California's Year 2008

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

Key:
Species will be posted using either the Common Name or the Scientific Name, whichever the sender uses (inc. using both), 
but all first and last sightings of the year, county records, and new flight data will be posted using both names. 
To contact the person making the sighting, email Kathy Biggs.
COUNTY RECORDS are underlined and in red text 
OC=Odonata Central: http://odonatacentral.bfl.utexas.edu/records/US_new_records.asp - please report new county records here also
*= first/last sighting of species of year in CA 
**= new flight data for species in CA
#= possibly a migratory event

As of the most recent date below,
48 species (out of 113 known species) have been reported to this site as flying in CA in 2008.
0 new county records &/or upgrades to county records have been made this year
(this # includes upgrades of previous ‘sighting only’ records, newly accessed museum collections and new reports of prior year’s data).
`Sighting only' records need further documentation, but please report them so we can try to get substantiation.
There may be upgrades of previous `sighting only' records and new specimen records from recently examined museum/private collections listed. 
If you find such a record, please email it to Kathy Biggs <bigsnest@sonic.net>
County records should be substantiated with specimen (preferable) or photo and notes. [note: not all species are identifiable by photos]
Report new county records to Odonata Central: http://odonatacentral.bfl.utexas.edu/records/US_new_records.asp for verification 
 
May
 

May 3, 2008

San Bernardino County

Peter Siminski

Mojave River below the BLM campground in Afton Canyon; 10:15-13:10, sunny, 80-90F, light wind 5mph NW.

California Dancer, Argia agrioides  6 (one in hand)

Paiute Dancer, Argia alberta  >80 including many tandem and ovipositing pairs.

Black-fronted Forktail, Ischnura denticollis  >60 including eight tandem pairs.

*Desert Firetail, Telebasis salva  15 including one tandem pair.

Common Green Darner, Anax junius  1

Blue-eyed Darner, Rhionaeschna multicolor  2

Variegated Meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum  >50 almost all freshly emerged and weakly flying.

Western Pondhawk, Erythemis collocata  >40 including four ovipositing females and one wheel.

Flame Skimmer, Libellula saturata  ~35 including one wheel.

Spot-winged Glider, Pantala hymenaea  2

Soda Mineral Spring pond at Zzyzx; 14:30-15:50, high cirrus, ~95F, calm.

Familiar Bluet, Enallagma civile  26 including three tandem ovipositing pairs.

Tule or Arroyo Bluet, Enallagma carunculatum or praevarum  2, they looked like E. carunculatum.

Desert Forktail, Ischnura barberi  10 including one wheel.

Common Green Darner, Anax junius  2

Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis  2

Flame Skimmer, Libellula saturata  23 including one wheel and one ovipositing female.

May 2, 2008

Sacramento County

Tim Manolis+

{In the} morning while doing yardwork in the backyard, I had close looks at a male Sinuous Snaketail (Ophiogomphus occidentis), only the second time I have seen one in my yard.  This got me thinking that they must be emerging in pretty good numbers along the nearby American River, so I hiked around some backwater lagoons in the American River Parkway behind Rio Americano High School from about 1:30 to 4:00 p.m.  Ode seens included:

Tule Bluet -- a couple males netted; 75-100 other possibles seen

Arroyo Bluet -- two males netted; 75-100 other possibles seen (no doubt some overlap with Tule Bluets)

Familiar Bluet -- a couple of males netted; 100+ others seen

Pacific Forktail -- 80

Exclamation Damsel -- easily 200-300 seen, the most common damselfly species seen

Common Green Darner -- 30

*Sinuous Snaketail Ophiogomphus occidentis -- 12

Pacific Clubtail -- 3 or 4

Western Pondhawk -- 1 male

Common Whitetail -- 75

** *Widow Skimmer Libellula luctuosa – 10; new early flight date, old date 5/5/2004

12-spotted Skimmer -- 3

Variegated Meadowhawk – 16

+Kathy and Dave Biggs went to the same site right after Tim (he lead us there), from 4:30-5:00 for ½ hr and were able to repeat all of Tim’s observed species except the Pacific Clubtail, 12-spotted Skimmer and Pondhawk.

…….

Inyo County

Kathy & Dave Biggs

Hot Tub – [site for Desert Whitetails @ 2007Blitz] – 50F

No odes seen

Fales Hot Springs - runoff creek from, Hwy 395 @ Bircham Rd. – 58F, 12:15-12:30

** *River Bluet, Enallagma anna – one teneral seen – still all soft and colorless – new early flight date: old date 6/3/2005

May 1, 2008

Mono County

Ron & Barbara Oriti; Kathy & Dave Biggs

Pupfish Pond:         

Four-spotted Skimmers - many

Flame Skimmer - 1   

Black Saddlebags - 1   

* **Paddletail Darner Aeshna palmata  - 1 male seen well while perched by Kathy thru binoculars new early flight data: old date 5/11/07   

Hoary Skimmer - 1   

Black-fronted Forktail

Blue-ringed Dancer 

Paiute Dancer

[note: Ron saw a Desert Whitetail at this site the next day]

Fish Slough #4:           

California Darner - 1  probably this species,  a little small & grayish

Western Pondhawk - 1   female

Paiute Dancer

Vivid Dancer

Forktail,  possibly a Western or Desert  ?

Black-fronted Forktail

Pacific Forktail

Fish Slough #3:     

Blue-eyed  Darner

California Darner

Flame Skimmer - 1    

Western Pondhawks, 1 male, 1 female

Four-spotted Skimmer - 1   

Aztec/CA   Dancer

Blue-ringed Dancer

Bluet, sp.

Fish Slough #2:              

Western Pondhawk - 1   

Four-spotted Skimmer - 1   

Darner sp, mosaic typle - 1   

Black-fronted Forktail

Pacific Forktail

…

Inyo County

Fish Slough #1:              

Darner 1    

Variegated Meadowhawk 1   

Western Forktail  

April

April 30, 2008
Inyo County
Kathy & Dave Biggs

Mazourka Springs @ Mazourka Rd. off 395, Independence, 75F, 4:15-4:45

Paiute Dancer - many

Black-fronted Forktail - many

Western Pondhawk – a few

Hoary Skimmer – 1 male
Dirty Socks Springs @ Owens Lake, 3:00-3:30, 74-76F, windy

Blue-ringed Dancer 

Paiute Dancer

Tule Bluet 

Black-fronted Forktail

Desert Forktail 

April 29, 2008
San Bernardino County
Kathy & Dave Biggs
Joshua Tree National Park; Barker Dam

What a disappointment - no Roseate Skimmers this time!

Familiar Bluet 

Variegated Meadowhawk 

April 28, 2008
Riverside County
Kathy & Dave Biggs
Lake Fulmar (small - a few acres)/ Hwy 243; 5000'+ elevation, 1-1:30, 76-78F
Pacific Forktail - dozens inc. 1 young female
Western Forktail - 1 mature female
Tule Bluet - mostly males
Blue-eyed Darner - 1-2 dozen prowling males, 1 female in a tandem
Common Green Darner - 2 males
Flame Skimmer - 2-3 males
Cardinal Meadowhawk - 2-3 males
Coachella Valley Preserve, 4-4:45, 97-93F
American Rubyspot- 1 female
Sooty Dancer - about 6 males
Vivid Dancer - many

April 27, 2008

Riverside County

Peter Siminski

Coachella Valley Preserve, Thousand Palms Oasis; 9:10-12:00, light high cirrus, 85-92F, calm to light N wind.

California Dancer, Argia agrioides  5 including one tandem pair (one in hand)

Paiute Dancer, Argia alberta  5 (one in hand)

Vivid Dancer, Argia vivida  16 including 4 tandem pairs.

Flame Skimmer, Libellula saturata  4

…….

Orange County
Kathy & Dave Biggs, mo
El Dorado Nature Center, Longbeach
11-12:30, 97F
Pacific Forktail - some
Familiar Bluet - many, inc. one on maiden flight, tandems &wheels
Blue Dasher - many males

April 26, 2008

San Diego County

Doug Aguillard

Point Loma, Cabrillo National Monument

Wandering Glider - 1

Bledsloe's Pond in the Tijuana River Valley

Blue-eyed Darners- 4

Flame Skimmer - 1

Cardinal Meadowhawk- 1

Blue Dasher - 1

Pacific Forktail - 1

In the eastern portion of the Tijuana River Valley,

Black-fronted Forktails - 20

Blue Dasher - 1

Lily lake at Greenwood

Flame Skimmers - 2

Blue Dashers - 20

Blue-eyed Darner - 1

…….

Riverside County

Peter Siminski

CDFG San Jacinto Wildlife Area; 9:10-13:30, sunny, 75-90F, calm to light W wind.

Tule Bluet, Enallagma carunculatum  2 (1 in hand)

Familiar Bluet, Enallagma civile  100s including many tandem pairs ovipostiing (3 in hand)

Pacific Forktail, Ischnura cervula  3

Common Green Darner, Anax junius  7

Blue-eyed Darner, Rhionaeschna multicolor  >30 including one wheel.

Variegated Meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum  1

Western Pondhawk, Erythemis collocata  3 including one ovipositing female.

Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis  8

*Mexican Amberwing, Perithemis intensa  1

Red Saddlebags, Tramea onusta  14 including three tandem pairs.

Note:  Thousands of Painted ladies; >30 per minute crossing roads in a northerly direction; many feeding on mustard.

…….
Los Angeles County
Kathy & Dave Biggs, mo
Madrona Marsh, Torrance
4-5 pm, 80F but windy
Pacific Forktail - a few
Common Green Darner
Mosaic-type Darner
Blue Dasher - many males
Variegated Meadowhawk - one teneral female

April 22, 2008

Mono County

Ron Oriti

Fish Slough – out fishing!

Darners - a couple

Flame skimmers

Four-spotted Skimmer Libellula quadrimaculata … a couple dozen; got some really good photos [new early date for Hoary by nearly 3 wks - kb]

** *Hoary Skimmer Libellula nodisticta … got some really good photos of the Hoary too. [new early date for Hoary by 6 days - kb]

** *Desert Whitetail Libellula subornata  [new early date for Hoary by nearly 3 wks - kb]

April 19, 2008

Imperial County

Peter Siminski

CDFG Imperial Wildlife Area, Wister Area, HQ and Ruddy Road ponds and ditches; 9:30-12:40, sunny, 75-85 degrees, light wind S.

*Powdered Dancer, Argia moesta  4

Blue-ringed Dancer, Argia sedula  >40 including ~10 tandem pairs ovipositing.

Familiar Bluet, Enallagma civile  ~15 including an ovipositing tandem pair.

Desert Forktail, Ischnura barberi  >45 including 5 wheels and ~10 ovipositing females.

Citrine Forktail, Ischnura hastata  2

Rambur's Forktail, Ischnura ramburii  2

Darner sp.   1

Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis  4, all young males.

Red Saddlebags, Tramea onusta  1

Spot-winged Glider, Pantala hymenaea  3

East Highline Canal at Sinclair Road: 13:30-14:45, sunny, 85 degrees, windy 10-15 mph SW.

American Rubyspot, Hetaerina americana  ~22

Powdered Dancer, Argia moesta  >60 including ~5 ovipositing tandem pairs.

Blue-ringed Dancer, Argia sedula  >100 including many ovipositing tandem pairs.

Familiar Bluet, Enallagma civile  >100 including many ovipositing tandem pairs.

Western Pondhawk, Erythemis collocata  2M

April 18, 2008

Butte County

Ray Bruun

Bidwell Park in Chico

It was blustery and unseasonably cool.  Nine ode species were flying:
Common Whitetail - one female
Beaverpond Baskettail - two patrolling
Pacific Clubtail - perhaps one (several were seen at Cone Grove Park in Tehama County)
Vivid Dancer - several males, one female
*Emma's Dancer Argia emma - several males and females
*Sooty Dancer Argia lugens - one female (probable)
*Northern Bluet Enallagma annexum - one male
Tule Bluet - one male
Pacific Forktail - several males (many males and females in Tehama County)

…….

San Diego County

Pete Spino

I took a walk around Mission Trails RP for an hour.
The weather was very warm and sunny with light winds from the west.
Visited the grasslands and Mission Dam area only. Did not visit lake.
Flame Skimmer (2)
Red Rock Skimmer (2-3)
Variegated Meadowhawk 
*Giant Darner Anax walslinghami!
Familiar Bluet (4)
Blue-ringed Dancer (2)
Vivid Dancer (3-4)
Spot-winged Glider
…….

Mono County

Barbara & Ron Oriti
Fish Slough
Green Darners
Flame Skimmers
Variegated Meadowhawks
** *Four-spotted Skimmers Libellula quadrimaculata - a couple dozen: Didn't know what they were at first, for we did not recognize the colors on their bodies.  
Once I got a good look at their wings though, I could see that they were Four-spots. They all must have just emerged at about the same time, 
for they were all so pristine and beautiful!  [these were first seen on the 17th by Ron who brought Barbara back the next day to help with the ID – kg]

April 17, 2008

Sonoma County

David Hofmann

Frances Neilsen Park in Santa Rosa

Beaverpond Baskettails  5-6

California Darners

Pacific Forktails

I also noticed that Canada Geese have taken up residence at this pond, and the ponds at Shiloh Ranch Regional Park. 

I wonder what impact they have on emerging dragonflies.

April 13-19, 2008

Sonoma County

Kathy & Dave Biggs, Gloria & Harry Conley

Their Sebastopol backyard ponds
Pacific Forktail – a few
Western Forktail – a few
Vivid Dancer – 1 at Biggs
California Darner – at least 1 at Biggs
Cardinal Meadowhawk – 5 (2 pairs +1m) at Biggs; emergence slowdown from 30 to 12 to only 5 a day at Conley pond
…….
Sacramento County
Tim Manolis
American River
Common Whitetails (a fair number)
Green Darners (some patrolling males and even an ovipositing pair!) 
Variegated Meadowhawks (a few)
Exclamation Damsels,
Pacific Forktails
Arroyo, Tule, Familiar Bluets -- fairly common in another spot along the parkway
Vivid Dancers (a few, my first of the year)

April 16, 2008

San Diego County

Rocky Just

Santee

Town Center Pkwy (Behind Wall Mart in SD River area)

20 or more Blue Dasher (Immature)

3 Flame Skimmer

April 15, 2008

San Diego County

Rocky Just

Mission Trails Regional Park (Padre Dam Area)

4 Flame Skimmer

1 Female Variegated Meadowhawk

April 14. 2008

Inyo County

Ron Oriti

Owens River

Flame Skimmers

April 13, 2008

San Diego County

Peter Siminski

Santa Margarita River below Sandia Creek Road, north of Fallbrook; 9:30 - 13:30, sunny, 75-90 degrees, calm.

American Rubyspot, Hetaerina americana  >25

Vivid Dancer, Argia vivida  11 including three tandem pairs.

Familiar bluet, Enallagma civile  2

Tule Bluet, Enallagma carunculatum  2 in hand.

*Arroyo Bluet, Enallagma praevarum  6 in hand.

Enallagma praevarum or carunculatum  >35 including many tandem pairs and tandem oviposting; seemed like mostly E. praevarum.

Pacific Forktail, Ischnura cervula  ~15

*Black-fronted Forktail, Ischnura denticollis  9 including two wheels.

Common Green Darner, Anax junius  5 including one tandem pair.

Rhionaeschna sp  1

Variegated Meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum  2

Cardinal Meadowhawk, Sympetrum illotum  10

Flame Skimmer, Libellula saturata  >15 including ovipositing female.

*Red Rock Skimmer, Paltothemis lineatipes  3 including a brief wheel

…

Douglas Aguillard

National City

Spot-winged Glider - glided through my backyard this afternoon

April 12, 2008

San Diego County

Doug Aguillard

Pt. Loma

Nothing exciting, 2 Variegated Meadowhawks and one Blue-eyed Darner;

5 Vivid Dancers in Florida Canyon also.

April 11, 2008

San Diego

Rocky Just

Mission Trails Regional Park (Jackson Drive Area down dirt road in river in bed)

1 Cardinal Meadowhawk (male)

 
April 9, 2008
Shasta County

Kathy & Dave Biggs, Ray Bruun, Rob

Turtle Bay, Redding

Bluets – a few, one seen fairly well appeared to be a Tule Bluet

Common Green Darner – 1 patrolling

Beaverpond Baskettail – ~12, feeding males and females, all with eyes still brown

Common Whitetail – 1 teneral male

April 7, 2008

Santa Barbara County

Adam Lewis

Lake Los Carneros County Park.  The location is just NE of the intersection of US HWY101 and Los Carneros Rd in Goleta.

Red Saddlebags, 1 male, images taken [note: this seems very early for this far north – kb]

April 6, 2008

Riverside County

Peter Siminski

Dos Palmas Preserve, Dos Palmas Oasis; 8:50-15:00, sunny, 70-85 degrees, Light wind ~5 mph NW.

Paiute Dancer, Argia alberta  >30 including 3 tandem pairs (a few ID'd in hand).

Blue-ringed Dancer, Argia sedula  >20 including 2 tandem pairs ovipositing (a few ID'd in hand).

Familiar Bluet, Enallagma civile  >25 including ~6 tandem pairs.

Desert Forktail, Ischnura barberi  5 including 1 wheel.

Citrine Forktail, Ischnura hastata  1

Rambur's Forktail, Ischnura ramburii  >35 including 4 wheels.

Common Green Darner, Anax junius  5

Blue-eyed Darner, Rhionaeschna multicolor  1

Variegated Meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum  2

Western Pondhawk, Erythemis collocata  >75 including one brief wheel and 5 ovipostiing females.

Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis  >100 including 2 wheels.

** *Bleached Skimmer, Libellula composita  5M (photo posted) {new early date – old date 5/27! – kb]