata/temp/red_saddlebags_2961.jpg and now also at OC#: 441225

Based on this observation today and my observation last year of a male and female doing the “Tramea dance” at this same location, I think this suggests that this species bred successfully at this location last year.

 

April 19, 2016

Inyo County

Ron & Barbara Oriti  

pond south of the old Mazourka pond

*Hoary Skimmer Libellula nodisticta  one

 

April 17, 2016

Sonoma County

Kathy Biggs and Tim Manolis

Bloomfield Ck @ Petaluma-Valley Ford Rd. – 80F - this is a NEW site for the species

Ischnura gemina (San Francisco Forktail) - 3 males netted. One damaged in capture and kept. Others released after scanning.~14 seen at this site  OC # 441190

Western Forktails

Pacific Forktails,

California Darner 1

Cardinal Meadowhawk 1

Small creek - Petaluma-Valley Ford Rd. between Bloomfield and the Oyster Bar, near Gerike Rd. – this is a NEW site for the species and one of the furthest north

Ischnura gemina (San Francisco Forktail) – one pair in tandem inc. a male-colored female. ~10 seen at this site

Western Forktails

Pacific Forktails,

Exclamation Damsel Zoniagrion exclamationis , 1

---

Kathy & Dave Biggs, Tim Manolis

Bigsnest Pond, Sebastopol – 80F

Western Forktails

Pacific Forktails

Exclamation Damsel – 1 m

California Darner 1

Cardinal Meadowhawk 7 (inc. 3 tandems & ovipositing, but not counting 5 that were emerging)
Flame Skimmer – 1 female emerged and photographed….a first for the pond; https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1230615306968778.1073741908.100000609601175&type=1&l=baf72dd9e6 

*Eight-Spotted Skimmer Libellula forensis – 1 male, fly bys

…….
Humboldt County
Sandra Hunt-von Arb with MO

Godwit Days Migration Festival, Arcata - 4 species; 3 in hand; beautiful almost 80 degree weather (really amazing for April on the north coast).

CALIFORNIA DARNER (several in hand) were the most numerous

CARDINAL MEADOWHAWKS second in numbers.

only a few PACIFIC FORKTAILS as they are usually quite numerous in this area (they seem to be low in most places I've visited this year).

a single fly-by VARIEGATED MEADOWHAWK.

…….

San Diego County

Ken A Wilson

Mission Trails Regional Park

Flame Skimmer - several near Old Dam

Diary Mart Ponds @ Tijuana River Valley Regional Park

Red Saddlebag – 1

Blue-Eyed Darner - 3

Green Darner – 1

 

April 16, 2016
San Diego

Michael Ouelllette

Mission Trails Park. It has not been a wet winter down here, but we had a heavy rain early in the year. It really changed the landscape around Oak Creek. 
The water is still flowing and there are a lot of ponds, but dragonfly activity is limited.
Flame Skimmers  4 
Blue-eyed Darners ~5
…….

San Diego County

Ken A. Wilson

Santa Margarita River Preserve

American Rubyspot – many

…….

Riverside County

BJ Stacey

Santa Margarita Ecological Preserve

*Giant Darner Anax walsinghami [foy]

Flame Skimmer

Western Pondhawk

*#Red Rock Skimmer Paltothemis lineatipes (the most I've ever seen)[could this be migratory? – kb] http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/2974199

Cardinal Meadowhawk

American Rubyspot

Vivid Dancer

CA/Blue-eyed Darner

American Rubyspot (15-20)
Vivid Dancer
Tule Bluet
Familiar Bluet
Pacific Forktail
Black-fronted Forktail

…….

Sonoma County

Alan Wight

Nagasawa Park in Santa Rosa

Pacific Forktail – many

Western Forktail – 2

Tule Bluet – 12+

Black Spreadwing - 2+

Darner sp. – 3+, one looked big like a Blue-eyed

Beaverpond Baskettail - 2+

Cardinal Meadowhawk – 1

Blue Dasher – 1 female, new early date for Sonoma County, http://www.sonic.net/~shwand/odonata/blue_dasher_2805.jpg

.......

Humboldt County

Sandra Hunt-von Arb

Korbel Ponds (Private),

**Emerald Spreadwing (Lestes dryas)!!! All were teneral, mostly females, ~100 individuals [6 days early]

…….

Alameda County

Nancy Asquith

Quarry Lakes Regional Park

Lots of odes!

Common green darner 1  [blurry photo of huge olive thorax + lt. blue abdomen]

Variegated Meadowhawk 5 minimum [including ovipositing pair]

Mosaic darner 8 minimun: They did not perch

Blue-eyed Darner – one photographed in flight

Many damsels photographed, including ovipositing pair---will eventually clean up and post some of the photos.

 
April 13, 2016
Sacramento County

Tim Manolis

Secret Ravine/Sculpture Park
**Ophiogomphus occidentis Sinuous Snaketail – dozens, the common dragonfly by far, old early date May 3, 2014
Pacific Clubtails – a few
 
April 12, 2016
Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson

Lake Carneros-There was a pretty good selection at the lake at lunchtime today,
Pacific Forktail  5

Tule Bluet    10

Familiar Bluet   10

Cardinal Meadowhawk  1

Variegated Meadowhawk  2

Red Saddlebags     4

Blue Dasher   1

Common Green Darner   1

Blue-eyed Darner   1 - This was my first Blue-eyed Darner of the year, but ..

*Blue-eyed Darner, Rhionaeschna multicolor - Liz Muraoka has seen them nearby since 3/27.

April 11, 2016
San Benito County

Leslie Flint

Pinnacles NP hiking along the Bench Trail

**Pacific Spiketail Cordulegaster dorsalis - first this year. [way early, old early date 5/7/2006]

Bear Gulch,

California Darner

Cardinal Meadowhawk

 

April 9, 2016
Humboldt County 
iNaturalist

Spot-winged Glider (Pantala hymenaea) - photographed

 
April 7, 2016
Siskiyou County 
Celise Sharp and Dennis Ball
Big Springs backyard pond
Flame Skimmer – one emerged from their pond, first of year for Northern California
California Darner – a few
Pacific Forktail – several
 
April 6, 2016
Sonoma County 
Jackie Sones
Bodega Bay
Pantala sp. - (I didn't identify to to species as it was silhouetted and went whizzing by.)  This was after a couple of record-warm days and east winds.  We often see Pantalas during those types of conditions, but it happens more often in late summer. 

Sonoma County

Alan Wight

Nagasawa Park in Santa Rosa

Pacific Forktail – many

Western Forktail – 2 females

Vivid Dancer – 1-2

Tule Bluet – 3+

Black Spreadwing – 1foy http://www.sonic.net/~shwand/odonata/black_spreadwing_2608.jpg

California Darner– 3+,

Beaverpond Baskettail - 2+

Western Pondhawk – 1f, foy

*Eight-spotted Skimmer Libellula forensis – 1 female, first of year, http://www.sonic.net/~shwand/odonata/eight_spotted_skimmer_2618.jpg

Cardinal Meadowhawk – 1

…….

Mono County

Ron & Barbara Oriti  

Fish Slough

Flame Skimmer, one

Mosaic Darner one

Variegated Meadowhawks  a couple

 
April 4, 2016
Sacramento County 
Dave Johnson
Illinois Avenue at Sailor Bar, American River Parkway see if any odes had appeared since none had last week when I checked. The day was beautiful out and I managed to see 6, maybe 7, different ode species: 
Tule Bluet (photo), 
Pacific Forktail (photo), 
Common Green Darner (1 male), 
California Darner (2 males), 
Beaverpond Baskettail (1male) and 
Variegated Meadowhawk (photo) with a pair mating. 
 
April 3, 2016
Riverside County
Peter Siminski
Dos Palmas Preserve; Dos Palmas oasis, Felger oasis, and fish ponds; Elev. -100’ to -240’; 7:15-11:10, 62-86F, cloudless sky, light air S. 3.5 miles.
Paiute Dancer, Argia alberta 1

**Powdered Dancer, A. moesta 1[new early date, old date 4/9/2005.

*Blue-ringed Dancer, A. sedula 5
Desert Forktail, Ischnura barberi 1
Citrine Forktail, I. hastate 1
Rambur’s Forktail, I. ramburii 2
Common Green Darner, Anax junius  5
Variegated Meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum 6, all looked pretty fresh.
Western Pondhawk, Erythemis collocata 6
Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis >30
Flame Skimmer, Libellula saturata >35
Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerata 2
Red Saddlebags, T. onusta 6
Imperial County
Bob Miller
Alamo River Wetlands Project east of Brawley at the west end of O'Brien from Hwy 115. Very few odes so far.
Familiar Bluet about 10
Blue-ringed Dancer 3
Red-Saddlebags 2
Imperial Irrigation District (IID) Managed Marsh on west side of Hwy 111 at Hazard Road.
Made a quick loop through the ponds and saw no damsels in the corners of the main cells and very few unidentified distant dragons as the vegetation is very dense and mature. Near the west end, about a mile from Hwy 111 in the of the 1.5 mile long cell system, they have taken up a program of burning off two cells per year. These two cells have lots of open water and newly emergent vegetation. The surface was swarming with bluets!
Familiar Bluet thousands with many in wheel and ovipositing.
Red-Saddlebags 10
Common Green Darner 2
**Mexican Amberwings 1 male [new early flight date by one day]
Rambur's Forktail one male
Do not recall where we were at the time but it was a very barren type area where we stopped for just a few seconds without getting out, and I remember an ode landing briefly, two seconds max, on my vehicle antenna and thinking Powdered Dancer! That is not a positive ID by any means though!
 

April 2, 2016

Marin County

Leslie Flint

Audubon Canyon Ranch (Bolinas Lagoon, Marin) yesterday, I saw 6 species of Odes. Beautiful day!

Blue-eyed Darner, Rhionaeschna multicolor

California Darner,

Cardinal Meadowhawk,

Flame Skimmer (pair ovipositing),

Vivid Dancer

Pacific Forktail

 

April 1, 2016

Yolo County

Stephan Telm

North Star Park: Upper 70s, light breeze and partly cloudy

Approx a dozen Pacific forktails: https://www.flickr.com/photos/36618387@N06/26171773416/in/dateposted/

One vivid dancer (male) -- too far away for a good pic

One immature male variegated meadowhawk: https://www.flickr.com/photos/36618387@N06/26197900285/in/photostream/

…….

Sonoma County

Alan Wight

Santa Rosa Creek west of Willowside Road in Santa Rosa

Vivid Dancer – 2

Darner sp. – 2, likely California

*Pacific Clubtail Gomphus kurilis – 1, photographed, first of year

….

Kathy & Dave Biggs

Bloomfield Creek, Bloomfield

No/Bo Bluet – 1 young male

*San Francisco Forktail Ischnura gemina1 male seen

Western Forktaila few males & 1 female

California Darner – 1 male seen

…….

Riverside County

Doug Karalun

Dos Palmas- got my life Citrine Forktail. Weather was high 80s with a light breeze,1:30-2:30 PM.
Rambur's Forktail
Desert
Forktail
*Citrine Forktail Ischnura hastata
Blue-ringed Dancer
Green Darner
*Western Pondhawk Erythemis collocata
Blue Dasher
Flame Skimmer
Red Saddlebags
*Black Saddlebags Tramea lacerata
Variegated Meadowhawk

…….

Modoc County

Kevin McKereghan

A first species

Variegated Meadowhawk - a fresh one, in spite of it having snowed on Monday and being below freezing every night this week. 

A handful of butterflies were out as well, Mourning Cloaks, Hoary Commas and California Tortoiseshell.

 
MARCH
 

March 31, 2016

Sonoma County

Alan Wight

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

Pacific Forktail – 20+

*Tule Bluet – 3+, first of year here (and not seen yesterday when I was here), here’s a photo of one:  http://www.sonic.net/~shwand/odonata/tule_bluet_2245.jpg

Vivid Dancer – 3

*Black Spreadwing – 1, first of year here, got away before I got a photo, it looked very much like this one I photographed here last year:  http://www.sonic.net/~shwand/odonata/black_spreadwing_8491.jpg

Beaverpond Baskettail – 1

California Darner – 1

 

March 30, 2016

Humboldt County

Tony Kurtz

north spit on the northern trail that starts from the main south parking lot at Mal'el Dunes

Swift Forktails- This was a new location for me.

 

March 29, 2016

Tehama County

Wendell Gilgert

Point Blue Dye Creek Ranch

**Grappletail Octogomphus specularis [old early date 4/8/2007] OC#443897

 

March 27, 2016

Humboldt County

Tony Westkamper

Carlotta, California

California Darner – photographed

 

March 26, 2016

Sonoma County

Alan Wight

Nagasawa Park in Santa Rosa

Pacific Forktail – 50+

Beaverpond Baskettail – 1

 

March 26, 2016

Sonoma County

Kathy & Dave Biggs

Sonoma Horticultural Gardens off Hessel Rd. in Sebastopol

Our friends told us that there were a lot of damselflies out Thurs. at the. Over the last 2 decades, every damsel we've seen there in the Spring has been an Exclamation (with only 2 exceptions). So we headed on over. Link for the Horticultural Gardens: http://sonomahort.com/visitor_info.htm
Exclamation Damsels  Zoniagrion exclamationis - We counted 32, including both males and females. This is a low count and indeed we saw some on their maiden flights. You could expect to see 100 here later this month and early next month.
Photos are posted on Western Odonata..
Calif. Darner - 1
Bigsnest Wildlife Pond

Cardinal Meadowhawk - a female ovipositing!! Also had 4 emergers today and 6 yesterday....plus numerous exuviae that must be

California Darners
Also seen today is our first Pipevine Swallowtail, also an ovipositing female. Odd to see the females first this year.

…….

Santa Clara County

Matthew Dodder

Zinfandel Trail at Picchetti Ranch OSP is now full and very active with Odes. Quite a nice collection of seasonal firsts for my birding group! 

CALIFORNIA DARNERS — 10

COMMON GREEN DARNER — 1

VARIEGATED MEADOWHAWK — 6

CARDINAL MEADOWHAWK — 1

PACIFIC FORKTAIL — 10+

Western Forktail – male photographed, only 2nd report this year (the other being in February!!)

BLUET (species) — 10+

…….

Riverside County

Doug Karalun

Dos Palmas after missing the Rock Sandpiper earlier today.  2 PM-5 PM Temps were in the high 80s with a slight breeze.
*American Rubyspot 2
Familiar Bluet 2
*Desert Forktail >20
*Rambur's Forktail >20
Green Darner 2
Variegated Meadowhawk 4
Western Pondhawk 15
Blue Dasher >50
*Flame Skimmer >30
Red Saddlebags 3
Spot-winged Glide
r 2

March 24, 2016

Humboldt County

Tony Kurtz

Elk River Slough Wildlife Area in Eureka

*Swift Forktail Ischnura erratica – several photographed

 

March 24, 2016

Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson

Goleta

California Darner - foy

…….

Sonoma County

Kathy & Dave Biggs

Sebastopol backyard pond (Bigsnest Wildlife Pond

California Darners Rhionaeschna californica – one male flew a beat around and around the pond. Our foy flier. Also had several new exuviae on the pond.

Cardinal Meadowhawk – 4 emerging

Gloria & Harry Conley

Sonoma Horticultural Gardens off Hessel Rd. in Sebastopol

*Exclamation Damsels  Zoniagrion exclamationis

Our friends told us that there were a lot of damselflies out Thurs. at the. Over the last 2 decades, every damsel we've seen there in the Spring has been an Exclamation (with only 2 exceptions). So we headed on over. Link for the Horticultural Gardens: http://sonomahort.com/visitor_info.htm

…….

Santa Clara County

Nancy Asquith

San Jose's Alum Rock Park

California Darners were flying near the creek. I saw at least six

 

March 22, 2016

Marin County

Len Blumin

Audubon Canyon Ranch, Bolinas

California Darner – 1 male, foy

Pacific Forktail – 3+

 

March 20, 2016

San Mateo County

Michael Dawson

Seal Slough

California darners – inc. a female ovipositing

…….

Imperial County

Jeff Bray
Anza-Borrego desert

*Roseate Skimmer Orthemis ferruginea – a young male photographed 

 

March 16, 2016

Santa Clara County

Nancy Asquith

near Rancho San Antonio

California darner – a female ovipositing

 

March 14, 2016

Santa Clara County

Nancy Asquith

Ogier Ponds

NO DRAGONFLIES L

pacific forktail – a few

 

March 12, 2016

San Mateo County

Michael Dawson

Central Park, San Mateo

First of the year: pacific forktail

 

March 11, 2016

Los Angeles County

Dave Bell

La Cañada & Pasadena

I had a couple odes that are earlier than the earliest records for these species in LA County in OdonataCentral. 

Vivid Dancer - Adult male in La Canada (photo) 440720

*Wandering Glider Pantala flavescens in Pasadena (flyby, no photo)

 

March 10/11, 2016

Sonoma County

Kathy & Dave Biggs

Sebastopol backyard pond (Bigsnest Wildlife Pond

*California Darners Rhionaeschna californica - 2 emerged last nite/this morning - in the pouring rain! One is totally doomed, but the other may make it.
I believe they are the first to be reported this year.
Yesterday I had a Cardinal Meadowhawk emerge in the pouring rain too. I guess when they're ready, they can't stop!
 
March 5, 2016
Riverside County
Peter Siminski
Dos Palmas Preserve; Dos Palmas oasis, Felger oasis, and fish ponds; Elev. -100’ to -240’; 7:20-11:25, 62-80F, 60%-100% altostratus cloud cover, light air S.
*Paiute Dancer, Argia alberta 1
Common Green Darner, Anax junius  5
*Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis 1
Red Saddlebags, Tramea onusta 4
Spot-winged Glider, Pantala hymenaea 4

 

March 4, 2016

Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson

Lake Los Carneros in Goleta

*Spot-winged Glider Pantala hymenaea. I saw a glider sp. yesterday, albeit briefly, a few miles away from this location.

March 2, 2016

Sonoma County

Kathy & Dave Biggs

Lake Raphine, Santa Rosa. 69F but skies became totally overcast

Pacific Forktail – 1 male

Alan Wight

Nagasawa Park in Santa Rosa

*Beaverpond Baskettail Epitheca canis – 1 [new early date for Sonoma Co. and the earliest one has been seen since 1998]

……….

Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson

San Jose Creek, Goleta

Vivid Dancers - my FOS

…….

Santa Clara County

Nancy Asquith

Emily Renzel Wetlands

pacific forktails - a number of, including 2 pairs.

 

March 1, 2016

Santa Barbara County

Wim van Dam

Solvang

*Cardinal Meadowhawk Sympetrum illotum - 1

Vivid Dancers - several

…….

Santa Clara County

Nancy Asquith

Rancho San Antonio near the St. Joseph Ave. gate

vivid dancer - 1 male and 1 female

 

 

February

 

February 29, 2016

San Francisco County

Leslie Flint

San Francisco Presidio looking for butterflies, but instead saw my first

Vivid Dancer Argia vivida – 1 female

Green Darner - 1

…….

Sonoma County

Alan Wight

Keysight Technologies site on Fountaingrove Parkway in Santa Rosa

Vivid Dancer - an early female.

 

February 26, 2016

San Benito County

Paul G. Johnson

Pinnacles National Park looking for California tiger salamander eggs in two abandoned stock ponds.  I arrived at a third pond too late in the day for most odes, so who knows what might have been flying there. I think all of them are early records for the county…

*familiar bluet Enallagma civile - 2

Pacific forktail - 4

**Western forktail Ischnura perparva – 1, old early date 3/1/2009.

*black-fronted forktail Ischnura denticollis - 1

common green darner - 1

variegated meadowhawk - 10+ (including tandem pairs ovipositing)

Photos of all but the darner are in the Paul Johnson Yahoo Groups photos folder:https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/CalOdes/photos/albums/2015306654

 

February 25, 2016

Inyo County

Ron and Barbara Oriti

Death Valley

golf course pond

Variegateds, of course,

a couple skimmer tenerals,

*Common Green Darners Anax junius, two

a few damselflies.

The wildflowers were great, esp. south of Badwater

 

February 24, 2016

Sonoma County

Kathy & Dave Biggs

Laguna Wetlands Park, Sebastopol, 2:30 – 3:00
Pacific Forktail - ~7, the 4 seen well were all male Pacific Forktails
Variegated Meadowhawk - 1 [drat, I had hoped to catch it and mark the wings, but it didn't come into the net, nay, it didn't even get close enuf to swing at).

---earlier in the day a Pacific Forktail emerged from their backyard pond

….

Alan Wight

Nagasawa Park in Santa Rosa

Pacific Forktail - lots (30+).  I saw two pairs in wheel and additionally lots of unidentified tenerals.

 

February 22, 2016

San Diego County

Bob Miller

Wastewater Treatment Plant in Borrego Springs,

*Red Saddlebags Tramea onusta- 1 female

 

February 19, 2016

Monterey County
Don Roberson
Laguna Grande Park in Seaside (in the little reedy pond by the euc grove).
Pacific Forktail - a minimum of 4 adult males. Although not surprising, this does apparently extend forward the early spring date for flying odes of this species in MTY by almost 3 weeks.
…….
Los Angeles County
Jeff Bray
Aliso Viejo
*Vivid Dancer Argia vivida OC#440197

 

February 14, 2016

Sonoma County

Dave Barry

North slope Regional Park East of Santa Rosa

Variegated Meadowhawk - 2

…….

San Bernardino County

Doug Karalun

East Highland Reservoir

Pacific Forktail Ischnura cervula - 4

I haven't seen a Variegated Meadowhawk in the county since Christmas Day.

 

February 13, 2016

Santa Barbara County

Nick Lethaby and Hugh Ranson

middle Santa Ynez River along Paradise Road

Variegated Meadowhawks ~40, including 3 pairs ovipositing.

*Northern Bluet Enallagma annexum – 1 male that was netted and photographed. It's an early county date by over a month.

……..

Mariposa County

Tim Manolis

a vernal pool in the foothill along White Rock Road

Variegated Meadowhawks - some on territorial patrols

 

February 12, 2016

Inyo County

Ron & Barbara Oriti

Variegated Meadowhawks at various places starting February 12.  

 

February 7, 2016

Orange County
Kelly Morgan

San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine

Variegated Meadowhawk Sympetrum corruptum – 1 young female photographed

…….

Santa Barbara County

Hugh Ranson

Variegated Meadowhawk Sympetrum corruptum – 5

 

February 5, 2016

Sonoma County
Sandra Hunt-von Arb, Kathy & Dave Biggs

Laguna Wetlands ponds

Variegated Meadowhawk Sympetrum corruptum – 1-2 males seen, one photographed, our FOY Ode!! It was flying a beat….hard to tell if the same one every time….

 
January

 

January 28, 2016

Santa Barbara County

Liz Muraoka

Rancho Goleta Lakeside in Santa Barbara

*Pacific Forktail Ischnura cervula, photographed – very teneral

 

January 27, 2016

Humboldt County
Tony Vanderkamper
Van Duzen River - Stony river bar and puddles

Variegated Meadowhawk Sympetrum corruptum 439927

 

January 10, 2016

Humboldt County
Tony Vanderkamper
Van Duzen River - Stony river bar, 10 meters from water

*Variegated Meadowhawk Sympetrum corruptum 439502 & 439503 - Saw two today in early afternoon. First sunny day in weeks. I observed both actively pursue, capture, and consume small flying insects. They were within 100 meters of each other.

 

=!= =!= =!= =!= =!= =!= =!= =!= =!= =!= =!= =!= =!= =!= =!= =!= =!= =!= =!= =!= =!= =!= =!= =!=

 

County Records reported/confirmed in 2016, but discovered in prior years:

 

June 23, 2008

Madera County

Ron Oriti

Devil's Post Pile

Shadow Darner, Aeshna umbrosa CA Chart # 100; OC #420627 First PHOTO record

 

April 26, 2014

Sutter County

Peter Grunow

Sutter NWR wetlands trail, Sutter NWR

Western Forktail Ischnura perparva  – CA Chart # 143 SIGHT RECORD (needs upgrading)

I didn't bother taking their picture at the time, because they are such a widespread and common species and thought nothing of it. It will reopen in spring for people to obtain images.

 

July 26, 2011

Alameda County

Peter Grunow

Arroyo Mocho

Gray Sanddragon Progomphus borealis – CA Chart # 143 OC# 450717 First PHOTO record

It should be noted that this was found after a record amount of spring rain, although there is plenty of habitat along the arroyo. It exhibited typical sanddragon behavior, returning to the top of a rock in a sunny portion of the stream after catching insects