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19 Nov Fabens rest area, El Paso Co (11/18) ["Troy" ] 15 Nov Message Alert - You Have 1 Important Unread Message! ["spkisso" ] 14 Nov Coryphaeschna still flying at Ft. Inge ["Mitch" ] 14 Nov Re: Darner ? at Old Pumphouse [Dennis Paulson ] 14 Nov Darner ? at Old Pumphouse [Bert Wessling ] 13 Nov Bentsen, November 13 [David Edwards & John Hall ] 12 Nov Re: Is this a female "Planiplax sanguiniventris" Mexican Scarlet-tail? [Dennis Paulson ] 12 Nov Re: Is this a female "Planiplax sanguiniventris" Mexican Scarlet-tail? ["Troy" ] 12 Nov Is this a female "Planiplax sanguiniventris" Mexican Scarlet-tail? ["aveslepsodes" ] 11 Nov Do u think this picture is funny? ["newazspfriends" ] 09 Nov Back from Galveston ["Tripp" ] 08 Nov Ft. Inge, Uvalde Co - 11/8 - Blue-faced Darners continue ["Troy" ] 5 Nov Re: Mettalic Pennant, Idiataphe cubensis [Dennis Paulson ] 06 Nov Mettalic Pennant, Idiataphe cubensis ["Tripp" ] 4 Nov Re: Twelve-spotted Skimmer? Estero Llano Grande [Greg Lasley ] 3 Nov Re: Twelve-spotted Skimmer? Estero Llano Grande [] 3 Nov Twelve-spotted Skimmer? Estero Llano Grande [] 01 Nov Miller Creek @ Nueces River, 11-12:30 today ["Troy" ] 31 Oct Halloween at Ft. Inge, Uvalde Co - BF Darners, yes, BPhawk, no ["Troy" ] 28 Oct dsmay@sbcglobal.net has shared: http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2009/1027/2?etoc [dsmay AT sbcglobal.net ] 26 Oct Erythemis attala, black pondhawk at Ft. Inge in Uvalde ["Tripp" ] 25 Oct Cook's Slough & Ft. Inge today - 10/24 ["Troy" ] 23 Oct addendum to LRGV report [Martin Reid ] 23 Oct bug trip to the LRGV Mon - Wed this week [Martin Reid ] 20 Oct Re: Uvalde Co List nearing 100 species ["Mitch" ] 20 Oct Uvalde Co List nearing 100 species ["Troy" ] 20 Oct Recent Photo Additions for October ["Troy" ] 20 Oct Also at Ft. Inge on Sunday! ["Tripp" ] 18 Oct Ft. Inge, Uvalde Co - 3 Darner species, all hung up ["Troy" ] 18 Oct Medina River Park today - sylphs (finally!) ["Troy" ] 17 Oct Sexy biker babes are waiting to meet you! ["newazspfriends" ] 12 Oct Great Pondhawk Erythemis vesiculosa at Uvalde. ["Mitch" ] 12 Oct Record #315487 Submitted to OC ["dragonflywatcher1029" ] 08 Oct Bentsen Rio Grande State Park, 7 October 2009 ["gwlaustin" ] 06 Oct Santa Ana N.W.R., 6 October 2009 ["gwlaustin" ] 05 Oct Santa Ana N.W.R., 5 October 2009 ["gwlaustin" ] 5 Oct Lower Rio Grande Valley ["Terry Hibbitts" ] 05 Oct East Texas Roadtrip (Gonzales, Jasper, Karnes Co's) ["Troy" ] 30 Sep Red Slough Odonate Survey - Sep. 30 ["David Arbour" ] 30 Sep Re: question about CGDs [Chris Hill ] 30 Sep Re: [TexOdes] question about CGDs [Chris Hill ] 30 Sep Re: question about CGDs [Mike May ] 30 Sep Re: [TexOdes] question about CGDs [Mike May ] 30 Sep Re: [TexOdes] question about CGDs [Chris Hill ] 30 Sep Re: question about CGDs [Chris Hill ] 30 Sep Some Odes from yesterday at Buffalo Springs Lake, Lubbock, Tx ["dragonflywatcher1029" ] 30 Sep Re: question about CGDs [Greg Lasley ] 30 Sep Re: [TexOdes] question about CGDs [Mike May ] 30 Sep Re: question about CGDs [Mike May ] 28 Sep Re: question about CGDs [Greg Lasley ] 28 Sep Re: question about CGDs ["David Arbour" ] 28 Sep Re: question about CGDs [Victor Fazio III ] 28 Sep Fw: [texbirds] FW: Dragonfly takes down a hummingbird ["Mitch" ] 28 Sep Re: question about CGDs ["Mitch" ] 28 Sep Re: question about CGDs [Rich Kostecke ] 28 Sep question about CGDs [Dennis Paulson ] 28 Sep Blue-faced, Blue-eyed Darner photos ["Troy" ] 28 Sep Blue-faced, Blue-eyed Darners at Ft. Inge today (9/27) ["Troy" ] 27 Sep Blue-eyed darner at Cooks Slough NP, Uvalde County ["Terry Hibbitts" ] 27 Sep Blue-eyed Darner at Cook's Slough, Southern Spreadwing as well ["Tripp" ] 26 Sep [Private Photo Share] Cali Girl- Has sent you private photos. ["newazspfriends" ] 25 Sep Blue-eyed Darner, Kinney Co, TX (9/24) ["Troy" ] 25 Sep corrections to west Texas trip ["gwlaustin" ] 25 Sep West Texas, Sept. 21-24, 2009 ["gwlaustin" ] 23 Sep Swampdamsels, Sylph, Spreadwings this weekend ["Troy" ] 21 Sep Re: 12-spotted Skimmer, mate guarding pix (Kinney Co, 9/18) [Tim Jones ] 22 Sep 12-spotted Skimmer, mate guarding pix (Kinney Co, 9/18) ["Troy" ] 21 Sep Mexican Scarlet-tail - Planiplax sanquiniventris at Mission, today ["david_t_dauphin" ] 21 Sep Santa Ana, 8-12 am this morning (9/20) ["Troy" ] 20 Sep Re: predation [Dennis Paulson ] 20 Sep predation [tony gallucci ] 20 Sep Santa Ana & Bentsen today, 9/19/09 ["Troy" ] 19 Sep 5 Blue-eyed Darner patrolling the Leona at Ft. Inge, Uvalde Co. ["Tripp" ] 19 Sep Blue-spotted Comet Darner Anax concolor Santa Ana 09 19 09 [] 19 Sep Blue-eyed Darners, Dimmitt Co ["Troy" ] 17 Sep Re: LRGV this weekend [Greg Lasley ] Subject: Fabens rest area, El Paso Co (11/18) From: "Troy" <alterna2627 AT swtexas.net> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:10:07 -0000 on way back from the Mts of NM, stopped at the Fabens rest area SE of El Paso to chase lizards. Surprisingly, had a few Odes present in teh 60 degree temp, albeit all of the same species - Variegated Meadowhawks (3 total). Troy Hibbitts Camp Wood, TX Subject: Message Alert - You Have 1 Important Unread Message! From: "spkisso" <spkisso AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 04:06:17 -0000 Message Alert - You Have 1 Important Unread Message! http://damaraoa.zoomshare.com/files/sexygirl.htm Subject: Coryphaeschna still flying at Ft. Inge From: "Mitch" <mitch AT utopianature.com> Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:11:01 -0600 HI all, There was comparitively lots of odetivity down in the lowlands, the flatland brush country, below 1000', at Ft. Inge today. Whereas up here at Utopia at 1350'+, it is nearly dead already and has been for a couple weeks now. Haven't froze yet but 40 deg.F seems a freeze for most odes here. Anyway, at Ft. Inge today, Kathy and I saw what seemed to me to be 5 male Coryphaeschna adnexa, Blue-faced Darner, finally. What a beauty !! I spent a while on the bank while one, then two occasionally cruised by. Swung and missed more times than I care to admit, but once knocked one into the water, but it got out before the backhand got there. That one was last seen with afterburner on heading for the stratosphere. Coulda had it but I didn't want to take a dip in the Leona.... where I wouldn't eat the fish, much less swim in it. But if you see a real nervous one down there, that's probably it. Seems a high-strung beast anyway. Did get some in-hand photos of a Blue-eyed Darner, Aeshna multicolor, I think, but it didn't look exactly like the CA ones I remember. Will have to look at the pix later when I get 'em off the camera..... Lots of Hyacinth Gliders Miathyria marcella still flying, those males are electric, that is a beauty too. Winter Wren and Green Jay always a good combo. The best bug was a Tarantula half way between Sabinal and Utopia on Hwy. 187, the first I've seen locally, though don't normally cruise roads at dusk much, anymore. P.S. Note a sign on Cook's Slough says closed for repairs, and all the gates were locked, including the one usually open for walking through, such a pleasant surprise. Remember Ft. Inge is only open Sat. & Sun.. happy odes, Mitch Mitch Heindel Utopia, TX www.utopianature.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Darner ? at Old Pumphouse From: Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson AT comcast.net> Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:40:08 -0800 Bert, I think that is very likely a teneral female Blue-faced Darner. They have brown stripes on the thorax when very young, then as they become a bit older, the brown is suppressed and the thorax becomes entirely green. It's always interesting to have emergence dates for odonates. Dennis On Nov 14, 2009, at 4:23 PM, Bert Wessling wrote: > Saw this at the Old Pumphouse in Hidalgo County. Link is to the first > picture of the three I uploaded. > Click on the magnifying glass to enlarge any picture. > > > > > http://picasaweb.google.com/BWessling/DragonfliesAndDamselflies#5404112623115096530 > > > _._,___ > http://picasaweb.google.com/BWessling/DragonfliesAndDamselflies#5404112623115096530 > > Thanks > Bert Wessling > San Juan > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > ----- Dennis Paulson 1724 NE 98 St. Seattle, WA 98115 206-528-1382 dennispaulson AT comcast.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TexOdes/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TexOdes/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: TexOdes-digest AT yahoogroups.com TexOdes-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: TexOdes-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Darner ? at Old Pumphouse From: Bert Wessling <bwessling AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:23:42 -0600 Saw this at the Old Pumphouse in Hidalgo County. Link is to the first picture of the three I uploaded. Click on the magnifying glass to enlarge any picture. > > http://picasaweb.google.com/BWessling/DragonfliesAndDamselflies#5404112623115096530 > _._,___ http://picasaweb.google.com/BWessling/DragonfliesAndDamselflies#5404112623115096530 Thanks Bert Wessling San Juan [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Bentsen, November 13 From: David Edwards & John Hall <edwardshall AT earthlink.net> Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:38:54 -0600 We went to Bentsen today mainly to search for Mexican Scarlet-tail and Metallic Pennant. We found two male Scarlet-tails at the boat ramp and one Metallic Pennant at the top of a bare tree nearby. There was also a male Carmine Skimmer at Eagle Pond. In all we saw 27 species of odes. David Edwards & John Hall Subject: Re: Is this a female "Planiplax sanguiniventris" Mexican Scarlet-tail? From: Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson AT comcast.net> Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:59:34 -0800 John, That's indeed what it is, as Troy wrote. The color pattern (much like other Planiplax females) and long legs make it a certainty. (a) I've never seen one, and (b) I don't even have one in my collection. You guys are driving me crazy! ;-) Dennis On Nov 11, 2009, at 9:43 PM, aveslepsodes wrote: > I found this female at Bentsen State Park Resaca, Hidalgo county, TX on > Nov 2. I hoped to get better photos but have not seen it since then. > Female > A male was seen on the same day about 20 yards away. > Male > John RosfordKerrville TX > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > ----- Dennis Paulson 1724 NE 98 St. Seattle, WA 98115 206-528-1382 dennispaulson AT comcast.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TexOdes/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TexOdes/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: TexOdes-digest AT yahoogroups.com TexOdes-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: TexOdes-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Re: Is this a female "Planiplax sanguiniventris" Mexican Scarlet-tail? From: "Troy" <alterna2627 AT swtexas.net> Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:46:27 -0000 That looks like what I found back in July that Dennis Paulson ID'd as a female Mexican Scarlet-tail: http://www.thehibbitts.net/troy/photo/odonata/mexican.scarlet-tail.p.sanguiniventris.tx.hidalgo.09.2a.jpg And you got a much nicer photo that I did to boot. Very nice! Troy Hibbitts Camp Wood, TX --- In TexOdes AT yahoogroups.com, "aveslepsodes" wrote: > > I found this female at Bentsen State Park Resaca, Hidalgo county, TX on > Nov 2. I hoped to get better photos but have not seen it since then. > Female > A male was seen on the same day about 20 yards away. > Male > John RosfordKerrville TX > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > Subject: Is this a female "Planiplax sanguiniventris" Mexican Scarlet-tail? From: "aveslepsodes" <yahoo3351 AT rosford.com> Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:43:07 -0000 I found this female at Bentsen State Park Resaca, Hidalgo county, TX on Nov 2. I hoped to get better photos but have not seen it since then. Female A male was seen on the same day about 20 yards away. Male John RosfordKerrville TX [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Do u think this picture is funny? From: "newazspfriends" <newazspfriends AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:24:43 -0000 LOL, I found a very funny picture and wanna know your opinion. Do u think this picture is funny? Check the funny picture here: http://funnyoopic.zoomshare.com/files/funny.htm Subject: Back from Galveston From: "Tripp" <tripp.davenport AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:27:37 -0000 Just drove in today from Galveston, woke up to rain in the AM and caught it off and on all the way back until Castroville. Was hoping to stop off at Gonzales and Medina River on the way home but weather did not permit. Anyway, after picking up the metallic pennant on the first day out, everything else was minimal, Did manage to log in a new county record with a couple of rainpool spreadwing at the pelican island wetlands, (Galveston County). My species list was not very impressive Common Green Darners (hundreds) Variegated Meadowhawk (hundreds) Blue Dashers (numerous) Metallic Pennant 1 Wandering glider (numerous) Roseate Skimmer 3 Familiar bluet 6 Rambur's forktail (numerous) Rainpool Spreadwing 2 Glad to hear the Blue-faced Darner are still here, gives me hope that the black pondhawk may still be around as well, need to find the male...maybe next week Subject: Ft. Inge, Uvalde Co - 11/8 - Blue-faced Darners continue From: "Troy" <alterna2627 AT swtexas.net> Date: Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:45:30 -0000 On way home from San Antonio, stopped off at Ft. Inge in Uvalde from 3:00-4:00 to see what I could find. Grass was wet from recent rains, skies were partly to mostly cloudy, temps about 70 degrees. Not much flying, but did get another male Blue-faced Darner to hang up in front of me (similar angle to last time, up above me by about 12') but otherwise didn't see much . . . although with the low light conditions, there were quite a few Orange Bluets out and about. My list: Familiar Bluet (Enallagma civile) lots Orange Bluet (Enallagma signatum) 10+ Fragile Forktail (Ischnura posita) 5-6 Desert Firetail (Telebasis salva) 5-6 Common Green Darner (Anax junius) lots Blue-faced Darner (Coryphaeschna adnexa) 1 male Black Setwing (Dythemis nigrescens) 1 Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) 1 Hyacinth Glider (Miathyria marcella) 10+ Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea) 5-6 Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) 1 Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens) 1 I'm guessing that this sighting (C.adnexa) is getting towards a late date for Texas? Or have they been seen all year round down in the LRGV? Troy Hibbitts Camp Wood, TX Troy Subject: Re: Mettalic Pennant, Idiataphe cubensis From: Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson AT comcast.net> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 19:58:54 -0800 That's a great record indeed, Tripp. Metallic Pennants fly all year in southern Florida. The species is still known only from the south end of the state, but I have found them in numerous places in the past few years where they didn't occur a decade or two earlier. I think the tropical species are spreading northward all the time, and this species as well as some others actually favors open-water habitats such as borrow pits or lakes dug for developments. We found Red-tailed Pennant, Spot-tailed Dasher, and Rainpool Spreadwing in the Florida Panhandle in July, and any of these species could probably be anywhere along the Gulf Coast. Looks as if Idiataphe joins that list. Interestingly, most male Metallic Pennants have a brown thorax with metallic markings, while the one you photographed and the one Greg photographed have an entirely metallic thorax. I would think there was geographic variation, but Sharon Weaver sent me a recent photo from southern Florida that also had an entirely metallic thorax. I hope someone can collect more of these in Texas to check that out. Dennis On Nov 5, 2009, at 7:37 PM, Tripp wrote: > In Galveston Today for STAT conference, went over to high island and > then on to Baytown and sanjacinto area, saw hundreds of common green > darner and healthy numbers of blue dasher and wandering glider. I > seem to have really good luck finding unusual stuff lately. I ended > up with something good again today, took about 50 pics of a pennent > up high, that I am convinced is a metallic pennant, posted it on my > flickr page > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/tdavenport/4079649424/in/photostream/ > http://www.flickr.com/photos/tdavenport/4079649582/in/photostream/ > http://www.flickr.com/photos/tdavenport/4078891483/in/photostream/ > > If it is confirmed, it is a new record Harris Co. and quite a range > extension and seasonal extension for this guy. Did note there was > one record on OC for Oct. 27 from Florida.. > > > ----- Dennis Paulson 1724 NE 98 St. Seattle, WA 98115 206-528-1382 dennispaulson AT comcast.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Mettalic Pennant, Idiataphe cubensis From: "Tripp" <tripp.davenport AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:37:25 -0000 In Galveston Today for STAT conference, went over to high island and then on to Baytown and sanjacinto area, saw hundreds of common green darner and healthy numbers of blue dasher and wandering glider. I seem to have really good luck finding unusual stuff lately. I ended up with something good again today, took about 50 pics of a pennent up high, that I am convinced is a metallic pennant, posted it on my flickr page http://www.flickr.com/photos/tdavenport/4079649424/in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/tdavenport/4079649582/in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/tdavenport/4078891483/in/photostream/ If it is confirmed, it is a new record Harris Co. and quite a range extension and seasonal extension for this guy. Did note there was one record on OC for Oct. 27 from Florida. Subject: Re: Twelve-spotted Skimmer? Estero Llano Grande From: Greg Lasley <glasley AT earthlink.net> Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 07:21:05 -0600 Good comments, Josh. John Abbott's book "Dragonflies and Damselflies of Texas" was published in 2005 and in the intervening years records of Twelve-spotted Skimmers have indeed turned up in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Every year or so John publishes a softcover "Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata) of Texas" (Available on Odonata Central), and the January 2008 version shows Hidalgo Co. as having verified records. This publication is well worthwhile each year it comes out to keep the reader informed about new distribution and date records. Also, Dennis Pauson's new book, "Dragonflies and Damselflies of the West" shows all the lower Rio Grande Valley in the range of this species. Best to All, Greg Lasley Austin On Nov 3, 2009, at 8:41 PM, Nov 3, opihi AT mindspring.com wrote: > Hi Mary Beth - Twelve-spots have been recorded in the LRGV, but not > often, and perhaps recently enough that it was after Abbott's book > was published. Last autumn there actually was an impressive influx > of them, with multiple individuals at both Bentsen and Resaca. You > might have the first record for Llano though... No question about > the ID of yours! > > Cheers, > > Josh Rose > now in Amherst MA > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Twelve-spotted Skimmer? Estero Llano Grande From: opihi AT mindspring.com Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 21:41:15 -0500 (EST) Hi Mary Beth - Twelve-spots have been recorded in the LRGV, but not often, and perhaps recently enough that it was after Abbott's book was published. Last autumn there actually was an impressive influx of them, with multiple individuals at both Bentsen and Resaca. You might have the first record for Llano though... No question about the ID of yours! Cheers, Josh Rose now in Amherst MA -----Original Message----- >From: MiriamEagl AT aol.com >Sent: Nov 3, 2009 7:32 PM >To: TexOdes AT yahoogroups.com >Subject: [TexOdes] Twelve-spotted Skimmer? Estero Llano Grande > >Hi, all! > >Had what looks like a Twelve-spotted Skimmer at Estero Llano Grande SP this > morning, but according to the book they aren't supposed to be here (but >not by much). Here's the pic: > >_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/image/119031113_ >(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/image/119031113) > >Take care, > >MB > >Mary Beth Stowe >McAllen, TX >_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) > > > > >[Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > >------------------------------------ > >Yahoo! Groups Links > > > Subject: Twelve-spotted Skimmer? Estero Llano Grande From: MiriamEagl AT aol.com Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 19:32:03 EST Hi, all! Had what looks like a Twelve-spotted Skimmer at Estero Llano Grande SP this morning, but according to the book they aren't supposed to be here (but not by much). Here's the pic: _http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/image/119031113_ (http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/image/119031113) Take care, MB Mary Beth Stowe McAllen, TX _www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Miller Creek @ Nueces River, 11-12:30 today From: "Troy" <alterna2627 AT swtexas.net> Date: Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:05:57 -0000 made a quick run down the the confluence of Miller Creek & the Nueces River (west of Camp Wood) before the game today. Got a New County Record in Autumn Meadowhawk, a new locale for the County in Flame Skimmer, and a new late date (for me) on Coppery Dancer. Also saw one distant Darner over the river (not an Identifiable look, although probably Common Green) and a Bluish Skimmer in bad light (probably Comanche). My list: American Rubyspot (Hetaerina americana) 1 Coppery Dancer (Argia cuprea) 4 Variable Dancer (Argia fumipennis) 1 Kiowa Dancer (Argia immunda) 5-6 Blue-ringed Dancer (Argia sedula) 5-6 Dusky Dancer (Argia translata) 10+ Neotropical Bluet (Enallagma novaehispaniae) 10+ Arroyo Bluet (Enallagma praevarum) 10+ Pale-faced Clubskimmer (Brechmorhoga mendax) 1 Black Setwing (Dythemis nigrescens) 10+ Swift Setwing (Dythemis velox) 10+ Flame Skimmer (Libellula saturata) 3 Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum) 3-4 Autumn Meadowhawk (Sympetrum vicinum) 2 Troy Hibbitts Camp Wood, TX Subject: Halloween at Ft. Inge, Uvalde Co - BF Darners, yes, BPhawk, no From: "Troy" <alterna2627 AT swtexas.net> Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:53:38 -0000 Dad & I went to Ft. Inge today, met up with Tripp Davenport. Dad & I were there from 11:00 until about 3:30, spend the entire time up in the Northern end of the Park looking for Darners and the Black Pondhawk. Tripp left sometime around 2:00, and may have seen a few things that we didn't. I personally saw at least 6 different Blue-faced Darners today, and got photos of 4 hung up (although 1 was way up in the canopy of an oak). Did finally get a male, and I collected a juvenile female (hand-caught!) which I'd be happy to deposit with John Abbot as a voucher. Dad & Tripp saw a several Blue-eyed Darners, and of course the Common Greens were ubiquitous. New bugs for the park (for me, anyway) were a single male Autumn Meadowhawk (which I photogrphed) and a single male Flame Skimmer (fly-by, no photographs). I also saw what I presume to be a teneral female Southern Spreadwing (1 poor photo before it flew up into the tree canopy). The list: Southern Spreadwing (Lestes australis) 1 Golden-winged Dancer (Argia rhoadsi) 1 Dusky Dancer (Argia translata) 4-5 Double-striped Bluet (Enallagma basidens) 1 Familiar Bluet (Enallagma civile) lots Citrine Forktail (Ischnura hastata) 1 Fragile Forktail (Ischnura posita) lots Rambur's Forktail (Ischnura ramburii) 1 Desert Firetail (Telebasis salva) lots Common Green Darner (Anax junius) lots Blue-faced Darner (Coryphaeschna adnexa) 6 (2 males, 4 females) + however many more Dad & Tripp saw Blue-eyed Darner (Rhionaeschna multicolor) 3 Black Setwing (Dythemis nigrescens) lots Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) 10+ Flame Skimmer (Libellula saturata) 1 Hyacinth Glider (Miathyria marcella) lots Thornbush Dasher (Micrathyria hagenii) 3-4 Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea) 10+ Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) lots Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens) 5-6 (several hung up) Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum) 5-6 Autumn Meadowhawk (Sympetrum vicinum) 1 On the way home, Dad & I stopped briefly at the 19 mi crossin of the Nueces at TX Hwy 55, and had a few things Comache Dancer (Argia barretti) 1 Dusky Dancers (Argia translata) lots Common Green Darner (Anax junius) 1 Pale-faced Clubskimmer (Brechmorhoga mendax) 2 Black Setwing (Dythemis nigrescens) 3-4 Troy Hibbitts Camp Wood, TX Subject: dsmay@sbcglobal.net has shared: http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2009/1027/2?etoc From: dsmay AT sbcglobal.net <dsmay@sbcglobal.net> Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:00:53 -0400 dsmay AT sbcglobal.net wanted to share this with you: Interesting damselfly research report http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2009/1027/2?etoc http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2009/1027/2?etoc ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Powered by ShareThis http://sharethis.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Erythemis attala, black pondhawk at Ft. Inge in Uvalde From: "Tripp" <tripp.davenport AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 05:32:50 -0000 Went to Ft. Inge today to try and photograph the male blue-faced darners. Troy had luck getting shots of the males and I got several good female shots last week. Saw 5 Blue-faced, 3 males and 2 females but was not sucessful in getting any hanging shots. Did see 3 blue-eyed darners as well as 20+ A. junius. The highlight of the day came late in the afternoon as I was looking up toward the hill for hanging darners, I stumbled on a sitting ode that at first I thought to be a pennant of some sort but on closer observation decided it to be a pondhawk, I have identified it as a black pondhawk female. If it is, it is another new county record for this year! Have sent the pics to several people to confirm as I do not have a key for that species...Posted the pics on my flickr page http://www.flickr.com/photos/tdavenport/4045084147/ ...any feedback is welcome Subject: Cook's Slough & Ft. Inge today - 10/24 From: "Troy" <alterna2627 AT swtexas.net> Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 02:34:22 -0000 First went to Cooks (12:00-1:30) to try to turn up something new for the country, then went over to Ft. Inge to try for a male Blue-faced Darner (from 1:45-4:30). At Cook's, numbers were a bit down, but I did OK, found: Blue-fronted Dancer (Argia apicalis) lots Blue-ringed Dancer (Argia sedula) lots Dusky Dancer (Argia translata) 1 Double-striped Bluet (Enallagma basidens) 2-3 Familiar Bluet (Enallagma civile) lots Rambur's Forktail (Ischnura ramburii) 5-6 Common Green Darner (Anax junius) lots Blue-eyed Darner (Rhionaeschna multicolor) 2 Broad-striped Forceptail (Aphylla angustifolia) 1 Forceptail sp [ (Aphylla sp) several that I couldn't ID Flag-tailed Spinyleg (Dromogomphus spoliatus) 1 Leaftail sp(Phyllogomphoides sp) 1, prob five-striped Red-tailed Pennant (Brachymesia furcata) 5-6 Four-spotted Pennant (Brachymesia gravida) 1 Checkered Setwing (Dythemis fugax) 1 Black Setwing (Dythemis nigrescens) lots Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) lots Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) 1 Carmine Skimmer (Orthemis discolor) 2-3 Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea) lots Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) lots Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens) 3-4 Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera) lots Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum) lots Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata) lots Red Saddlebags (Tramea onusta) 2-3 At Ft. Inge, finally got decent photos of Blue-faced Darner male in flight (not hung up, alas) and a female ovipositing . . . pix will be posted this evening here: http://www.thehibbitts.net/troy/photo/odonata/blue-faced_darner.htm My list for Ft. Inge included: Blue-ringed Dancer (Argia sedula) 3-4 Dusky Dancer (Argia translata) 1 Familiar Bluet (Enallagma civile) lots Orange Bluet (Enallagma signatum) 7-8 Fragile Forktail (Ischnura posita) lots Desert Firetail (Telebasis salva) lots Common Green Darner (Anax junius) lots Blue-faced Darner (Coryphaeschna adnexa) 3 (2 males, 1 ovipositing female) Blue-eyed Darner (Rhionaeschna multicolor) 4-5 Pale-faced Clubskimmer (Brechmorhoga mendax) 1 Black Setwing (Dythemis nigrescens) 10+ Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) lots Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) 1 Hyacinth Glider (Miathyria marcella) lots Carmine Skimmer (Orthemis discolor) 10+ Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea) lots Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) lots Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens) 1 Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera) lots Filigree Skimmer (Pseudoleon superbus) 1 Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum) 5-6 Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata) lots Not the best lighting for the Darner in flight, need to return sometime in the morning. Hopefully, the weather will be right next weekend again, and I'll be able to get there before the sun is in the wrong place - that or actually find a male hung up. Troy Hibbitts Camp Wood, TX Subject: addendum to LRGV report From: Martin Reid <upupa AT airmail.net> Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:01:42 -0500 Dear all, I forgot two interesting odes: a female Ringed Forceptail at Bentsen on Oct 19. a female Blue-faced Darner at Frontera Audubon Thicket on Oct 21. Cheers, Martin --- Martin Reid www.martinreid.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: bug trip to the LRGV Mon - Wed this week From: Martin Reid <upupa AT airmail.net> Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:14:08 -0500 Dear All, I looked for odes and leps in the Valley the first 3 days of this week. The weather was mostly good, although the strong wind made it difficult at times. At the resaca at Bentsen on Monday I found just one on-territory male Mexican Scarlet-tail - a new late-date, I think. Also near the resaca I counted thirteen separate male Metallic Pennants atop the trees. Two of them were some way from the water's edge on trees next to the entrance road between the resaca clearing and the fork in the road for the outer loop, and another was on a tree next to the trail that cuts through from the pavilion to the old trailer loop (on the way to the blind). Again I think this is a new late-date. Also seen were two male Marl Pennants in similar situations, but both closer to the water's edge. The numbers of commoner species was way down, but there were still a few Yellowfaces and Golden-winged Dancers at the edge of the water, plus a couple of male Spot-tailed Dashers, Red-tailed Pennants, and such. There were lots of BLack Saddlebags and Green Darners everywhere. I spent part of Tues and Wed at Santa Ana, but again numbers were down considerably compared to my previous visit. The front pond is still dry, awaiting a visit from the mowers to cut down the cattails and other plants choking the open areas (this hair cut was due to happen this week, I was told). The numbers of dragons patrolling over the water in Willow #3 and the remnant in Willow #2 was way, way down, with just a handful commoner taxa seen. I did find some Cream-tipped Swampdamsels next to the trail that runs from #2 to #1, it the spot were there was least wind: there were three "subadult" males hanging on the Spanish Moss just inside from the edge of the trail, at about 4 feet from the ground. All three looked the same, and just like the individual found in March by Jan Dauphin at NABA that I got photos of... Thus I speculate that this "subdued male" morph may be the state in which males "overwinter" - ? Willow #1 remains dry, and the grassy parts close to the fallen tree still are home to a few male Blue-striped Spreadwings - which have been present here for a number of weeks. Having not seen any Three- striped Dashers for months, I found four close to that same downed tree in Willow #1- none were quite fully-mature, in terms of color, but they were not teneral either. No crepuscular darners detected except for one morning I did watch one Gynacantha (presumed to be mexicana) feeding actively under the trees to the right as you walk from the closed gate on the entrance road, towards to irrigation channel. It flew for many minutes, moving slowly at heights ranging from 2 feet from the ground to well above head-height, slowly working in and out of clumps of whirled leaves - looking for all the world like a giant version of a hunting bluet! (but a little faster). I never saw it perch to confirm its ID. While lepping at Estero Llano Grande SP I saw mostly common species, but photographed a female dancer that looks like Golden-winged - has this been documented at that site previously? I'll close by making a plea to my fellow Odistas to catch-up on placing records on Odonata Central, as I see that many significant records are missing (for example, only Fabrice and I have ever recorded Mexican Scarlet-tail in the U.S., according to the OC database...) Of course, this admonition applies especially to me, who is woefully behind on this task! I'll be trying to get caught-up as soon as I can. Cheers, Martin --- Martin Reid www.martinreid.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Uvalde Co List nearing 100 species From: "Mitch" <mitch AT utopianature.com> Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:33:38 -0500 Hi Troy, You new dragon guys are whoopin' rear in Uvalde Co.! GREAT work !! Congratulations. Yes I've had Swamp Darner. But I am one of the (according to studies released by our government a couple months ago) 37% of people in urban areas, and 46% of people in rural areas without DSL. That means I cannot register with OdeCentral. http://www.utopianature.com/UVCOODENCRS.html has the new (at the time I documented them) ode records that I've found for Uvalde Co., to the best of my knowledge. Pictures of about 7 species that were new when I found them are on that page. There may be something else there? Anyone is welcome to them if they can do something with 'em. If they don't copy in MS exploder, try Mozilla or ask and I'll dig up copies. I have *seen only* Giant Darner and Turquoise-tipped Darner in Uvalde County, but was unable to document them. And I have seen Jade-striped Sylph too, but again, no irrefutable proof. Keep up the good work! Nice Blue-faced Meadowhawk!!! best regards, Mitch Mitch Heindel Utopia, TX ----- Original Message ----- From: Troy To: TexOdes AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 6:39 PM Subject: [TexOdes] Uvalde Co List nearing 100 species Per Odonata Central, the Uvalde County list is approaching the century mark at 94 species + pending Blue-faced Darner (C. adnexa) and Spot-tailed Dasher (M. aequalis) photos (which I'm assuming will be confirmed). Mitch, didn't you also get a Swamp Darner (E. heros) at Concan or Utopia this summer? If so, post it (or fwd me the photo, and I'll do so) . . . that would bring our County to 97 species - 3 shy of 100. Some things I think ought to be present or expected. Great Blue Skimmer (L. vibrans) - Dad & Tripp may have seen one at Tom Nunn - given their presence here in the Canyon, I should have looked for this one down around Montell in mid-summer. Blue-faced Meadowhawk (S. ambiguum) - I just got on in San Antonio . . . looked a little bit in the woods at Ft. Inge, and wouldn't be surprised were one to turn up. Turquoise-tipped Darner (R. psilus) - I think I saw one there other day in Brackettville (small, dark darner, looked too dark for R. multicolor) Vesper Bluet (E. vesperum) - seems likely at Cook's or Ft. Inge, look later in the day? Rainpool Spreadwing (L. forficula) - perhaps too dry this year, but should be watched for closely Jade-striped Sylph (M. inequiunguis) - Camp Wood is only 5 miles upstream from the Uvalde Co line - should be looked for at Montell at the spring there, maybe across the river at the creek/spring run there as well Antillean Saddlebags (T. insularis) - its in Kinney Co (somewhere) - I know that Tripp's been looking for this one Here is the current Uvalde Co list (minus the species above): Acanthagrion quadratum (Mexican Wedgetail) Anax amazili (Amazon Darner) Anax junius (Common Green Darner) Anax longipes (Comet Darner) Aphylla angustifolia (Broad-striped Forceptail) Aphylla protracta (Narrow-striped Forceptail) Archilestes grandis (Great Spreadwing) Argia apicalis (Blue-fronted Dancer) Argia barretti (Comanche Dancer) Argia cuprea (Coppery Dancer) Argia fumipennis (Variable Dancer) Argia fumipennis violacea (Violet Dancer) Argia immunda (Kiowa Dancer) Argia leonorae (Leonora's Dancer) Argia moesta (Powdered Dancer) Argia nahuana (Aztec Dancer) Argia plana (Springwater Dancer) Argia rhoadsi (Golden-winged Dancer) Argia sedula (Blue-ringed Dancer) Argia translata (Dusky Dancer) Arigomphus submedianus (Jade Clubtail) Basiaeschna janata (Springtime Darner) Brachymesia furcata (Red-tailed Pennant) Brachymesia gravida (Four-spotted Pennant) Brachymesia herbida (Tawny Pennant) Brechmorhoga mendax (Pale-faced Clubskimmer) Cannaphila insularis funerea (Gray-waisted Skimmer) Celithemis eponina (Halloween Pennant) Celithemis fasciata (Banded Pennant) Didymops transversa (Stream Cruiser) Dromogomphus spinosus (Black-shouldered Spinyleg) Dromogomphus spoliatus (Flag-tailed Spinyleg) Dythemis fugax (Checkered Setwing) Dythemis nigrescens (Black Setwing) Dythemis velox (Swift Setwing) Enallagma basidens (Double-striped Bluet) Enallagma civile (Familiar Bluet) Enallagma exsulans (Stream Bluet) Enallagma novaehispaniae (Neotropical Bluet) Enallagma praevarum (Arroyo Bluet) Enallagma signatum (Orange Bluet) Epitheca costalis (Slender Baskettail) Epitheca petechialis (Dot-winged Baskettail) Epitheca princeps (Prince Baskettail) Erpetogomphus designatus (Eastern Ringtail) Erythemis plebeja (Pin-tailed Pondhawk) Erythemis simplicicollis (Common Pondhawk) Erythemis vesiculosa (Great Pondhawk) Erythrodiplax minuscula (Little Blue Dragonlet) Erythrodiplax umbrata (Band-winged Dragonlet) Gomphus militaris (Sulphur-tipped Clubtail) Hagenius brevistylus (Dragonhunter) Hetaerina americana (American Rubyspot) Hetaerina titia (Smoky Rubyspot) Ischnura hastata (Citrine Forktail) Ischnura posita (Fragile Forktail) Ischnura ramburii (Rambur's Forktail) Lestes alacer (Plateau Spreadwing) Lestes australis (Southern Spreadwing) Lestes sigma (Chalky Spreadwing) Libellula comanche (Comanche Skimmer) Libellula croceipennis (Neon Skimmer) Libellula incesta (Slaty Skimmer) Libellula luctuosa (Widow Skimmer) Libellula needhami (Needham's Skimmer) Libellula pulchella (Twelve-spotted Skimmer) Libellula saturata (Flame Skimmer) Macrodiplax balteata (Marl Pennant) Macromia annulata (Bronzed River Cruiser) Macrothemis imitans leucozona (Ivory-striped Sylph) Macrothemis inacuta (Straw-colored Sylph) Miathyria marcella (Hyacinth Glider) Micrathyria hagenii (Thornbush Dasher) Nasiaeschna pentacantha (Cyrano Darner) Neoneura aaroni (Coral-fronted Threadtail) Neoneura amelia (Amelia's Threadtail) Orthemis discolor (Carmine Skimmer) Orthemis ferruginea (Roseate Skimmer) Pachydiplax longipennis (Blue Dasher) Pantala flavescens (Wandering Glider) Pantala hymenaea (Spot-winged Glider) Perithemis domitia (Slough Amberwing) Perithemis tenera (Eastern Amberwing) Phyllogomphoides albrighti (Five-striped Leaftail) Phyllogomphoides stigmatus (Four-striped Leaftail) Plathemis lydia (Common Whitetail) Protoneura cara (Orange-striped Threadtail) Pseudoleon superbus (Filigree Skimmer) Rhionaeschna multicolor (Blue-eyed Darner) Sympetrum corruptum (Variegated Meadowhawk) Sympetrum vicinum (Autumn Meadowhawk) Telebasis salva (Desert Firetail) Tramea calverti (Striped Saddlebags) Tramea lacerata (Black Saddlebags) Tramea onusta (Red Saddlebags) Troy Hibbitts Camp Wood, TX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Internal Virus Database is out of date. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.421 / Virus Database: 270.14.20/2439 - Release Date: 10/15/2009 8:39 PM [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Uvalde Co List nearing 100 species From: "Troy" <alterna2627 AT swtexas.net> Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:39:20 -0000 Per Odonata Central, the Uvalde County list is approaching the century mark at 94 species + pending Blue-faced Darner (C. adnexa) and Spot-tailed Dasher (M. aequalis) photos (which I'm assuming will be confirmed). Mitch, didn't you also get a Swamp Darner (E. heros) at Concan or Utopia this summer? If so, post it (or fwd me the photo, and I'll do so) . . . that would bring our County to 97 species - 3 shy of 100. Some things I think ought to be present or expected. Great Blue Skimmer (L. vibrans) - Dad & Tripp may have seen one at Tom Nunn - given their presence here in the Canyon, I should have looked for this one down around Montell in mid-summer. Blue-faced Meadowhawk (S. ambiguum) - I just got on in San Antonio . . . looked a little bit in the woods at Ft. Inge, and wouldn't be surprised were one to turn up. Turquoise-tipped Darner (R. psilus) - I think I saw one there other day in Brackettville (small, dark darner, looked too dark for R. multicolor) Vesper Bluet (E. vesperum) - seems likely at Cook's or Ft. Inge, look later in the day? Rainpool Spreadwing (L. forficula) - perhaps too dry this year, but should be watched for closely Jade-striped Sylph (M. inequiunguis) - Camp Wood is only 5 miles upstream from the Uvalde Co line - should be looked for at Montell at the spring there, maybe across the river at the creek/spring run there as well Antillean Saddlebags (T. insularis) - its in Kinney Co (somewhere) - I know that Tripp's been looking for this one Here is the current Uvalde Co list (minus the species above): Acanthagrion quadratum (Mexican Wedgetail) Anax amazili (Amazon Darner) Anax junius (Common Green Darner) Anax longipes (Comet Darner) Aphylla angustifolia (Broad-striped Forceptail) Aphylla protracta (Narrow-striped Forceptail) Archilestes grandis (Great Spreadwing) Argia apicalis (Blue-fronted Dancer) Argia barretti (Comanche Dancer) Argia cuprea (Coppery Dancer) Argia fumipennis (Variable Dancer) Argia fumipennis violacea (Violet Dancer) Argia immunda (Kiowa Dancer) Argia leonorae (Leonora's Dancer) Argia moesta (Powdered Dancer) Argia nahuana (Aztec Dancer) Argia plana (Springwater Dancer) Argia rhoadsi (Golden-winged Dancer) Argia sedula (Blue-ringed Dancer) Argia translata (Dusky Dancer) Arigomphus submedianus (Jade Clubtail) Basiaeschna janata (Springtime Darner) Brachymesia furcata (Red-tailed Pennant) Brachymesia gravida (Four-spotted Pennant) Brachymesia herbida (Tawny Pennant) Brechmorhoga mendax (Pale-faced Clubskimmer) Cannaphila insularis funerea (Gray-waisted Skimmer) Celithemis eponina (Halloween Pennant) Celithemis fasciata (Banded Pennant) Didymops transversa (Stream Cruiser) Dromogomphus spinosus (Black-shouldered Spinyleg) Dromogomphus spoliatus (Flag-tailed Spinyleg) Dythemis fugax (Checkered Setwing) Dythemis nigrescens (Black Setwing) Dythemis velox (Swift Setwing) Enallagma basidens (Double-striped Bluet) Enallagma civile (Familiar Bluet) Enallagma exsulans (Stream Bluet) Enallagma novaehispaniae (Neotropical Bluet) Enallagma praevarum (Arroyo Bluet) Enallagma signatum (Orange Bluet) Epitheca costalis (Slender Baskettail) Epitheca petechialis (Dot-winged Baskettail) Epitheca princeps (Prince Baskettail) Erpetogomphus designatus (Eastern Ringtail) Erythemis plebeja (Pin-tailed Pondhawk) Erythemis simplicicollis (Common Pondhawk) Erythemis vesiculosa (Great Pondhawk) Erythrodiplax minuscula (Little Blue Dragonlet) Erythrodiplax umbrata (Band-winged Dragonlet) Gomphus militaris (Sulphur-tipped Clubtail) Hagenius brevistylus (Dragonhunter) Hetaerina americana (American Rubyspot) Hetaerina titia (Smoky Rubyspot) Ischnura hastata (Citrine Forktail) Ischnura posita (Fragile Forktail) Ischnura ramburii (Rambur's Forktail) Lestes alacer (Plateau Spreadwing) Lestes australis (Southern Spreadwing) Lestes sigma (Chalky Spreadwing) Libellula comanche (Comanche Skimmer) Libellula croceipennis (Neon Skimmer) Libellula incesta (Slaty Skimmer) Libellula luctuosa (Widow Skimmer) Libellula needhami (Needham's Skimmer) Libellula pulchella (Twelve-spotted Skimmer) Libellula saturata (Flame Skimmer) Macrodiplax balteata (Marl Pennant) Macromia annulata (Bronzed River Cruiser) Macrothemis imitans leucozona (Ivory-striped Sylph) Macrothemis inacuta (Straw-colored Sylph) Miathyria marcella (Hyacinth Glider) Micrathyria hagenii (Thornbush Dasher) Nasiaeschna pentacantha (Cyrano Darner) Neoneura aaroni (Coral-fronted Threadtail) Neoneura amelia (Amelia's Threadtail) Orthemis discolor (Carmine Skimmer) Orthemis ferruginea (Roseate Skimmer) Pachydiplax longipennis (Blue Dasher) Pantala flavescens (Wandering Glider) Pantala hymenaea (Spot-winged Glider) Perithemis domitia (Slough Amberwing) Perithemis tenera (Eastern Amberwing) Phyllogomphoides albrighti (Five-striped Leaftail) Phyllogomphoides stigmatus (Four-striped Leaftail) Plathemis lydia (Common Whitetail) Protoneura cara (Orange-striped Threadtail) Pseudoleon superbus (Filigree Skimmer) Rhionaeschna multicolor (Blue-eyed Darner) Sympetrum corruptum (Variegated Meadowhawk) Sympetrum vicinum (Autumn Meadowhawk) Telebasis salva (Desert Firetail) Tramea calverti (Striped Saddlebags) Tramea lacerata (Black Saddlebags) Tramea onusta (Red Saddlebags) Troy Hibbitts Camp Wood, TX Subject: Recent Photo Additions for October From: "Troy" <alterna2627 AT swtexas.net> Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:09:23 -0000 Common Green Darners, Medina River & Ft. Inge http://www.thehibbitts.net/troy/photo/odonata/common_green_darner.htm Blue-faced Darner, female, Ft. Inge (I think I may have jumped up the male, be back Saturday looking for it) http://www.thehibbitts.net/troy/photo/odonata/blue-faced_darner.htm Blue-eyed Darner, male, Ft. Inge http://www.thehibbitts.net/troy/photo/odonata/blue-eyed_darner.htm Ivory-striped Sylph, Medina River (male & female) http://www.thehibbitts.net/troy/photo/odonata/ivory_striped_sylph.htm Hyacinth Glider, Ft. Inge & Independence Park http://www.thehibbitts.net/troy/photo/odonata/hyacinth_glider.htm Carmine Skimmer, Medina River & Ft Inge http://www.thehibbitts.net/troy/photo/odonata/carmine_skimmer.htm Blue-faced Meadowhawk, Medina River (New County Record, SWmost record for state) http://www.thehibbitts.net/troy/photo/odonata/blue-faced_meadowhawk.htm Lilypad Forktail, Jasper Co Beaver Ponds (New County Record) http://www.thehibbitts.net/troy/photo/odonata/lilypad_forktail.htm Troy Subject: Also at Ft. Inge on Sunday! From: "Tripp" <tripp.davenport AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 04:07:06 -0000 I guess I just missed Troy at Ft. Inge on Sunday. Got great shots of the Blue-faced Darners both a male and a female both hung up for extended period of time allowing great photos. Also got a male blue-eyed darner to hang up for several shots from different angles. Had a female blue-eyed hang up in tall canopy. Managed to photo the same carmine skimmer that Troy saw as well. http://www.flickr.com/photos/tdavenport/4028537888/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/tdavenport/4027787487/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/tdavenport/4027794287/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/tdavenport/4027780575/ Spent Saturday at San Antonio and ran out to Gonzales, the river was still in semi flood stage so the banks were treacherous, managed to see all the common stuff but nothing unique. Subject: Ft. Inge, Uvalde Co - 3 Darner species, all hung up From: "Troy" <alterna2627 AT swtexas.net> Date: Sun, 18 Oct 2009 23:52:04 -0000 Spent the afternoon at Ft. Inge Historic Park on the Leona River in south Uvalde today. Notable were 3 species of Darner, all of which I got photos of hung up. I also had a couple of odd Dasher-types of which I'm unsure of the ID . . . I'll post pix of those when I get a chance (if I'm still having problems with the IDs when I look at the images). I probably could have had a longer list, but I spent a lot of time waiting for and searching for the Blue-faced Darners again. Anyway, here is my list: American Rubyspot (1) Blue-fronted Dancer (4-5) Blue-ringed Dancer (10+) Familiar Bluet (lots) Fragile Forktail (lots) Desert Firetail (10+) Common Green Darner (lots) Blue-faced Darner (2 females, 1 hung - with a single intact cerci and therefore a different individual than last month) Blue-eyed Darner (10+) Red-tailed Pennant (1) Black Setwing (10+) Eastern Pondhawk (10+) Twelve-spotted Skimmer (5-6) Hyacinth Glider (lots) Thornbush Dasher (2-3) Carmine Skimmer (1) Roseate Skimmer (5-6) had both Orthemis perched on same stick Blue Dasher (lots) Wandering Glider (10+) Eastern Amberwing (lots) Filigree Skimmer (1) Black Saddlebags (lots) Red Saddlebags (1) Troy Hibbitts Camp Wood, TX Subject: Medina River Park today - sylphs (finally!) From: "Troy" <alterna2627 AT swtexas.net> Date: Sun, 18 Oct 2009 04:14:04 -0000 My wife had to take her Mini in for service, and I had her drop me off at the Medina River Park in South San Antonio (rather than wait at the Mall). Was hoping to see and photograph Ivory-striped Sylphs, and was not disappointed. I spent most of my time there standing at one spot (Power line trail) once I found the Sylphs waiting for them to hang up, but was only lucky 2x, although I saw males hang up at least 4 other times, they were either at the wrong angle for photographs, flew of before I could get focused, or (once) too close to focus. I don't know exactly how many I saw at this spot, but it was at least 3 - I got a female, and saw at 2 males flying at one time . . . but there could have been quite a few more, as none seemed to be flying a regular beat. I also got photos of a couple of bugs that I needed better shots of. I got a nice adult male Carmine Skimmer (also on the Powerline trail) and a nice mature male Blue-faced Meadowhawk down in the woods near the jct of the Rio Medina Trail and the Nogales trail. I didn't see much flying near the water, although I didn't spend a lot of time there. Also, most of the activity was from 11:30 until about 3:00 . . . didn't see much the last hour I was there. My list: American Rubyspot (3-4) Smoky Rubyspot (10+) Chalky Spreadwing (2) Familiar Bluet (1) Double-striped Bluet (2) Powdered Dancer (lots) Blue-fronted Dancer (lots) Blue-ringed Dancer (10+) Common Green Darner (lots) Flag-tailed Spinylegs (2-3) Pale-faced Clubskimmer (5-6) Black Setwing (10+) Swift Setwing (10+) Eastern Pondhawk (1) Ivory-striped Sylph (3 for sure, maybe as many as 10) Thornbush Dasher (1) Carmine Skimmer (1) Roseate Skimmer (5-6) Blue-faced Meadowhawk (1) Variegated Meadowhawk (5-6) Black Saddlebags (10+) Troy Hibbitts Camp Wood, TX Subject: Sexy biker babes are waiting to meet you! From: "newazspfriends" <newazspfriends AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 01:38:37 -0000 Sexy biker babes are waiting to meet you! Check their HOT profiles here: http://ronmorse.zoomshare.com/files/chicks.htm Subject: Great Pondhawk Erythemis vesiculosa at Uvalde. From: "Mitch" <mitch AT utopianature.com> Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:14:15 -0500 Hi all, Yesterday Oct. 11 at Cook's Slough in Uvalde I found a Great Pondhawk Erythemis vesiculosa and got docu shots. The species is an enigma for me here. It was on the UvCo list when I got here, but it is only the second one I've seen in the county in 6 years here now. I am wondering if any of the other UvCo oders have seen any lately, as I don't recall them from the local lists posted, but perhaps missed it. Is it known from Cook's Slough? Perhaps a backchannel reply is best as of little interest to others. Of interest too was 23 Franklin's Gull soaring over the slough, not lowering below a few hundred feet altitude, and moving on. My first fall sighting of the species in 6 years here. thanks, Mitch Heindel Utopia, Texas [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Record #315487 Submitted to OC From: "dragonflywatcher1029" <dragonflywatcher1029 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:44:29 -0000 Ken, FYI. On the pic you submitted of 2 teneral D. nigrescens, you postulated that both were females. I believe the one perched below the upper on is a male whereas it is quite clear the upper one is female. Compare abdominal shape of the two and I think you'll agree. Jerry K. Hatfield Subject: Bentsen Rio Grande State Park, 7 October 2009 From: "gwlaustin" <glasley AT earthlink.net> Date: Thu, 08 Oct 2009 02:35:12 -0000 Hello TexasOde Folks, One last report from south Texas. Martin Reid, Tom Pendleton and I spent this morning at Bentsen Rio Grande State Park. Another hot and humid day, but we had some luck with several species. We spent about 4 hours at or near the boat ramp area at the resaca in the park. This area has been known for producing a number of rare odonates in recent years and we bumped into a couple of them today. Mexican Scarlet-tail (Planiplax sanguiniventris) was still there and we saw 2 males. We also saw about 10 Metallic Pennant (Idiataphe cubensis), but initially they were all perched on bare twigs high in trees, which had been my previous experience with this species. Shortly before noon, however, Martin spotted one on a stick at eye level over the water, and with careful approach we were all able to get some very nice shots of this species which, within the U.S., is known only from south Florida and deep south Texas. We got what I believe will be the best images of this species in Texas to date. It was the first time I had obtained any shots of this species at all. On our walk out of the park we saw a male Thornbush Dasher (Micrathyria hagenii) which we thought looked deformed, but closer inspection showed that it had just been grabbed by a Texas Unicorn Mantis (Phyllovates chlorophaea). We watched this mantis completely devour the dasher, wings and all…a very impressive creature, indeed! I have posted some shots from today at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/39994058 AT N07/sets/72157622524189128/ for any of you interested, and a list of today's observations is below. Photos of the Metallic Pennant, the scarlet-tail and the mantis are included. Greg Lasley Austin Bentsen Rio Grande State Park, Hidalgo Co., Texas, 7 October 2009 Martin Reid, Tom Pendleton, and Greg Lasley Smoky Rubyspot (Hetaerina titia) - 2 Blue-fronted Dancer (Argia apicalis) - 4 Powdered Dancer (Argia moesta) - 2 Golden-winged Dancer (Argia rhoadsi) - 4 Blue-ringed Dancer (Argia sedula) - 5 Rambur's Forktail (Ischnura ramburii) - 4 Caribbean Yellowface (Neoerythromma cultellatum) - 15 Common Green Darner (Anax junius) - common Narrow-striped Forceptail (Aphylla protracta) - 2 Red-tailed Pennant (Brachymesia furcata) - 10 Black Setwing (Dythemis nigrescens) - 5 Pin-tailed Pondhawk (Erythemis plebeja) - 5 Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) - common Great Pondhawk (Erythemis vesiculosa) - 3 Band-winged Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax umbrata) - 4 Metallic Pennant (Idiataphe cubensis) - 10 Marl Pennant (Macrodiplax balteata) - 5 Spot-tailed Dasher (Micrathyria aequalis) - 7 Thornbush Dasher (Micrathyria hagenii) - 15 Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea) - 10 Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) - common Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens) - common Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera) - 4 Mexican Scarlet-tail (Planiplax sanguiniventris) - 2 Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum) - 2 Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata) - common Red Saddlebags (Tramea onusta) - common Subject: Santa Ana N.W.R., 6 October 2009 From: "gwlaustin" <glasley AT earthlink.net> Date: Tue, 06 Oct 2009 21:22:12 -0000 Hello TexOdes Folks, Martin Reid, Tom Pendleton and I spent another very hot and humid day at Santa Ana N.W.R., and mother nature added 25 mph south winds to the mix. The winds blowing off of Willow Lake made it very difficult to find small, elusive damsels in the waving tall grass at that location, so we bombed on finding more Leptobasis today. We did see 2 or 3 Bar-sided Darners but none hung up long enough to allow any photos and/or they were in such a difficult location that a photo just would not work. The best find had to be the male Blue-spotted Comet Darner (Anax concolor) that Martin spotted over one of the back ponds at the Pintail Lake complex. Although it never perched we got a few flight shots. Mine are of marginal quality but Martin probably got some better ones. The heat seemed to drive the activity down a great deal by the afternoon. We may try Bentsen S.P. in the morning, then head back north. I added a few more images from today at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/39994058 AT N07/sets/72157622524189128/ if anyone is interested. The day's odonate list is below. It just does not feel as if there are as many odonates around as this time last year at Santa Ana, nor as many unusual ones. We all thought this to be true. Best Regards, Greg Lasley Austin Santa Ana NWR, 6 October 2009, M. Reid, T. Pendleton and G. Lasley Rainpool Spreadwing (Lestes forficula) - 4 Chalky Spreadwing (Lestes sigma) - 3 Blue-striped Spreadwing (Lestes tenuatus) - 3 Powdered Dancer (Argia moesta) - 3 Blue-ringed Dancer (Argia sedula) - 10 Dusky Dancer (Argia translata) - 5 Citrine Forktail (Ischnura hastata) 5 Rambur's Forktail (Ischnura ramburii) - 10 Caribbean Yellowface (Neoerythromma cultellatum) - 2 Blue-spotted Comet Darner (Anax concolor) - 1 Common Green Darner (Anax junius) - common Bar-sided Darner (Gynacantha mexicana) - 3 Red-tailed Pennant (Brachymesia furcata) - 5 Pin-tailed Pondhawk (Erythemis plebeja) - 5 Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) - common Great Pondhawk (Erythemis vesiculosa) - 10 Band-winged Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax umbrata) - 15 Spot-tailed Dasher (Micrathyria aequalis) - 1 Thornbush Dasher (Micrathyria hagenii) - 10 Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea) - common Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) - common Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens) - common Spot-winged Glider (Pantala hymenaea) - 5 Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata) - common Red Saddlebags (Tramea onusta) - common Subject: Santa Ana N.W.R., 5 October 2009 From: "gwlaustin" <glasley AT earthlink.net> Date: Mon, 05 Oct 2009 22:49:53 -0000 Dear Odonate Friends, I left Austin this morning not too long after 3:30 A.M., picked up Martin Reid in San Antonio at 5 A.M., and we headed to Santa Ana N.W.R., in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. In mid September, Mike Murphy and I had a fairly unproductive odonate trip to that area and Martin and I thought we would give it another try. Troy Hibbitts had some luck in late September and I have read with interest Terry Hibbitt's post earlier today about his trip to the valley the last few days of September when he found a few things as well. To be certain, the crepuscular darners have not been in as good numbers as they were this time last year, unfortunately. All reports have echoed this observation, and today was no exception, but we did find 2 Bar-sided Darners. Martin and I arrived at Santa Ana about 9:30 A.M. and met up with Tom Pendleton and the 3 of us spent the next 5 hours working the front pond area (the front pond is now completely dry) as well as the Willow Lake area. By noon it was very hot, certainly the upper 90s with high humidity. We had some odonate observations and photos which I will list below as well as a few butterflies and a nice Giant Toad (Bufo marinus) which was 7 to 8 inches long, a huge beast, and the first I had seen in several years. I have posted a few images from today on a Flickr site and the link below will get you there if you are interested. Below the link will be the list of odonates we observed. We left Santa Ana in the early afternoon and went to the Bentsen butterfly garden for a while, but it was not very active. I have to admit that we wimped out by 2:30 P.M. in the 110 degree heat index (and after our long drive) and came back to our room for some A/C and a shower. We will give it another go tomorrow. We are still hoping for more of the crepuscular darners as well as perhaps some of the rare Anax darners. http://www.flickr.com/photos/39994058 AT N07/sets/72157622524189128/ Santa Ana N.W.R., Hidalgo Co., Texas 5 October 2009 Martin Reid, Tom Pendleton, and Greg Lasley Plateau Spreadwing (Lestes alacer) - 1 Chalky Spreadwing (Lestes sigma) - 1 Blue-striped Spreadwing (Lestes tenuatus) - about 6 Blue-ringed Dancer (Argia sedula) - 3 Dusky Dancer (Argia translata) - several Rambur's Forktail (Ischnura ramburii) - several Cream-tipped Swampdamsel (Leptobasis melinogaster) - 3 Desert Firetail (Telebasis salva) - 5 Common Green Darner (Anax junius) - common Bar-sided Darner (Gynacantha mexicana) - 2 Red-tailed Pennant (Brachymesia furcata) - 4 Black Setwing (Dythemis nigrescens) - several Pin-tailed Pondhawk (Erythemis plebeja) - 6 Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) - common Great Pondhawk (Erythemis vesiculosa) - 5 Band-winged Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax umbrata) - fairly common Thornbush Dasher (Micrathyria hagenii) - fairly common Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea) - common Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) - common Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens) - common Spot-winged Glider (Pantala hymenaea) several Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera) - several Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata) - common Red Saddlebags (Tramea onusta) - common Greg Lasley Austin Subject: Lower Rio Grande Valley From: "Terry Hibbitts" <thibb AT swtexas.net> Date: Mon, 5 Oct 2009 10:02:06 -0500 I spent the last days of September at Bentsen-Rio Grande State Park and Santa Anna National Wildlife Refuge (Sept. 28 -30). This was actually the first time I have tried to photograph odes in the valley since October of 2007. My oldest son Troy has been down there in July and September of this year with some success. I was unable to go with him on his trips (if I had, I may have seen more). Monday September 28, 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm: Smokey Rubyspot (2), Dusky Dancer (6), Caribbean Yellowface (10)*, Common Green Darner (many), Red-tailed Pennant (4), Spot-tailed Dasher (2)*, Thornbush Dasher (3), Blue Dasher (many), Common Pondhawk (many), Mexican Scarlet-tail (1)*, Variegated Meadowhawk (6), Roseate Skimmer (many), Wandering Glider (many), Spot-winged Glider (many), Black Saddlebags (many), Red Saddlebags (many). Tuesday September 29, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm: Didn't even stop to eat. I was trying to find darners, but all I found was Common Greens. Troy had instructed me on what trails to take. I went back and forth over those areas all day. I did see several interesting herps, but that's another story. Odes observed: Dusky Dancer (3), Blue-ringed Dancer (10), Desert Firetail (6), Cream-tipped Swampdamsel (1 female)*, Red-tipped Swampdamsel (4 - 1 male, 1 female, two teneral)*, Rambur's Forktail (4), Familiar Bluet (2), Blue-striped Spreadwing (10)*, Rainpool Spreadwing (1), Chalky Swreadwing (1), Common Green Darner (many), Common Pondhawk (many), Great Pondhawk (2), Pintail Pondhawk (2), Blue Dasher (many), Thornbush Dasher (many), Band-winged Dragonlet (many), Red-tailed Pennant (6), Wandering Glider (many), Halloween Pennant (1), Roseate Skimmer (many), Wandering Glider (many), Black Saddlebags (many), Red Saddlebags (many). I went back out on Wednesday morning for a couple of hours, but did not see anything additional to the day before. Terry Hibbitts Camp Wood, TX www.thehibbitts.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: East Texas Roadtrip (Gonzales, Jasper, Karnes Co's) From: "Troy" <alterna2627 AT swtexas.net> Date: Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:29:50 -0000 made a trip this weekend to scout for deer at Bannister WMA, on Friday stopped at Gonzales, Saturday searched the Beaver Ponds near Sam Rayburn Dam in Jasper Co, and on the way home today went looking for "new" eutainia locales (didn't know that the Guadalupe was flooding due to rains on Saturday) and ended up searching the San Antonio River near Runge in Karnes Co (spot has potential). The roads every day were busy with Common Green Darners and Black Saddlebags, along with Wandering & Spot-winged Gliders. In some areas, the Darners were constantly visible, and I know that I killed dozens with the windsheild. 10/2 - Friday - Gonzales, Independence Park Stopped primarily because I still needed photos of Cagle's Map Turtles and female Blue-faced Ringtails. Was successful on both counts. Searched from 1:00 pm until 3:20 pm, started off partly cloudy (50/50 sun) and ended up with complete cloud cover. Found: Smoky Rubyspot (10+) Powdered Dancer (lots) Blue-fronted Dancer (lots) Blue-ringed Dancer (5-6) Common Green Darner (10+) Russett-tipped Clubtail (9-10) Flag-tailed Spinyleg (2) Blue-faced Ringtail (1 female) Eastern Ringtail (6 - 2 pair in wheel) Eastern Pondhawk (2-3) Swift Setwing (10+) Eastern Amberwing (1) Hyacinth Glider (5-6) Roseate Skimmer (2-3) Black Saddlebags (10+) Wandering Glider (5-6) Spot-winged Glider (5-6) 10/3/09 - Saturday Tried to look along a forested creek in the morning, but saw no odes. Actually, didn't try real hard, planned on doing so on Sunday (didn't know that it was going to rain me out!). Went over to the Beaver Ponds near Sam Rayburn Dam where the Sphagnum Sprites, Elegant Spreadwings, Duckweed Firetail, & Furtive Forktail were found earlier this year - hoping mostly for the Firetail and Forktail . . . as well as for Regal Darners which I had seen there in July. Anyway, started out sunny, but ended up cloudy. Searched from 1:00-3:15. Found: Swamp Spreadwings (lots) Southern Sprite (lots) Orange Bluet (3) Lilypad Forktail (2) New County Record Rambur's Forktail (lots) Citrine Forktail (lots) Fragile Forktail (lots) New County Record per OC - believe it or not! Common Green Darner (lots) Little Blue Dragonlet (lots) Blue Dasher (lots) Eastern Pondhawk (lots) Carolina Saddlebags (lots) 10/4/09 On way home today . . . woke up to rain rain rain, so I didn't hang around in East Texas. Headed home, decided to check out DeWitt County for Blue-faced Ringtails, didn't know that the Guadalupe was nearly out of its banks, and that the Cuero spot was a muddy mess. Ended up checking out the San Antonio River west of Runge in Karnes County. There is substantial unfenced access there at Hwy 72 . . . a spot that ought to be visited in the future to see what might be there (eutainia?). Found: Smoky Rubyspot (lots) Powdered Dancer (lots) Blue-fronted Dancer (5-6) Blue-ringed Dancer (5-6) Common Green Darner (lots) Black Setwing (2) Roseate Skimmer (2) Black Saddlebags (lots) Wandering Glider (5-6) I suspect the lack of numbers is due to lack of water present here this summer (just guessing, its full and flowing now!) Troy Hibbitts Camp Wood, TEXAS Subject: Red Slough Odonate Survey - Sep. 30 From: "David Arbour" <arbour AT windstream.net> Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:06:33 -0500 Berlin Heck and I surveyed Odonates at Red Slough WMA, McCurtain Co., Oklahoma today. Here is what we found: Southern Spreadwing - (Lestes australis) - 11 Swamp Spreadwing - (Lestes vigilax) - 4 Familiar Bluet - (Enallagma civile) - 11 Skimming Bluet - (Enallagma geminatum) - 1 Orange Bluet - (Enallagma signatum) - 2 Citrine Forktail - (Ischnura hastata) - 2 Lilypad Forktail - (Ischnura kellicotti) - 14 Fragile Forktail - (Ischnura posita) - common Rambur's Forktail - (Ischnura ramburii) - 13 Southern Sprite - (Nehalennia integricollis) - 1 Common Green Darner - (Anax junius) - common Four-spotted Pennant - (Brachymesia gravida) - 6 Halloween Pennant - (Celithemis eponina) - 4 Eastern Pondhawk - (Erythemis simplicicollis) - common Little Blue Dragonlet - (Erythrodiplax minuscula) - 17 Twelve-spotted Skimmer - (Libellula pulchella) - 5 Hyacinth Glider (Miathyria marcella) - 1 Blue Dasher - (Pachydiplax longipennis) - 26 Wandering Glider - (Pantala flavescens) - 12 Eastern Amberwing - (Perithemis tenera) - 48 Blue-faced Meadowhawk - (Sympetrum ambiguum) - 31 Carolina Saddlebags - (Tramea carolina) - 3 Black Saddlebags - (Tramea lacerata) - 24 Species seen during count week but not today were: Banded Pennant - (Celithemis fasciata) - 1 Roseate Skimmer - (Orthemis ferruginea) - 1 David Arbour De Queen, Arkansas Visit the Red Slough Website: http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/ouachita/natural-resources/redslough/ Personal Photo Galleries: http://www.pbase.com/sloughbirder Subject: Re: question about CGDs From: Chris Hill <chill AT coastal.edu> Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:09:58 -0400 On Sep 30, 2009, at 5:05 PM, Mike May wrote: > I have too many other things going on, so I guess the grants all > yours, Chris. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Story of my life. That, and I'm much better at starting trouble than finishing it. So it won't be me. Thanks for the details - I requested the book with Matthews' chapter in it for our library, so I'll have to read up on it some rainy day. Chris ************************************************************************ Christopher E. Hill Biology Department Coastal Carolina University Conway, SC 29528-1954 chill AT coastal.edu http://ww2.coastal.edu/chill/chill.htm "Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but only the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great." - Mark Twain Subject: Re: [TexOdes] question about CGDs From: Chris Hill <chill AT coastal.edu> Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:09:58 -0400 On Sep 30, 2009, at 5:05 PM, Mike May wrote: > I have too many other things going on, so I guess the grants all > yours, Chris. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Story of my life. That, and I'm much better at starting trouble than finishing it. So it won't be me. Thanks for the details - I requested the book with Matthews' chapter in it for our library, so I'll have to read up on it some rainy day. Chris ************************************************************************ Christopher E. Hill Biology Department Coastal Carolina University Conway, SC 29528-1954 chill AT coastal.edu http://ww2.coastal.edu/chill/chill.htm "Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but only the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great." - Mark Twain Subject: Re: question about CGDs From: Mike May <phenes53 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:05:22 -0700 (PDT) It's a great idea. Unfortunately it's already been done, at least in part, by John Matthews. Using strontium isotope ratios he showed that specimens taken along the Gulf Coast had come on average, from almost a thousand km north, with a maximum of over 2500 km. This is summarized briefly in our chapter, which Dennis cited several message rounds ago, but John hasn't, as far as I know, published the details yet - they're in his dissertation. Use of stable isotopes seems to be a pretty broad brush technique, so I don't know whether it's possible to squeeze much more information on fall migration out that way, although I'm no expert. He didn't look at spring migration, though. He's working for WWF now, and I have too many other things going on, so I guess the grants all yours, Chris. --- On Wed, 9/30/09, Chris Hill wrote: From: Chris Hill Subject: Re: [TexOdes] question about CGDs To: "Mike May" Cc: "Dennis Paulson" , "Greg Lasley" , "Texas Odes" , "se-odonata AT yahoogroups.com" Date: Wednesday, September 30, 2009, 2:06 PM I'm all for traditional field methods - collect larvae and work out timing, collect exuviae to document patterns of local emergence... But how about this for a different approach: stable isotopes.  If one collected breeding pairs, one should be able to infer geographic origin of the bug by analyzing the stable isotopes in the tissues.  This would tell you more than exuviae - you could pick up immigrant individuals even when the bulk of the individuals are local, you could say more about geographic origin than just "not from here."  You could use this in the spring on immigrants from the south, in the fall on putative migrants from the north... Who wants to write the grant?  Mike? Find em and grind em. Chris Hill On Sep 30, 2009, at 12:40 PM, Mike May wrote: > Greg, et al. > > Is there any specific reason to conclude that all the Green Darners that you all are seeing now in the S. Central area are migrants and not due to large local emergences? I suspect they are migrants, but regular notes are important to tell when they're NOT present in numbers as well. It's also a really good idea, for anyone who has the time and inclination, to collect exuviae on a regular basis, to really try to tie down patterns of emergence. This can turn into a significant time commitment, though. > > Mike May > ************************************************************************ Christopher E. Hill Biology Department Coastal Carolina University Conway, SC 29528-1954 chill AT coastal.edu http://ww2.coastal.edu/chill/chill.htm "Life," wrote a friend of mine, "is a public performance on the violin, in which you must learn the instrument as you go along."  - E. M. Forster [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: [TexOdes] question about CGDs From: Mike May <phenes53 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:05:22 -0700 (PDT) It's a great idea. Unfortunately it's already been done, at least in part, by John Matthews. Using strontium isotope ratios he showed that specimens taken along the Gulf Coast had come on average, from almost a thousand km north, with a maximum of over 2500 km. This is summarized briefly in our chapter, which Dennis cited several message rounds ago, but John hasn't, as far as I know, published the details yet - they're in his dissertation. Use of stable isotopes seems to be a pretty broad brush technique, so I don't know whether it's possible to squeeze much more information on fall migration out that way, although I'm no expert. He didn't look at spring migration, though. He's working for WWF now, and I have too many other things going on, so I guess the grants all yours, Chris. --- On Wed, 9/30/09, Chris Hill wrote: From: Chris Hill Subject: Re: [TexOdes] question about CGDs To: "Mike May" Cc: "Dennis Paulson" , "Greg Lasley" , "Texas Odes" , "se-odonata AT yahoogroups.com" Date: Wednesday, September 30, 2009, 2:06 PM I'm all for traditional field methods - collect larvae and work out timing, collect exuviae to document patterns of local emergence... But how about this for a different approach: stable isotopes.  If one collected breeding pairs, one should be able to infer geographic origin of the bug by analyzing the stable isotopes in the tissues.  This would tell you more than exuviae - you could pick up immigrant individuals even when the bulk of the individuals are local, you could say more about geographic origin than just "not from here."  You could use this in the spring on immigrants from the south, in the fall on putative migrants from the north... Who wants to write the grant?  Mike? Find em and grind em. Chris Hill On Sep 30, 2009, at 12:40 PM, Mike May wrote: > Greg, et al. > > Is there any specific reason to conclude that all the Green Darners that you all are seeing now in the S. Central area are migrants and not due to large local emergences? I suspect they are migrants, but regular notes are important to tell when they're NOT present in numbers as well. It's also a really good idea, for anyone who has the time and inclination, to collect exuviae on a regular basis, to really try to tie down patterns of emergence. This can turn into a significant time commitment, though. > > Mike May > ************************************************************************ Christopher E. Hill Biology Department Coastal Carolina University Conway, SC 29528-1954 chill AT coastal.edu http://ww2.coastal.edu/chill/chill.htm "Life," wrote a friend of mine, "is a public performance on the violin, in which you must learn the instrument as you go along."  - E. M. Forster Subject: Re: [TexOdes] question about CGDs From: Chris Hill <chill AT coastal.edu> Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:06:26 -0400 I'm all for traditional field methods - collect larvae and work out timing, collect exuviae to document patterns of local emergence... But how about this for a different approach: stable isotopes. If one collected breeding pairs, one should be able to infer geographic origin of the bug by analyzing the stable isotopes in the tissues. This would tell you more than exuviae - you could pick up immigrant individuals even when the bulk of the individuals are local, you could say more about geographic origin than just "not from here." You could use this in the spring on immigrants from the south, in the fall on putative migrants from the north... Who wants to write the grant? Mike? Find em and grind em. Chris Hill On Sep 30, 2009, at 12:40 PM, Mike May wrote: > Greg, et al. > > Is there any specific reason to conclude that all the Green Darners > that you all are seeing now in the S. Central area are migrants and > not due to large local emergences? I suspect they are migrants, but > regular notes are important to tell when they're NOT present in > numbers as well. It's also a really good idea, for anyone who has > the time and inclination, to collect exuviae on a regular basis, to > really try to tie down patterns of emergence. This can turn into a > significant time commitment, though. > > Mike May > ************************************************************************ Christopher E. Hill Biology Department Coastal Carolina University Conway, SC 29528-1954 chill AT coastal.edu http://ww2.coastal.edu/chill/chill.htm "Life," wrote a friend of mine, "is a public performance on the violin, in which you must learn the instrument as you go along." - E. M. Forster Subject: Re: question about CGDs From: Chris Hill <chill AT coastal.edu> Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:06:26 -0400 I'm all for traditional field methods - collect larvae and work out timing, collect exuviae to document patterns of local emergence... But how about this for a different approach: stable isotopes. If one collected breeding pairs, one should be able to infer geographic origin of the bug by analyzing the stable isotopes in the tissues. This would tell you more than exuviae - you could pick up immigrant individuals even when the bulk of the individuals are local, you could say more about geographic origin than just "not from here." You could use this in the spring on immigrants from the south, in the fall on putative migrants from the north... Who wants to write the grant? Mike? Find em and grind em. Chris Hill On Sep 30, 2009, at 12:40 PM, Mike May wrote: > Greg, et al. > > Is there any specific reason to conclude that all the Green Darners > that you all are seeing now in the S. Central area are migrants and > not due to large local emergences? I suspect they are migrants, but > regular notes are important to tell when they're NOT present in > numbers as well. It's also a really good idea, for anyone who has > the time and inclination, to collect exuviae on a regular basis, to > really try to tie down patterns of emergence. This can turn into a > significant time commitment, though. > > Mike May > ************************************************************************ Christopher E. Hill Biology Department Coastal Carolina University Conway, SC 29528-1954 chill AT coastal.edu http://ww2.coastal.edu/chill/chill.htm "Life," wrote a friend of mine, "is a public performance on the violin, in which you must learn the instrument as you go along." - E. M. Forster Subject: Some Odes from yesterday at Buffalo Springs Lake, Lubbock, Tx From: "dragonflywatcher1029" <dragonflywatcher1029 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:16:06 -0000 Hello All, Yesterday was quite a productive afternoon (AM clouds made things a bit tentative). Species seen and or photographed were: Widow Skimmer (2 males) Blue-eyed Darner (4 males) Common Green Darner (7-8 males, 2 females) Twelve-spotted Skimmer (1 worn male) Common Whitetail (1 young male) Flame Skimmer (5 males, 1 female) Autumn Meadowhawk (2 males) Filigree Skimmer (1 young male) Eastern or Common Pondhawk (1 young male non-pruinosed, 2 females) Eastern Amberwing (1 male) Swift Setwing (4 males) Blue Dasher (3 males, 2 females) Powdered Dancer (3 male and female tandems, 4 single males 8 single females in blue and brown colorforms) Blue-ringed Dancer (2 males) Kiowa Dancer (3 males) Springwater Dancer (10 males, 8 females) Familiar Bluet (too many to count) American Rubyspot (5 males, 2 females) Jerry K. Hatfield Subject: Re: question about CGDs From: Greg Lasley <glasley AT earthlink.net> Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:57:11 -0500 Hi Mike and all, Concerning our local Common Green Darners, I have no way to determine whether the breeding ones we are now seeing are local bugs or incoming migrants. The pattern in south and central Texas, at least in my estimation, seems to be that in the spring and summer the species may be seen, but usually in fairly low numbers, ca. 1 to 10 a day. Sometimes more, to be sure, but in general the species is generally not overly abundant here from early spring through late summer. Then, sometime in mid to late September, suddenly the air is full of them. I was out for a few hours this morning and probably saw multiple hundreds foraging, in tandem, and in copula. Other than John Abbott's students on various field trips, I'm not aware of anyone doing any exuviae work in this area at all. I'm sure it would be a way to gain more knowledge if someone was interested in that. Perhaps someone will consider it. Best, Greg Lasley Austin On Sep 30, 2009, at 11:40 AM, Sep 30, Mike May wrote: > Greg, et al. > > Is there any specific reason to conclude that all the Green Darners > that you all are seeing now in the S. Central area are migrants and > not due to large local emergences? I suspect they are migrants, but > regular notes are important to tell when they're NOT present in > numbers as well. It's also a really good idea, for anyone who has > the time and inclination, to collect exuviae on a regular basis, to > really try to tie down patterns of emergence. This can turn into a > significant time commitment, though. > > Mike May > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: [TexOdes] question about CGDs From: Mike May <phenes53 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:40:50 -0700 (PDT) Greg, et al.   Is there any specific reason to conclude that all the Green Darners that you all are seeing now in the S. Central area are migrants and not due to large local emergences? I suspect they are migrants, but regular notes are important to tell when they're NOT present in numbers as well. It's also a really good idea, for anyone who has the time and inclination, to collect exuviae on a regular basis, to really try to tie down patterns of emergence. This can turn into a significant time commitment, though.   Mike May --- On Mon, 9/28/09, Greg Lasley wrote: From: Greg Lasley Subject: Re: [TexOdes] question about CGDs To: "Dennis Paulson" Cc: "Texas Odes" Date: Monday, September 28, 2009, 7:33 PM Hi Dennis and all, I'll echo what others have been saying from their areas...Common Green  Darners are breeding commonly in the Austin area this time of year.  Last week I also saw several of them ovipositing in far west Texas in  Brewster and Presidio County as well. Two spots I remember  specifically seeing ovipositing females were "the Post", a small park  south of Marathon, and the sewage ponds at Presidio, Texas. Best, Greg Lasley Austin On Sep 28, 2009, at 10:40 AM, Sep 28, Dennis Paulson wrote: > Hello, all. > > I just read a message from Chris Hill about Common Green Darners Anax > junius breeding in abundance on the northern coastal plain of South > Carolina right now. There is still a question about how far north fall > breeding occurs in this species, and I wonder if people in Texas and > surrounding areas could comment on whether these darners are actually > breeding in your area now. I know they are in far southern Texas. > There should be large numbers of immatures heading south to, or > already arrived at, the southern end of the range in Mexico and the > Caribbean where they will mature and breed now and, in some cases, > into the winter. But how far north does that phenomenon extend? And do > you see spring breeding in the same areas or only emergence (such > individuals presumably migrating farther north)? > > This species has a complex life history and distribution, and with all > the observers out there now, we should be able to pin it down more > precisely. Of course it may vary from year to year depending on local > conditions (temperature, rainfall), just another thing it would be > good to know. > ----- > Dennis Paulson > 1724 NE 98 St. > Seattle, WA 98115 > 206-528-1382 > dennispaulson AT comcast.net > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links Subject: Re: question about CGDs From: Mike May <phenes53 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:40:50 -0700 (PDT) Greg, et al.   Is there any specific reason to conclude that all the Green Darners that you all are seeing now in the S. Central area are migrants and not due to large local emergences? I suspect they are migrants, but regular notes are important to tell when they're NOT present in numbers as well. It's also a really good idea, for anyone who has the time and inclination, to collect exuviae on a regular basis, to really try to tie down patterns of emergence. This can turn into a significant time commitment, though.   Mike May --- On Mon, 9/28/09, Greg Lasley wrote: From: Greg Lasley Subject: Re: [TexOdes] question about CGDs To: "Dennis Paulson" Cc: "Texas Odes" Date: Monday, September 28, 2009, 7:33 PM Hi Dennis and all, I'll echo what others have been saying from their areas...Common Green  Darners are breeding commonly in the Austin area this time of year.  Last week I also saw several of them ovipositing in far west Texas in  Brewster and Presidio County as well. Two spots I remember  specifically seeing ovipositing females were "the Post", a small park  south of Marathon, and the sewage ponds at Presidio, Texas. Best, Greg Lasley Austin On Sep 28, 2009, at 10:40 AM, Sep 28, Dennis Paulson wrote: > Hello, all. > > I just read a message from Chris Hill about Common Green Darners Anax > junius breeding in abundance on the northern coastal plain of South > Carolina right now. There is still a question about how far north fall > breeding occurs in this species, and I wonder if people in Texas and > surrounding areas could comment on whether these darners are actually > breeding in your area now. I know they are in far southern Texas. > There should be large numbers of immatures heading south to, or > already arrived at, the southern end of the range in Mexico and the > Caribbean where they will mature and breed now and, in some cases, > into the winter. But how far north does that phenomenon extend? And do > you see spring breeding in the same areas or only emergence (such > individuals presumably migrating farther north)? > > This species has a complex life history and distribution, and with all > the observers out there now, we should be able to pin it down more > precisely. Of course it may vary from year to year depending on local > conditions (temperature, rainfall), just another thing it would be > good to know. > ----- > Dennis Paulson > 1724 NE 98 St. > Seattle, WA 98115 > 206-528-1382 > dennispaulson AT comcast.net > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: question about CGDs From: Greg Lasley <glasley AT earthlink.net> Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:33:38 -0500 Hi Dennis and all, I'll echo what others have been saying from their areas...Common Green Darners are breeding commonly in the Austin area this time of year. Last week I also saw several of them ovipositing in far west Texas in Brewster and Presidio County as well. Two spots I remember specifically seeing ovipositing females were "the Post", a small park south of Marathon, and the sewage ponds at Presidio, Texas. Best, Greg Lasley Austin On Sep 28, 2009, at 10:40 AM, Sep 28, Dennis Paulson wrote: > Hello, all. > > I just read a message from Chris Hill about Common Green Darners Anax > junius breeding in abundance on the northern coastal plain of South > Carolina right now. There is still a question about how far north fall > breeding occurs in this species, and I wonder if people in Texas and > surrounding areas could comment on whether these darners are actually > breeding in your area now. I know they are in far southern Texas. > There should be large numbers of immatures heading south to, or > already arrived at, the southern end of the range in Mexico and the > Caribbean where they will mature and breed now and, in some cases, > into the winter. But how far north does that phenomenon extend? And do > you see spring breeding in the same areas or only emergence (such > individuals presumably migrating farther north)? > > This species has a complex life history and distribution, and with all > the observers out there now, we should be able to pin it down more > precisely. Of course it may vary from year to year depending on local > conditions (temperature, rainfall), just another thing it would be > good to know. > ----- > Dennis Paulson > 1724 NE 98 St. > Seattle, WA 98115 > 206-528-1382 > dennispaulson AT comcast.net > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: question about CGDs From: "David Arbour" <arbour AT windstream.net> Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:01:43 -0500 Dennis: Common Green Darners are the most common dragonfly at Red Slough WMA, McCurtain County, Oklahoma right now. Everywhere you look you see them in tandom, in wheel, or egg laying. The males are cruising low to the ground and brush searching for the females who are hiding from them. Berlin Heck and I observed three males attack one female today and all four went tumbling to the ground. Two males finally left and the victor flew off in wheel with his prize. I see them breeding here in the spring too. Had an adult Hyacinth Glider at Red Slough today as well. David Arbour De Queen, AR ----- Original Message ----- From: Dennis Paulson To: Texas Odes Sent: Monday, September 28, 2009 10:40 AM Subject: [TexOdes] question about CGDs Hello, all. I just read a message from Chris Hill about Common Green Darners Anax junius breeding in abundance on the northern coastal plain of South Carolina right now. There is still a question about how far north fall breeding occurs in this species, and I wonder if people in Texas and surrounding areas could comment on whether these darners are actually breeding in your area now. I know they are in far southern Texas. There should be large numbers of immatures heading south to, or already arrived at, the southern end of the range in Mexico and the Caribbean where they will mature and breed now and, in some cases, into the winter. But how far north does that phenomenon extend? And do you see spring breeding in the same areas or only emergence (such individuals presumably migrating farther north)? This species has a complex life history and distribution, and with all the observers out there now, we should be able to pin it down more precisely. Of course it may vary from year to year depending on local conditions (temperature, rainfall), just another thing it would be good to know. ----- Dennis Paulson 1724 NE 98 St. Seattle, WA 98115 206-528-1382 dennispaulson AT comcast.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: question about CGDs From: Victor Fazio III <ok-birds AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:46:13 -0700 (PDT) They are breeding widely across sw. OK, as has been routinely the case this time of year (through at least 10 Oct last year). I have been using this behaviour to my advantage in documenting county records (several gaps in OK remain) as they are otherwise tough to find situated for the camera. This first Dewey County record in the OC from 28 Sep 08 http://www.odonatacentral.org/index.php/SubmissionAction.get/submission_id/284028 of a breeding pair is about 58 miles south of the KS-OK state line. I will have to compile my notes, but my impression is that early season breeders are selecting waters with a life expectancy of several months or more. While these fall breeders occupy similar sites they are perhaps not so discerning as many ephemeral waters are visited including roadside ditches that have only filled with recent rains and will likely be dry in a matter of 2-3 weeks. Here is an example of one such ditch breeding from yesterday. http://www.flickr.com/photos/victor_fazio-iii/3963490515/ ======== Speaking of CGD behaviour ... this completely speculative photoessay regarding a waterbound individual observed yesterday may be of interest ... http://www.flickr.com/groups/oklahoma_odonates/discuss/72157622475813650/ ... certainly I would like know what others think. cheers Vic Fazio Lawton, OK Subject: Fw: [texbirds] FW: Dragonfly takes down a hummingbird From: "Mitch" <mitch AT utopianature.com> Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:52:26 -0500 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Collins, Fred (Commissioner Pct. 3)" To: Sent: Monday, September 28, 2009 3:33 PM Subject: [texbirds] FW: Dragonfly takes down a hummingbird This past Friday, September 25, 2009 I took a bus load of birders to the Smith Point Hawk watch. It was an overcast day with low clouds and very little or no breeze. The sky was full of Green Darners. There were also 10-20 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds at two feeders on the Hawk Watch Tower perhaps 20 feet above the ground. There were about 20 people on the deck watching birds. There was a flock of about 20 Mississippi Kites soaring above and near the tower feeding on dragonflies a 100-200 feet above. About mid-day the hummingbird tumbled across the deck within 6 feet of several of us on the deck. I assumed it was two hummingbirds engaged as a male had been trying all morning to defend the feeder from a dozen or more hummers. To all our surprise, the hummingbird was engaged by a Green Darner Dragonfly. The dragonfly had the hummer by the back of the head or upper neck and it appeared the hummer would soon lose its life. Unfortunately one of the people stepped in to save the hummer and before he could touch it , the combatants broke off the fight and both were gone in a flash. I have heard stories like this but never actually believed them. What's more, one of the alert people got a good series of photos of the tussle. My question to this list is , has this ever been documented ? I think the photos and report are noteworthy. If you are aware of any published reports in the literature about this sort of attack I would appreciate you passing it along to me. Cross posted to TX-Ento Fred Collins Director: Kleb Woods Nature Center Cypress Top Historical Park Subject: Re: question about CGDs From: "Mitch" <mitch AT utopianature.com> Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 12:08:17 -0500 Hi Dennis, There were the largest numbers of CGD's I've seen all year flying south Friday Sept. 25th down the ridge on the west side of the Sabinal Valley. It was the first day movement was possible in about 4 due to the low pressure/rain event. It coincided with a good (for here) raptor movement, and a very little bit of Monarch movement. Sat. the 26th at the Uvalde Nat. Fish hatchery my wife and I came upon a threesome of Anax junius IN the water. It appeared as though one male was in wheel or such with female ovipositing and an interloper came in and tried to steal the female. All three were flailing in the water still all hooked up in a mess of darner in the water when we happened upon it. The front male got up on a branch that went into water and as he climbed out, first the back male let go and got out, and then he lost or let go of the female. It was too quick for me to get a picture. Also seen there was a Least Grebe first wrestling with, and then EATING a Green Darner. I presume it came up from below while ovipositing was taking place, as they are not known for flycatching. :) I have seen CGD ovipositing here at Utopia in the last week as well. best regards, Mitch Mitch Heindel Utopia, TX ----- Original Message ----- From: Dennis Paulson To: Texas Odes Sent: Monday, September 28, 2009 10:40 AM Subject: [TexOdes] question about CGDs Hello, all. I just read a message from Chris Hill about Common Green Darners Anax junius breeding in abundance on the northern coastal plain of South Carolina right now. There is still a question about how far north fall breeding occurs in this species, and I wonder if people in Texas and surrounding areas could comment on whether these darners are actually breeding in your area now. I know they are in far southern Texas. There should be large numbers of immatures heading south to, or already arrived at, the southern end of the range in Mexico and the Caribbean where they will mature and breed now and, in some cases, into the winter. But how far north does that phenomenon extend? And do you see spring breeding in the same areas or only emergence (such individuals presumably migrating farther north)? This species has a complex life history and distribution, and with all the observers out there now, we should be able to pin it down more precisely. Of course it may vary from year to year depending on local conditions (temperature, rainfall), just another thing it would be good to know. ----- Dennis Paulson 1724 NE 98 St. Seattle, WA 98115 206-528-1382 dennispaulson AT comcast.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.408 / Virus Database: 270.13.112/2393 - Release Date: 9/24/2009 6:00 PM [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: question about CGDs From: Rich Kostecke <rkost73 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 09:19:22 -0700 (PDT) In central Texas (in particular Bell and Coryell counties - about an hour north of Austin), there has been an orgy of CGDs for maybe a month or so now.  Lot's of breeding going on, which is consistent with my observations from past falls.  Numerically, CGDs are perhaps only 2nd to Black Saddlesbags right now.  Anyway, numbers are lighter in the spring and I have not noticed any spring breeding.   Rich  Richard Kostecke, Ph.D. The Nature Conservancy P.O. Box 5190, Fort Hood, Texas 76544-0190 Phone:  254-288-2088  Fax: 254-288-5039 E-mail: rkost73 AT yahoo.com or rkostecke AT tnc.org   --- On Mon, 9/28/09, Dennis Paulson wrote: From: Dennis Paulson Subject: [TexOdes] question about CGDs To: "Texas Odes" Date: Monday, September 28, 2009, 10:40 AM   Hello, all. I just read a message from Chris Hill about Common Green Darners Anax junius breeding in abundance on the northern coastal plain of South Carolina right now. There is still a question about how far north fall breeding occurs in this species, and I wonder if people in Texas and surrounding areas could comment on whether these darners are actually breeding in your area now. I know they are in far southern Texas. There should be large numbers of immatures heading south to, or already arrived at, the southern end of the range in Mexico and the Caribbean where they will mature and breed now and, in some cases, into the winter. But how far north does that phenomenon extend? And do you see spring breeding in the same areas or only emergence (such individuals presumably migrating farther north)? This species has a complex life history and distribution, and with all the observers out there now, we should be able to pin it down more precisely. Of course it may vary from year to year depending on local conditions (temperature, rainfall), just another thing it would be good to know. ----- Dennis Paulson 1724 NE 98 St. Seattle, WA 98115 206-528-1382 dennispaulson AT comcast.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: question about CGDs From: Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson AT comcast.net> Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:40:18 -0700 Hello, all. I just read a message from Chris Hill about Common Green Darners Anax junius breeding in abundance on the northern coastal plain of South Carolina right now. There is still a question about how far north fall breeding occurs in this species, and I wonder if people in Texas and surrounding areas could comment on whether these darners are actually breeding in your area now. I know they are in far southern Texas. There should be large numbers of immatures heading south to, or already arrived at, the southern end of the range in Mexico and the Caribbean where they will mature and breed now and, in some cases, into the winter. But how far north does that phenomenon extend? And do you see spring breeding in the same areas or only emergence (such individuals presumably migrating farther north)? This species has a complex life history and distribution, and with all the observers out there now, we should be able to pin it down more precisely. Of course it may vary from year to year depending on local conditions (temperature, rainfall), just another thing it would be good to know. ----- Dennis Paulson 1724 NE 98 St. Seattle, WA 98115 206-528-1382 dennispaulson AT comcast.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Blue-faced, Blue-eyed Darner photos From: "Troy" <alterna2627 AT swtexas.net> Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 03:29:33 -0000 http://www.thehibbitts.net/troy/photo/odonata/blue-faced_darner.htm http://www.thehibbitts.net/troy/photo/odonata/blue-eyed.darner.r.multicolor.tx.uvalde.09.3a.jpg Troy Hibbitts Camp Wood, TX Subject: Blue-faced, Blue-eyed Darners at Ft. Inge today (9/27) From: "Troy" <alterna2627 AT swtexas.net> Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:59:23 -0000 (I'll post photos shortly) Well, it only took me 4 1/2 hours, but I finally got good (hung up!) photos of the Blue-faced Darner at Ft. Inge today! I also have (mostly poor) flight photos, one of which is identifiable if distant. Clearly there are two different bugs there - an adult male with intact cerci and an adult female with cerci lacking. It is the adult female that I got hung up at 3:45 or so. Arrived at Ft. Inge at 11 a.m. Found the gate locked, so I parked outside the park and hiked in (the sign says "open Sat-Sun, 8-8). Took me about an hour before I had my first sighting, and I got my only decent photos of the male in flight at about 1:30. Had lots of Common Green Darners and Blue-eyed Darners while I was waiting, along with a lot of the usual suspects and occassional fly-bys by other things less common. But I was really focused on getting the Coryphaeschna, so once I located it, I set up camp and waited for it. Left breifly to go get a drink at about 1:45, found the gate open so I came back. At 3:30 or so, the female was seen cruising close to the bank and up over dry land, as if looking to hang up, she breifly disappeared, then came back. Then she disappeared again, and I thought that she must be hung up somewhere, so I went looking for her. I kicked her up and she flew about 5 feet and hung back up again and I was able to take a nice series of shots before she grew tired of the attention (as I tried to move to get a different angle). One of the problems getting "in flight" shots was that these two bugs flew long circuits, with sightings about every 15 minutes or so . . . and when they would fly by, the Common Greens and Blue-eyed Darners would chase them away. I also had probably 10-15 different Blue-eyed Darners, including at least 1 adult yellow-phase female. I got decent "in flight" shots of several males. After 4:00, I went in to town to get a bite to eat, ran into a buddy of mine and then we went out to Tom Nunn Crossing, where very little was flying. My Ft. Inge list (11:00 - 3:45) Golden-winged Dancer (1) Blue-ringed Dancer (lots) Dusky Dancer (few) Desert Firetail (lots) Fragile Forktail (few) Familiar Bluet (lots) Common Green Darner (lots) BLUE-FACED DARNER (2 - 1 male, 1 female) Blue-eyed Darner (10-15, inc. 1 female) Flag-tailed Spinyleg (2-3) Swift Setwing (lots) Black Setwing (lots) Checkered Setwing (lots) Eastern Pondhawk (lots) Blue Dasher (lots) Hyacinth Glider (lots) Black Saddlebags (lots) Red Saddlebags (1) Wandering Glider (5-6) Spot-winged Glider (1) Widow Skimmer (5-6) Twelve-spotted Skimmer (1) Roseate Skimmer (lots) Eastern Amberwing (lots) At Tom Nunn: American Rubyspot (4-5) Blue-ringed Dancer (lots) Dusky Dancer (lots) Powdered Dancer (5-6) Kiowa Dancer (5-6) Desert Firetail (1) Common Green Darner (3-4) Eastern Ringtail (1) Black Setwing (3-4) Swift Setwing (5-6) Checkered Setwing (1) Eastern Pondhawk (1) Amberwing sp (2-3) - I didn't see these, so don't know which species Pale-faced Clubskimmer (1) Wandering Glider (5-6) Troy Hibbitts Camp Wood, TX Subject: Blue-eyed darner at Cooks Slough NP, Uvalde County From: "Terry Hibbitts" <thibb AT swtexas.net> Date: Sun, 27 Sep 2009 13:52:55 -0500 After Tripp told me about the Blue-eyed Darner at Cooks Slough, I went to Lunker Pond and attempted to get a photo. I got one that may be acceptable to OC for ID purposes. I will submit to OC. http://www.thehibbitts.net/images/R.multicolor.TX.Uvalde.CooksSlough.09.0467 cc.jpg Terry Hibbitts Camp Wood, TX www.thehibbitts.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Blue-eyed Darner at Cook's Slough, Southern Spreadwing as well From: "Tripp" <tripp.davenport AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 27 Sep 2009 05:28:08 -0000 I spotted the Blue-eyed Darner at Cook's Slough (Uvalde Co.) today. Second location for the county so far, having spotted them at Ft. Inge last weekend. Troy had spotted them near Carrizo Springs last weekend and recently in Bracketville. One lone darner was cruising the back pond at the slough and was busy dodging the many common green darners. There were 2 individuals patrolling at the lunker pond. I believe Mitch may have gotten some photos of these. I got a photo of a solitary Southern Spreadwing around the back pond as well today. Did not realize it but that was a new county record according to OC checklists. I had photographed one at the Deep Creek Ranch north of Uvalde back in early August. Subject: [Private Photo Share] Cali Girl- Has sent you private photos. From: "newazspfriends" <newazspfriends AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 26 Sep 2009 03:16:50 -0000 I do not want the entire group seeing these photos.Because some may recognize me. Here's the link: http://girlaart.zoomshare.com/files/photos.htm Enjoy babe :) Subject: Blue-eyed Darner, Kinney Co, TX (9/24) From: "Troy" <alterna2627 AT swtexas.net> Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 20:08:37 -0000 Seems we have another "mini-invasion" of a dragonfly into the upper south Texas Plains. Yesterday, had a Blue-eyed Darner patrolling the Brackett HS parking lot at about 4:15 pm. Would have been a New County Record had my net and/or camera not been 50 miles away at the house LOL. Anyway, with the ones from Dimmitt & Uvalde Co's last weekend, it seems that Blue-eyed Darners are popping up around here in quite a few new places. Keep your eyes peeled! Troy Hibbitts Camp Wood, TX Subject: corrections to west Texas trip From: "gwlaustin" <glasley AT earthlink.net> Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 01:35:58 -0000 On the post I just made about west Texas, I started out saying that Martin Reid decided to make a trip. It should read Martin Reid and I. Also, I failed to sign it. Greg Lasley Austin Subject: West Texas, Sept. 21-24, 2009 From: "gwlaustin" <glasley AT earthlink.net> Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:38:41 -0000 Dear TexOdes, Martin Reid decided to make a trip to west Texas to look for odonates. We left home very early Monday morning (Sept. 21) and headed out U.S. 90 to Marathon. We had a few things at "The Post" which is a small park about 5 miles south of Marathon, then ventured up into Fort Davis for a while where we saw a few other odonates along a section of Limpia Creek near town. We spent the night in Alpine. Unfortunately, a cold front came in Monday night and we awoke on Tuesday the 22nd to 47 degrees and a stiff wind. Not to be denied, we went to the Valentine area to a private ranch we had access to and went into a canyon which has permanent water and a history of some good bugs from time to time. It had warmed up to 60 by noon, but that was about all. We found a total of 4 species of odonates in several hours work, pretty disappointing. We decided our only chance to find some bugs was to get to lower elevations along the Rio Grande where it would be warmer, so we set off for Presidio. It did get into the 70s but by the time we got there it was getting pretty late in the day. Found a few of the southwestern form of Eastern Ringtail along the river. Back to Alpine for the night determined to hit the Big Bend Ranch area the next day, Wednesday. Wednesday morning was slightly warmer…low 50s and we spent until 2 PM on Big Bend Ranch State Park carefully working Las Cuevas Creek and Ojito Adentro Canyon, which normally is "the" spot in Texas for Mayan Setwing. We had total overcast and dark clouds and mid 60s on the temperature. Never saw a hint of sun until 2 PM. We found very little on Big Bend Ranch due to the weather. Spent the late afternoon with a tiny bit of sun at Chinati Hot Springs where we did photograph a pair of Fiery-eyed Dancers (Argia oenea). Back to Alpine for the night. This morning (Sept. 24) we awoke to a cold rain and we surrendered and headed home. WE had originally intended to head up to the Guadalupe Mountains for a day or so, but the weather just did us in. Stopped by Balmorhea Lake where we looked for a few birds and then found the highlight of the trip, even if it was not a dragon! The cold weather had put down thousands of migrating Monarchs and we found several salt cedar trees with 3-4000 Monarchs in each one. It was much like the scene you may have seen photos of when the Monarchs are wintering in the mountains of Mexico, but on a smaller scale. Still, a very impressive sight to behold. Next week is supposed to be hot and dry in west Texas…oh well! Below are some species we had at different sites. I have an assortment of images from the trip at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/39994058 AT N07/sets/72157622428896666/ if anyone is interested. September 21, 2009 The Post, Marathon, Brewster Co., Texas, Sunny, warm Variable Dancer (Argia fumipennis) - a few Leonora's Dancer (Argia leonorae) - 2 Aztec Dancer (Argia nahuana) - 10 Springwater Dancer (Argia plana) - 10 Double-striped Bluet (Enallagma basidens) - common (new county record) Familiar Bluet (Enallagma civil) - common Arroyo Bluet (Enallagma praevarum) - a few Mexican Forktail (Ischnura demorsa) - a few Black-fronted Forktail (Ischnura denticollis) - 15 Desert Firetail (Telebasis salva) - 5 Common Green Darner (Anax junius) - 5 Blue-eyed Darner (Rhionaeschna multicolor) - 5 Eastern Ringtail (Erpetogomphus designatus) - 2 Serpent Ringtail (Erpetogomphus lampropeltis) - 1 (Martin got one quick photo. I saw it, but got no photos) Four-spotted Pennant (Brachymesia gravida) - 1 (new county record) Checkered Setwing (Dythemis fugax) - 3 Swift Setwing (Dythemis velox) - 4 Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) - 5 Plateau Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax basifusca) - 2 Comanche Skimmer (Libellula comanche) - 10 Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) - 5 Twelve-spotted Skimmer (Libellula pulchella) - 3 Flame Skimmer (Libellula saturata) - 10 Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) - common Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens) - 5 Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera) - 6 Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia) - 2 Desert Whitetail (Plathemis subornata) - 7 Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum) - a few Autumn Meadowhawk (Sympetrum vicinum) - 1 Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata) - 10 Red Saddlebags (Tramea onusta) - 5 September 21, 2009 Limpia Creek near Fort Davis. Sunny, warm Variable Dancer (Argia fumipennis) - 10 Kiowa Dancer (Argia immunda) - 3 Aztec Dancer (Argia nahuana) - 30 Springwater Dancer (Argia plana) - 15 Blue-ringed Dancer (Argia sedula) - 5 Arroyo Bluet (Enallagma praevarum) - 20 Painted Damsel (Hesperagrion heterodoxum) - 20 September 22, 2009 canyon (Presidio Co.) on private ranch near Valentine 60 degrees, windy, cloudy Great Spreadwing (Archilestes grandis) - 2 Sooty Dancer (Argia lugens) - 3 Springwater Dancer (Argia plana) - 5 Painted Damsel (Hesperagrion heterodoxum) - 15 September 22, 2009 Rio Grande, several water access areas in Big bend Ranch S.P., Presidio Co. 70-75 degrees, some sun Smoky Rubyspot (Hetaerina titia) - 5 Powdered Dancer (Argia moesta) - common Common Green Darner (Anax junius) - 10 Eastern Ringtail (Erpetogomphus designatus) - 20 (southwestern form) Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens) - common Spot-winged Glider (Pantala hymenaea) - a few Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum) - 20 September 23, 2009 Las Cuevas Creek and Ojito Adentro, Big Bend Ranch S.P., Presidio Co. 60-64 degrees, dark and cloudy and windy Great Spreadwing (Archilestes grandis) - 10 Lavender Dancer (Argia hinei) - 3 Kiowa Dancer (Argia immunda) - 5 Powdered Dancer (Argia moesta) - 10 Springwater Dancer (Argia plana) - 6 Common Green Darner (Anax junius) - 8 Pale-faced Clubskimmer (Brechmorhoga mendax) - 2 Swift Setwing (Dythemis velox) - 2 Red Rock Skimmer (Paltothemis lineatipes) - 6 Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens) - 2 Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum) - 10 Red Saddlebags (Tramea onusta) - 2 September 23, 2009 Chinati Hot Springs, Presidio Co. some sun, 70 degrees Kiowa Dancer (Argia immunda) - 2 Sooty Dancer (Argia lugens) - 1 Fiery-eyed Dancer (Argia oenea) - 2 Common Green Darner (Anax junius) - 2 Flame Skimmer (Libellula saturata) - 1 Red Rock Skimmer (Paltothemis lineatipes) - 2 Subject: Swampdamsels, Sylph, Spreadwings this weekend From: "Troy" <alterna2627 AT swtexas.net> Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2009 02:19:21 -0000 First the Cream-tippeds . . . a good mix of adult males, a very blue female (bluer than anyone else's images I've seen . . . it isn't SOMETHING DIFFERENT, is it?), and several teneral males of various stages of youth http://www.thehibbitts.net/troy/photo/odonata/cream-tipped_swampdamsel.htm Next the Red-tippeds . . . very pretty bug, even more amazing is that the females are just as pretty as the males! WOW! http://www.thehibbitts.net/troy/photo/odonata/red-tipped_swampdamsel.htm A Straw-colored Sylph female, in flight and perched http://www.thehibbitts.net/troy/photo/odonata/straw-colored_sylph.htm And several female Rainpool Spreadwings, both mature, and a teneral female http://www.thehibbitts.net/troy/photo/odonata/rainpool_spreadwing.htm Troy Hibbitts Camp Wood, TX Subject: Re: 12-spotted Skimmer, mate guarding pix (Kinney Co, 9/18) From: Tim Jones <deforest AT austin.rr.com> Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:28:05 -0500 Good shots At 4:00 AM +0000 9/22/09, Troy wrote: >Just thought I'd share these images of a male 12 spotted skimmer guarding an ovipositing female. > >http://www.thehibbitts.net/troy/photo/odonata/twelve-spotted_skimmer.htm > >These were shot at a large roadside rainpool about 1 mile south of Spofford on TX 131 in southern Kinney County, on Friday. > >Troy Hibbitts >Camp Wood, TX > > > >------------------------------------ > >Yahoo! Groups Links > > > -- Subject: 12-spotted Skimmer, mate guarding pix (Kinney Co, 9/18) From: "Troy" <alterna2627 AT swtexas.net> Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2009 04:00:59 -0000 Just thought I'd share these images of a male 12 spotted skimmer guarding an ovipositing female. http://www.thehibbitts.net/troy/photo/odonata/twelve-spotted_skimmer.htm These were shot at a large roadside rainpool about 1 mile south of Spofford on TX 131 in southern Kinney County, on Friday. Troy Hibbitts Camp Wood, TX Subject: Mexican Scarlet-tail - Planiplax sanquiniventris at Mission, today From: "david_t_dauphin" <dauphins AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:22:58 -0000 Jan and I had 3 male Mexican Scarlet-tail - Planiplax sanquiniventris at NABA-National Butterfly Center, in Mission, Hidalgo Co., this morning. This is the first time we have found them outside of Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley SP-WBC (about 1 mile west of the Butterfly Park). Photos may be seen at http://www.thedauphins.net/rgv_newest_photos.html . David Dauphin http://www.thedauphins.net Subject: Santa Ana, 8-12 am this morning (9/20) From: "Troy" <alterna2627 AT swtexas.net> Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 02:55:08 -0000 Spent most of the morning hiking trails trying to jump up darners/evening skimmers/sylphs. Was somewhat successful, starting off at 8:30 with a nice Bar-sided Darner (not a Pale Green, alas) on Willow Lake Trail, and ending my stay with a nice Straw-colored Sylph at noon on Chacalaca Trail. Spent only about 15 minutes (at 11:20) looking for damsels along Willow Lake, but had both Swampdamsels again, as well as a Blue-striped Spreadwing. Also saw a 4' Indigo and a really bright colored Schott's/Ruthven's Whipsnake. Also finally found some cooperative Mexican Bluewing Butterflies. Today's list: Blue-striped Spreadwing - 1 Red-tipped Swampdamsel - 5 (all adults) Cream-tipped Swampdamsel - 5-6 (all teneral today) Blue-ringed Dancer - 10+ Common Green Darner - lots Bar-sided Darner - 1 Straw-colored Sylph - 1 Spot-tailed Dasher - 5-6 Thornbush Dasher - lots Blue Dasher - lots Swift Setwing - 3-4 Black Setwing - 5-6 Eastern Pondhawk - lots Red Saddlbags - lots Black Saddlebags - lots Wandering Glider - 5-6 Spot-winged Glider - 2-3 Hyacinth Glider - 2-3 Slough Amberwing - 5-6 Roseate Skimmer - lots Stopped at the Nueces River in Dimmitt Co (at about 4:30) to see if I could get better pix of the Blue-eyed Darners, but they were not present. Still lots of Slough Amberwings there, however. Also saw a young Bobcat, but could not get the photo. Troy Hibbitts Camp Wood, TX Subject: Re: predation From: Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson AT comcast.net> Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 09:03:47 -0700 That's an amazing story, just as interesting from the dragonfly's point of view as the mussel's. For the most part, dragonflies are supposed to feed on moving rather than stationary prey, so I wonder if the gomphid larvae were attracted to the glochidia because they were waving about in the water, then just kept munching and ended up taking bites out of the gills. But did they actually take bites out of the gills? I have never heard of a dragonfly eating pieces of a much larger animal in that way, and I think more details of how the authors came to this conclusion would be of value. Especially before someone decides to wipe out all the gomphid larvae in the river because of the endangered mussels. Dennis On Sep 20, 2009, at 1:58 AM, tony gallucci wrote: > > http://www.naturalhistorymag.com/samplings/201525/a-mother-s-burden > > tony gallucci > > ingram/kerrville/hunt, texas > hurricanetg AT hotmail.com > http://milkriver.blogspot.com > http://sevenbullsboy.deviantArt.com > http://tonygallucci.dAportfolio.com > http://bugguide.net/user/view/4012 > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TexOdes/ > > __________________________________________________________ > Ready for Fall shows? Use Bing to find helpful ratings and reviews > on digital tv's. > http://www.bing.com/shopping/search?q=digital+tv's&form=MSHNCB&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MSHNCB_Vertical_Shopping_DigitalTVs_1x1 > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > ----- Dennis Paulson 1724 NE 98 St. Seattle, WA 98115 206-528-1382 dennispaulson AT comcast.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: predation From: tony gallucci <hurricanetg AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 08:58:52 +0000 http://www.naturalhistorymag.com/samplings/201525/a-mother-s-burden tony gallucci ingram/kerrville/hunt, texas hurricanetg AT hotmail.com http://milkriver.blogspot.com http://sevenbullsboy.deviantArt.com http://tonygallucci.dAportfolio.com http://bugguide.net/user/view/4012 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TexOdes/ _________________________________________________________________ Ready for Fall shows? Use Bing to find helpful ratings and reviews on digital tv's. http://www.bing.com/shopping/search?q=digital+tv's&form=MSHNCB&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MSHNCB_Vertical_Shopping_DigitalTVs_1x1 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Santa Ana & Bentsen today, 9/19/09 From: "Troy" <alterna2627 AT swtexas.net> Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 02:00:30 -0000 Started at Santa Ana today at about 9:00, stayed until 2:30, then went over to Bentsen. At Santa Ana, started in the Willow Lake area, stayed around there until about noon. Much more water there than when I was here last in July. Next, went out to the to the front pond which has less water and more algae over the surface than in July. From around 1 to 2:30, hiked Pintail Lakes trail all the way down to the River. Although I didn't find any of the Darners I was hoping for (Pale Green, Caribbean, Amazon), I did get both Leptobasis, Blue-striped and Rainpool Spreadwings, and had a Straw-colored Sylph (unable to photograph). My list: Blue-striped Spreadwings (WL=Willow Lakes) 10+ Rainpool Spreadwings (WL) 2 Amelia's Threadtail (pool by Visitor's Center) 1 Cream-tipped Swampdamsel (WL) 15-20 Red-tipped Swampdamsel (WL) 2 Blue-ringed Dancer lots Blue-fronted Dancer 1 Rambur's Forktail 1 Desert Firetail lots Common Green Darners lots Forceptail sp. 2 lots Eastern Pondhawk lots Pintail Pondhawks 5-6 Great Pondhawk 1 Band-winged Dragonlet 2 Needham's Skimmer 1 Spot-winged Dasher 10+ Thornbush Dasher lots Blue Dasher Red-tailed Pennant 10+ Halloween Pennant 3-4 Four-spotted Pennant 2-3 Hyacinth Glider (at entrance) 1 Wandering Glider lots Spot-winged Glider 2-3 Straw-colored Sylph (Pintail Lakes Trail, near Rio Grande) 1 Red Saddlebags lots Black Saddlebags lots Slough Amberwing lots Roseate Skimmer lots Black Setwing lots Swift Setwing lots At Bentsen, walked Resaca Vieja Trail, then went to the boat ramp area. Was overcast, not much flying. Found: Smoky Rubyspot 2 Blue-fronted Dancer 10+ Rambur's Forktail 5-6 Caribbean Yellowface lots Common Green Darner 10+ Mexican Scarlettail 1 Eastern Pondhawk lots Blue Dasher lots Thornbush Dasher lots Wandering Glider 10+ Spot-winged Glider 10+ Black Saddlebags 10+ Red-tailed Pennant lots Four-spotted Pennant 1 Swift Setwing 10+ Black Setwing lots Roseate Skimmer lots Variegated Meadowhawk 1 Band-winged Dragonlet 1 Also saw 2 Texas Tortoises, and a pair of Gray Hawks Troy Hibbitts Camp Wood, Texas (reporting from McAllen) Subject: 5 Blue-eyed Darner patrolling the Leona at Ft. Inge, Uvalde Co. From: "Tripp" <tripp.davenport AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 20:09:15 -0000 Went out to look for the blue-faced darner again today, saw two individuals but no shots, did get a bonus, spotting 5 different blue-eyed darners patrolling over the leona river at Ft. Inge. They were patrolling in and out of numerous common greens. Posted 3 photos on my flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/tdavenport/3935194994/ I noticed that Terry H. had spotted 2 near Carrizo springs in Dimmit County, new records there as well I believe. Overall good day for odes 24 spp. at the Leona but the level of the lake has dropped 3 feet since last saturday! Slough Amberwing 2 Eastern Amberwing numerous Common Green Darner numerous Blue-faced Darner 2 Blue-eyed Darner 5 Widow Skimmer 1 Twelve-spotted Skimmer 8 Roseate Skimmer numerous Hyacinth Glider numerous Red-tailed Pennant 2 Four-spot Pennant 1 Wandering Glider 1 Checkered Setwing 1 Black Setwing 4 Common Pondhawk numerous Blue Dasher numerous Gray-waisted Skimmer 1 Spot-tailed Dasher 2 Black Saddlebags 4 Ramburs forktail numerous Fragile forktail 4 Blue-ringed Dancer 3 Golden-winged Dancer 1 American Rubyspot 1 Subject: Blue-spotted Comet Darner Anax concolor Santa Ana 09 19 09 From: TNMF AT aol.com Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 15:51:46 EDT Nicholas and I spotted a Blue-spotted Comet Darner Anax concolor in Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge in the Rio Grande Valley off the Owl trail near the junction with the Rescaca loop trail heading to the Jagarundi Trail. It hung up in the trees briefly than moved repetitively. This is the loop accessed from the cemetery area. The rescaca back in here has not had water for years but does have water now. It is shallow but since the low area is flat it extends for some distance. Since it has grown over with trees it is an interesting area of trees and shrubs in shallow water. We stayed on the trails. The darner was away from the watery areas though. Terry Fuller _Terrywfuller AT gmail.com_ (mailto:Terrywfuller AT gmail.com) San Benito TX [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Blue-eyed Darners, Dimmitt Co From: "Troy" <alterna2627 AT swtexas.net> Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 13:13:19 -0000 On way down to the LRGV yesterday, i stopped at several places in Kinney, Maverick, and Dimmitt Counties. Highlights include a 7'+ Indigo snake and 2 Blue-eyed Darners at the Nueces River Picnic Area on Hwy 85 east of Carrizo Springs. First stopped at a roadside pool south of Spofford in Southern Kinney Co at about 3:30-4 pm. Had lots of familiar bluets, 10 or more Common Green Darners, lots of 12 spotted Skimmers, 1 Widow Skimmer, several Roseate Skimmers, 1 Wandering Glider, lots of Eastern Pondhawks, Blue Dashers, and Variegated Meadowhawks, and 2-3 Eastern Amberwings. Next stopped at Elm Creek on the north side of Eagle Pass off of Hwy 277 4:30-5pm. Had good numbers of Damsels, including: American Rubyspot, Powdered, blue-ringed, Blue-fronted, Dusky and Kiowa Dancers, Double-striped bluets, and 1 Neotropical bluet. Also had 1 Common Green Darner, 3 Eastern Ringtails, 1 Five-striped Leaftail, 1 12 spotted Skimmer, 1 Eastern Pondhawk, and 4-5 Swift Setwings. Finally arrived at the Nueces River Picnic Area east of Carrizzo Springs, at about 6 pm. Water no longer flowing and restricted to a series of big muddy pools. Had lots of Slough Amberwings, 2 Blue-eyed Darners (R. multicolor, with probable ID-able photos), 1 Flag-tailed spinyleg, lots of Black & Swift Setwings, and lots of Blue-fronted Dancers. And the afore-mentioned 7 foot indigo snake, which was a big old impressive critter for sure. Troy Hibbitts Camp Wood, TX (reporting from McAllen) Subject: Re: LRGV this weekend From: Greg Lasley <glasley AT earthlink.net> Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:52:52 -0500 Good luck Troy, I was at Santa Ana yesterday from 11 AM on. Saw one Evening Skimmer which I got a few shots of but it clouded up and started raining by the mid afternoon and rained till dark. Today saw a couple of Bar- sided Darners in flight but never got them perched. Left at noon to come up to Starr County to visit a friend. It was not as active as it was this time last year but today was better than yesterday. Hope you have better luck. Greg Lasley On Sep 17, 2009, at 9:37 PM, Troy, Marla, & Cheyenne Hibbitts wrote: > Should anyone be interested, this weekend I'll be spending some time > at > Santa Ana and Bentsen. My plan is to start Saturday morning at Santa > Ana, > then head over to Bentsen later in the afternoon. Where I start > Sunday will > depend on what I see (or don't see) on Saturday. > > My primary targets are the crepuscular darners, blue-faced darner, and > amazon darner. Secondarily, I'd like to see evening skimmer, three- > striped > dasher, arch-tipped glider, and any of the leptobasis. Anyway, should > anyone be down there, look for me at Santa Ana Saturday morning. > > Troy Hibbitts > > Camp Wood, TX > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]