The Modoc Experience: CalOdes/DSA Blitz IV 

August 8, 2008 marked the start of the CalOdes/DSA Blitz IV. Our past Blitzes, in order, visited Modoc County, in extreme north-eastern California, followed by trips to Imperial County, and then to Inyo/Mono Counties. The purposes of these events are:

1.  To survey areas of California that haven’t had extensive dragonfly field work done.

2. To look for new state &/or county distribution records.

3. To bring new folks into this field and get acquainted with them.

4. To give the CalOdes membership a chance to get together at least once a year, spend time in the field together, to campout and talk all night, and to enjoy being together at days end.

Each year, the Blitz attracts more people. In 2005, 7 people attended the 1st Blitz in Modoc County. 2006 brought 10 folks to Imperial County, and then in 2007, 12 people came to Inyo & Mono Counties.  For 2008, a total of 15 made it to Modoc. The only original members who have attended all 4 Blitz were Kathy & David Biggs (Sonoma County), Ray Bruun (Shasta County), & Doug Aguillard (San Diego County). Attending their 3rd Blitz were Steven Bruun (Shasta County), Paul Johnson (San Benito County) and Pat Sherman (San Diego County). 2nd time Blitzers were Dave and Linda Blue (Inyo County), and we welcomed 1st time Blitzers, Gary Suttle (San Diego County), George Sappington (Shasta County), Karen DeMello (San Mateo County), Jan Hintermeister (Santa Clara County), Rob Santry (Shasta County) & Chris Heaivilin (Contra Costa County).

 

From left to right: Back row - Ray Bruun, David Blue, Linda Blue, George Sappington, Karen DeMello, Chris Heaivilin, David Biggs, Gary Suttle, Jan Hintermaster, Patricia Sherman, Doug Aguillard. Front row - Kathy Biggs, Paul Johnson, Steven Bruun (not shown Rob Santry).

Modoc National Wildlife Refuge outside of Alturas, California.

Ron Santry along Sand Creek

With California being one of the largest states in America, some may wonder “Why the return to Modoc after such a short time?” Our goal has always been to explore new areas throughout the state and alternate between the northern, central & southern sections of the State. Kathy Biggs and I originally planned for us to visit the Trinity Alps in Trinity County for our 4th Blitz since it is an area where little fieldwork had been done. But unfortunately, forest fires had been burning there for over a month, and they were not expected to be contained until the middle of August. Smoke and air quality was a concern for us. The decision to go back to Modoc was an easy one. It’s a large area, and the urge to find the Pale Snaketail (Ophiogomphus severus) was a strong lure as it would be a lifer for most of us. In California, this Snaketail is only found in the very most northeastern area of Modoc County.  

Pale Snaketail (Ophiogomphus severus) on Sand Creek, Modoc County 08/09/2008 by D. Aguillard

Many of the Blitzers met in Adin, CA., and started blitzing their way from Lassen County to Modoc. Patricia Sherman & I personally left a few days earlier and headed for Willow Lake (an Ode hotspot) in Plumas County, and then we headed towards Alturas to join the group being led by the Biggs and Ray Bruun from Adin. David & Linda Blue were already in the Alturas area searching for Odes, by the time we all came together. The majority of the group camped out together at Cedar Pass in the Warner Mountains, and was greeted by Striped Meadowhawks (Sympetrum pallipes) at our campsite. After setting up camp we went to Strough Pond located further up the Pass. We found many of the expected species, but nothing unusual. It was then down to the North fork of the Pit River, where we searched for and found the River Jewelwing (Calopteryx aequabilis). It was then into Alturas for dinner, where Paul Johnson finally found us after searching for several hours. A good evening of catching up with folks back at the campsite was followed by a good night of sleeping.

Day 2, found us headed for the eastern portion of Surprise Valley, on the eastern side of the Warner Mountains. Ray Bruun had selected a spot where he was told that a portion of Sand Creek had permanent water. He thought it would make a good area to search and he was right. After a long drive on the rutted and dusty trail and after passing a small herd of wild horses, we found Sand Creek to be in a beautiful little canyon that had cold fresh water running, surrounded by juniper trees and sagebrush.

 

Herd of wild horses

We immediately found our Ode: the Pale Snaketail, there were several among other dragons and damsels (see list at end of article). We spent a lot of time in the area, and it was hard to leave, as it was such a beautiful place. We made our way back to Surprise Valley, and started searching the area’s hot springs (Leonard’s and Seyferth’s) and their associated hot creeks with water temps ranging from 140 degrees up to 180. The Ode activity was amazing with many species found among the sagebrush and hot water. It was here that a decision to head to Fee Reservoir, a large body of water, was made and it became the only problem of our trip. We ended up getting lost out in the sagebrush and spent a lot of time searching for a route to get us there. We finally made it, but then we didn’t find a lot of odes, so half the party started heading back to camp, while the other half stayed and searched further. The group that left early stopped at a few spots along the road near old farm houses, where there were creeks or ditches filled with water, and very happily found more Odes in large numbers.

Gary Suttle & Jan Hintermeister along Sand Creek

Day 3 arrived with another beautiful morning; we headed south of Alturas to the Modoc National Wildlife Refuge, one of the known locations in the state of the Cherry-faced Meadowhawk (Sympetrum internum), another target species for many of us. This is another spot where we not only found our target species, but many other species were available for our pleasure. We spent a lot of time there, and then headed further south along Hwy 395 to the small town of Likely, CA.

At Likely, we turned east towards Clear Lake. We were following the South fork of the Pit River. Our convoy suddenly pulled off the side of the road, where a bridge crossed the river, and we immediately had a clubtail fly over our vehicles. By the time that it landed, up to 8 people were standing over it. Its image was taken, and then it flew. It was determined at that point to be possibly a Great Basin Snaketail (Ophiogomphus morrisoni), not previously known from Modoc County. After a short period of searching, another clubtail landed nearby, where it was photographed, and then netted. It indeed turned out to be a Great Basin Snaketail, making it the first voucher record for Modoc County. This was our main county record of the event, which has continued our streak of finding new bugs on each outing.

Great Basin Snaketail- 1st record for Modoc County, south fork of the Pitt River, east of Likely, CA 08/10/08 by D. Aguillard

We continued to stop at various locations along the Pit River and enjoyed ourselves. Many folks searched for Odes while others enjoyed soaking their feet in the cold waters flowing among the many rocks during the warmest part of the day. Common Green Darners were abundant, seemingly in migration heading downstream. 

Kathy and David Biggs in the south fork of the Pit River, east of Likely, Modoc County, CA. 08/10/2008

The group continued up to Clear Lake, where they found an American Emerald (Cordulia shurtleffi), among others. Most folks had to leave then, or shortly thereafter.  A few tried for Gray Sanddragon (Progomphus borealis) and Pacific Spiketail (Cordulegaster dorsalis) along Mill Creek below Clear Lake. There were sandbars, but no sanddragons; a spiketail was seen, but, yet again, it evaded the net and remains a sight only record. Paul Johnson and Dave and Kathy Biggs stayed on for a 4th day and returned to Goose Lake and to the high mountain lakes visited during our 1st blitz. Karen DeMello and Pat Hintermeister visited the lakes the prior day. At the high elevation lakes a Mountain Emerald (Somatochlora semicircularis) was netted and became the voucher specimen for Modoc County, in addition 4-spotted skimmers (Libellula quadrimaculata) were found, bringing our total number of species seen during the blitz to 49.

Overall it was another wonderful Blitz, with sunshine, slight winds, and temps in the 80’s. No snow this time in Modoc! We had a total of 47 species the first 3 days, if you count my trip to Willow Lake, which added White-faced Meadowhawk (Sympetrum obtrusum) to the list.

  

David Biggs & David Blue
 

 The following lists the total of 49 species seen (and where) during the whole 4 days and was compiled by Kathy Biggs.  Next year’s Blitz will probably be in the Southern California part of the State, and all are welcomed to join us. Please keep reading your Argia for further information.

 

CalOdes/ DSA Ode Blitz 2008 – Modoc County, CA

Complied by Kathy Biggs & Douglas Aguillard

Friday, Day 1 – August 8;

Plumas County:  (7 species found – Doug and Pat)

Willow Lake August 7th & 8th

1.       Northern Spreadwing (Lestes disjunctus)

2.       Spotted Spreadwing (Lestes congener)

3.       Vivid Dancer (Argia vivida)

4.       Tule Bluet (Enallagma carunculatum)

5.       Black-fronted Forktail (Ischnura denticollis)

6.        Variable Darner (Aeshna interrupta)

7.        White-faced Meadowhawk  (Sympetrum obtrusum)

Lassen County: (18 species found) 

Small pond in, 1.8 miles from Adin on 
 
Ash Valley Road

8.    Emerald Spreadwing (Lestes dryas)

9.    Lyre-tipped Spreadwing (Lestes unguiculatus)

10.   Pacific Forktail (Ischnura cervula)

11.   Western Forktail (Ischnura perparva)

12.   Common Green Darner (Anax junius)

13.   Mosaic Darner sp. (Aeshna)

14.   12-spotted Skimmer  (Libellula pulchella)

15.   Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum)

16.   Western/Band-winged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum semicinctum occidentale)

17.   Red-veined Meadowhawk (Sympetrum madidum)

18.   Striped Meadowhawk (Sympetrum pallipes)

  Ash Creek Campground

19.   American Rubyspot  (Hetaerina americana)

20.   River Bluet (Enallagma anna)

21.   Northern/Boreal Bluet (Enallagma annexum/boreale)

Western Forktail (Ischnura perparva)

Common Green Darner (Anax junius)

22.   Walker ’s Darner (Aeshna walkeri)

23.   Great Basin Snaketail (Ophiogomphus morrisoni)

24.   Grappletail  (Octogomphus specularis)

25.   Pacific Spiketail (Cordulegaster dorsalis) (still only a sight record for Lassen)

Modoc County:  *=1st time encountered by us in Modoc  (38 species found)

Ash Creek @ Hwy 299

v      * Tule Bluet (Enallagma carunculatum)

26.   Paddle-tailed Darner (Aeshna palmata)

Rush Creek @ Hwy 299 (first bridge NE of Adin)

27.   Emma’s Dancer (Argia emma)

*  Common Green Darner (Anax junius)

   Darner sp. – not Anax (Aeshna/Rhionaeschna)

28.   Hoary Skimmer (Libellula nodisticta)

29.   Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia)

  *Western/Band-winged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum semicinctum occidentale)

Slough Reservoir

*  Western Forktail (Ischnura perparva)

* Variable Darner (Aeshna interrupta)

30.   8-spotted Skimmer (Libellula forensis)

Western/Band-winged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum semicinctum occidentale)

Bluet sp.

NF Pit River , about 8 mi N of Alturas, 5:45-6:30, 78-81F

31.   River Jewelwing (Calopteryx aequabilis)

32.   American Rubyspot (Hetaerina americana)

33.   Aztec Dancer (Argia agrioides)

Emma’s Dancer (Argia emma)

34.   Sooty Dancer (Argia lugens)

35.   Snaketail sp (on 11th found Pale Snaketail at this same spot) (Ophiogomphus serverus)

Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia)

Western/Band-winged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum semicinctum occidentale)
Saturday, Day 2 – August 9

Modoc County:
Sand Creek upstream of 49 Road (aka CR-18) 41.60771° -120.01546° [16 species!]

   * Northern Spreadwing (Lestes disjunctus)

Emma’s Dancer (Argia emma)

     *Vivid Dancer (Argia vivida)

v      *River Bluet (Enallagma anna)

36.   Northern Bluet (Enallagma annexum)

v      * Pacific Forktail (Ischnura cervula)

v        Western Forktail (Ischnura perparva)

  Common Green Darner (Anax junius)

  Darner sp.  (Aeshna/Rhionaeschna/Anax)

  Pale Snaketail  (Ophiogomphus severus)

37.   Western Pondhawk (Erythemis collocata)

   8-spotted Skimmer (Libellula forensis)

 * 12-spotted Skimmer (Libellula pulchella)

 v* Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum)

38.   Black Meadowhawk (Sympetrum danae)

Western/Band-winged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum semicinctum occidentale) 

Leonard's Hot Spring

Western Pondhawk (Erythemis collocata)

39.   Comanche Skimmer (Libellula comanche)

40.   Bleached Skimmer (Libellula composita)

41.   Desert Whitetail (Plathemis subornata) 

Seyferth Hot Spring [aka “Sacrifice Hot Spring”!] 
 

42.   Pauite Dancer (Argia alberta)

    * Black-fronted Forktail (Ischnura denticollis)

Western Pondhawk (Erythemis collocata)

Comanche Skimmer (Libellula comanche)

Bleached Skimmer (Libellula composita)

Hoary Skimmer (Libellula nodisticta)

12-sptotted Skimmer (Libellula pulchella)

Western/Band-winged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum semicinctum occidentale)

Creek @ Rd. into Fee Reservoir

    *  Spotted Spreadwing (Lestes congener)

43. Western Red Damsel– below outlet (Amphiagrion abbreviatum)

River Bluet – below outlet  (Enallagma anna)

Aeshna sp. – below outlet

Western Forktail (Ischnura perparva)

Eight-spotted Skimmer (Libellula forensis)

Variegated Meadowhawk (also seen on Lake Shore) (Sympetrum corruptum)

Western/Band-winged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum semicinctum occidentale)

Glider species might have been seen (Pantala)

Sunday, Day 3 – August 10

Modoc County:
Modoc NWR – this site visited the day before by Paul

Tule Bluet (Enallagma carunculatum) 

Pacific Forktail (Ischnura cervula)

Black-fronted Forktail (Ischnura denticollis)

44.   Familiar Bluet (Enallagma civile)

        Common Green Darner (Anax junius)

Eight-spotted Skimmer (Libellula forensis)

Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum)

Black Meadowhawk (Sympetrum danae)

45.   Cherry-face Meadowhawk (Sympetrum internum)

       Striped Meadowhawk (Sympetrum pallipes)

SF Pit River E of Likely, MM #3.3; 41.23° N 120.43688° W

v      Emma’s Dancer (Argia emma)

     Spotted Spreadwing (Lestes congener)

Western Forktail (Ischnura perparva)

Common Green Darner (Anax junius)

* Great Basin Snaketail (Ophiogomphus morrisoni)  – upgrade of sight only COUNTY RECORD

 Western/Band-winged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum semicinctum occidentale)

SF Pit River E of Likely, further upstream

Great Basin Snaketail (Ophiogomphus morrisoni)  -common

Green Darner (Anax junius)

Western/Band-winged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum semicinctum occidentale)

Clear Lake

bluet sp. (Enallagma)

Variable Darner  (Aeshna interrupta)

46.   Blue-eyed Darner (Rhionaeschna multicolor)

Paddle-tailed Darner (Aeshna palmata)

47.   American Emerald (male) (Cordulia shurtleffii)

Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia)

meadowhawk sp. (Sympetrum)

Mill Creek (2 separate stops, one near Clear Lake, one much lower on river where sandbars found)

Western Red Damsel (Amphiagrion abbreviatum)

       Vivid Dancer (Argia vivida)

               Bluet sp. (Enallagma)

       Pacific Spiketail (Cordulegaster dorsalis) (still only a sight record for Modoc)

Great Basin Snaketail (Ophiogomphus morrisoni)

Pale Snaketail (Ophiogomphus severus)

Common Green Darner (Anax junius)

American Emerald (Cordulia shurtleffii)

Western/Band-winged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum semicinctum occidentale)
Monday, Day 4 – August 11, 2008

Modoc County:  

Goose Lake @ Stateline Rd.

damsel sp.

48.   Four-spotted Skimmer (Libellula quadrimaculata)

Eight-spotted Skimmer (Libellula forensis)

Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum)

Black Meadowhawk (Sympetrum danae)

Western/Band-winged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum semicinctum occidentale)

Cherry-faced Meadowhawk (Sympetrum internum)

Pond below Lily Lake – 41.9899° N 120.23993° W

Northern Spreadwing (Lestes disjunctus)

Western Red Damsel (Amphiagrion abbreviatum)

Pacific Forktail (Ischnura cervula)

Western Forktail (Ischnura perparva)

Variable Darner (Aeshna interrupta)

Paddle-tailed Darner (Aeshna palmata)

Blue-eyed Darner  (Rhionaeschna multicolor)

Common Green Darner (Anax junius)

American Emerald (Cordulia shurtleffii)

49.   Mountain Emerald (Somatochlora semicircularis) – upgrade of photo COUNTY RECORD

        Four-spotted Skimmer (Libellula quadrimaculata)

Eight/twelve-spotted Skimmer (Libellula forensis/pulchella)

Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum)

Western/Band-winged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum semicinctum occidentale)

Cherry-faced Meadowhawk (Sympetrum internum) 

 
Lily Lake off Highgrade Rd.
 

Bluet sp. (Enallagma)

Blue-eyed Darner  (Rhionaeschna multicolor)

Common Green Darner (Anax junius)

Western/Band-winged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum semicinctum occidentale)      

Linda Blue along Sand Creek