California's Year 2009 Dragonflies

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
MO= many observers (usually means a field trip full of observers)
 

As of the most recent date below,

102 species (out of 113 known species) have been reported to this site as flying in CA in 2009.

20 new county records &/or upgrades to county records have been made this year

(this # may include 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.

If you find such a record, please email it to Kathy Biggs <bigsnest at 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 Kathy Biggs [bigsnest at sonic.net] &

Odonata Central: http://odonatacentral.bfl.utexas.edu/records/US_new_records.asp for verification

December

December 26, 2009

San Diego County

Peter Siminski

Hellhole Canyon, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, 9:30-14:00, 50-60F, 60% altostratus, light air.

*Variegated Meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum 1 [last report 2009]

December 19, 2009

Riverside County

Peter Siminski

Dos Palmas Oasis and Fish Ponds, Dos Palmas Preserve, Elev. -100’; 8:30-12:00, 60-75F, cirrus, gentle breeze N.

Variegated Meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum 3

…….
Yuba County

Tim Manolis

Marysville Christmas Bird Count on Tuesday

I saw three Variegated Meadowhawks.  Two were on the sunny, grassy side of the northern levee bordering the town,

one of these seen at close range was a bright red adult male in good condition.  The third was at a different location, in the riparian

brush along the Yuba River on the south side of town.  All were initially seen on the wing.  The day was sunny but breezy and cool.

Interesting to see that the late December ode fauna for interior San Diego and Riverside counties is similar to that of Yuba County.

…….
San Diego County

Gary Suttle
Dos Picos Pond, Ramona, 11:30,  mostly sunny, 75 degrees
*Common Green Darner Anax junius 1 [last report 2009]

December 12, 2009

Riverside County

Peter Siminski

East Deception Canyon, Joshua Tree National Park, Elev. 1627’: 8:40-12:50, 50-60F, 50% altostratus, light air.

Variegated Meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum 1

…….

Monterey County

Don Roberson with Rita Carratello
Carmel R. mouth (Odello area), mostly birding for 1 hour
*Blue-eyed Darner Rhionaeschna multicolor 1 male [last report 2009]

December 1, 2009
San Diego County

Garry Suttle
Felicita Creek, Escondido, 11:00, sunny, 67 degrees
*California Spreadwing  Archilestes californicus 1 [last report 2009]

November

November 26, 2009
Sonoma County
Kathy & Dave Biggs 
Bigsnest Wildlife Pond, Sebastopol back yard, 69F, sunny
*Shadow Darner Aeshna umbrosa, flew circles around the pond (also seen on 24th)[last report 2009]
 
November 24, 2009
San Diego County
Gary Suttle
Ramona, Dos Picos County Park pond, 10:30-11:15, clear, breezy, 64 degrees.
California Spreadwing 1 M
*Familiar Bluet Enallagma civile 1 [last report 2009] 
*Tule Bluet Enallagma carunculatum 2 [last report 2009]
Blue-eyed Darner 2 M
Escondido, Clevenger Canyon, Santa Ysabel Creek, 11:45-12:15, 72 degrees.
California Spreadwing 1 M creek dry
Escondido, Oak Hill Memorial Park pond, 12:30-1:00, 77 degrees
Common Green Darner 1F
*Red-tailed Pennant Brachymesia furcata 1M [last report 2009]
Escondido, Dixon Lake, 1:30-2:30, 78 degrees
Familiar Bluet 2 tandem, ovipositing
Common Green Darner 1M
Variegated Meadowhawk 1

November 21, 2009

Riverside County

Peter Siminski

Dos Palmas Oasis and Fish Ponds, Dos Palmas Preserve, Elev. -100’; 8:40-13:10, 62-76F, cloudless, light to gentle breeze S.

*Paiute Dancer, Argia alberta 8 including one in-hand and photographed. [last report 2009]

*Blue-ringed Dancer, A. sedula 1 [last report 2009]

*Vivid Dancer, Argia vivida 3 [last report 2009]

*Rambur’s Forktail, Ischnura ramburii 4 [last report 2009]

Common Green Darner, Anax junius 3

Variegated Meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum 13 including one tandem pair ovipositing.

*Roseate Skimmer, Orthemis ferruginea 1 [last report 2009]

Note:  The ~8 acre area of tamarix and bush pickleweed to the east of the fish ponds that was scraped earlier this fall is being reworked to become a managed marsh.

November 18, 2009

Sonoma County

Gloria Conley

Ragle Park, Sebastopol

Variegated Meadowhawk – 1
 
November 9, 2009
San Diego County
Gary Suttle 
Lake Poway, dam base pond   
*California Dancer Argia agrioides [last report 2009]

November 4, 2009

Santa Clara County

Steve Rottenborn

Gilroy Sewage Treatment Plant ponds in southern Santa Clara County (birding early morning)

Blue-eyed Darner - 1

Variegated Meadowhawk - 1

November 3, 2009

Santa Clara County

Steve Rottenborn

Oka Ponds along Los Gatos Creek in Campbell -- I got out in the warm weather to see what was still flying 

Dancer sp., only one, I think the dancer was a California/Aztec rather than Vivid --photo taken

*Pacific Forktail Ischnura cervula – 10 [last report 2009]

Common Green Darners - 4 

October

October 25, 2009

Tulare County

Paul G. Johnson

Middle Fork Kaweah River ~2.5 miles upstream of the Marble Fork confluence (below the suspension foot bridge. To get there, take the Buckeye Flat Campground turnoff, make the first possible right, park and walk upstream about 0.2 miles.)

Calm, clear, ~75 F.  1130-1500. (I was not particularly looking for odes.)

* Great spreadwing Archilestes grandis - 2 (males) CA Chart #26 OC# 315548 [last report 2009]

Variegated meadowhawk - 3

October 23, 2009

Contra Costa County

Rob Thomas

Briones RP, Sindicich & Maricich Lagoons; 11:00am to 2:00pm, mid-70s, clear, light NE breeze

*Spotted Spreadwing Lestes congener – 17 include 2 pairs [last report 2009]

Tule Bluet – 3

No/Bo Bluet – 20-30

*Western Forktail Ischnura perparva– 1M [last report 2009]

Blue-eyed Darner – 2

Common Green Darner – 1

Variegated Meadowhawk – 8

*Cardinal Meadowhawk Sympetrum illotum – 2M barely alive in water [last report 2009]

October 17, 2009

Riverside County

Peter Siminski

Dos Palmas Oasis and Fish Ponds, Dos Palmas Preserve, Elev. -100’; 8:50-12:10, 80-100F, cloudless, calm to gentle breeze S.

Blue-ringed Dancer, Argia sedula 7

Familiar Bluet, Enallagma civile 10 including one tandem pair ovipositing.

*Desert Forktail, Ischnura barberi 2 [last report 2009]

Rambur’s Forktail, I. ramburii 15

Common Green Darner, Anax junius 13

Blue-eyed Darner, Rhionaeschna multicolor 12

Variegated Meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum >100 including many tandem pairs some ovipositing.

Red-tailed Pennant, Brachymesia furcata 4

*Flame Skimmer, Libellula saturata 4 [last report 2009]

Roseate skimmer, Orthemis ferruginea 17

*Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerata 7 [last report 2009]

Red Saddlebags, T. onusta 2

*Wandering Glider, Pantala flavescens [last report 2009]

 
October 10, 2009
Yolo County
Ed Whisler
Davis Cemetery, Davis, 11:15am-12:30pm; Calm, clear skies, 62 degrees F
Variegated meadowhawk-2
Black saddlebags-1
Common green darner-2
…….
San Diego County
Gary & Paula Suttle 
Pond at lower end of Laguna Meadows in the Laguna Mountains, 1:30-2:30, partly sunny, light breeze, 70 degrees.
Spotted Spreadwing >100
Tule Bluet 1
Cardinal Meadowhawk 2

The pond, nearly dried-up and degraded by cattle, still harbored Lestes congener, tandem ovipositing in large numbers on California Bulrush.

Counted 6 pairs girding a crowded nine-inch length of stem.

 
October 9, 2009
Inyo County

Ron & Barbara Oriti

Dirty Socks

Variegated Meadowhawks - lots

Common Green Darners – a few

Damsels - some       

Diaz Lake had absolutely nothing, and it was the same at a very overgrown Mazourka Springs.    

Billy Lakes  had the same dragonflies as at Dirty Socks, plus a few Mosaic type Darners.      

Klondike Lake also had the same end-of-the-season Odes  --  lots of Variegateds, Darners, and damselflies.  That's it.   Sad to see the season basically over now!

October 6, 2009

Santa Barbara County

Laura Baldwin and Larry Ballard

UC Sedgwick Reserve along Figueroa Creek, 9-11 AM, sunny, 65 degrees

*American Rubyspot (Hetaerina americana) 4 males [last report 2009]

October 4, 2009
Yolo County
Ed Whisler
Davis Cemetery, Davis, 11:00am-12:11pm; 60 degrees F, calm, clear skies
Variegated meadowhawk-15
Wandering glider-1

Black saddlebags-2

October 3 & 4, 2009
Riverside County

Joanna Stark

Pond (a lovely little oasis) at the Joshua Tree RV and camping site; 97 degrees F, winds 20-35 mph  (really dusty!)

Flame Skimmer – 1 male on territory

*Blue Dasher Pachydiplax longipennis – 1 male on territory (this brings the # of species for JSP to 10 - kb) [last report 2009]

October 3, 2009
San Diego County
Gary Suttle 
His Poway backyard

*Neon Skimmer Libellula croceipennis [last report 2009]

October 2, 2009
Imperial County
Gary Suttle and David Rawlins
Westside Main Canal @ Highway the 98 bridge crossing, 9:30-12:30, partly sunny to mostly cloudy, with a few sprinkles, 76-88 degrees.
American Rubyspot Hetaerina americana 2 
*Powdered Dancer many [last report 2009]
Blue-ringed Dancer many
Common Green Darner >20
Blue-eyed Darner 1F 
*Russet-tipped Clubtail Stylurus plagiatus  5M 2F (including a wheel) [last report 2009]
*White-belted Ringtail Erpetogomphus compositus 1M
Roseate Skimmer >10 (mostly females)
The Russet-tipped Clubtail and the Brimstone Clubtail (a frequent companion species at this site) lie at the southwestern edge of their 
range in the U.S. along this north-south trending canal, a stark thread of water that separates irrigated fields to the east from desert
lands to the west. Triple-digit temperatures prevail during much of their flight period. In a half dozen visits, including times early and
late in the day, I have never observed foraging flight...they always appear hunkered down in the shade of the arrowweed and
tamarisk shrubs lining the canal. Out of dozens of photographs, a couple show flies being eaten; I have simply missed feeding
activity. But wondering if these populations are less active than their kin in more clement climates, with the sedentary behavior
reflecting a thermoregulatory adaptation to their torrid environment. Also wondering if the Russet-tipped Clubtail's paler color
(compared to eastern populations) illustrates adaptive coloration-- the lighter markings absorbing less heat than would darker 
markings, as well as affording better camouflage in the xerophytic vegetation--often light in color, like arroweed, with a high able 
do to reflect intense sunlight.

…….

Marin County

Ann Johnson and Jim Bagma
Pt. Reyes - Five Brooks and the pond at Drake’s Beach.

Pacific Forktail

Western Forktail

Familiar Bluet

Tule Bluet

“Borthern” Bluet – in the marshy area/pond at Drake’s Beach, Pt. Reyes

Common Green Darner

California Darner* [*possible but would be several months later than ever seen before, so this is a ‘head’s up – kb]

Blue Dasher

*Western Pondhawk Erythemis collocata [last report 2009]

Flame Skimmer

Twelve-spotted Skimmer

Cardinal Meadowhawk

*Striped Meadowhawk Sympetrum pallipes [last report 2009]

Variegated Meadowhawk

Black Saddlebags

October 1, 2009
Alameda County
Alice Cavette
Lake Elizabeth, Fremont
Wandering Glider - Pantala flavescens - male
We have also seen a Black Saddlebags - Tramea lacerata at Lake Elizabeth for a little over a week now.

…….

San Francisco County

Ann Johnson and Jim Bagma

Fort Point (under south side of Golden Gate Bridge

*San Francisco Forktail Ischnura gemina – 1 male [last report 2009]

September

September 27, 2009
Siskiyou County
Kathy & Dave Biggs; Bob and Patti Claypole
The Nelson Ranch, off A-12 near the Lava Lakes
Spotted Spreadwing Lestes congener - abundant, in-hand ID
No/Bo Bluets Enallagma annexum &/or boreale
Tule Bluet Enallagma carunculatum - many, all very dark, in-hand ID
Arroyo Bluet Enallagma pravareum- 1 male, probably more of this species, in-hand ID. Found along A12 at intersection with Nelson Rd. [last report 2009]
Blue-eyed Darner Rhionaeschna multicolor, many, in-hand ID - possibly other darner species, more of these than the next species
Common Green Darner Anax junius - some
Variegated Meadowhawk Sympetrum corruptum - many
*Band-winged Meadowhawk Sympetrum semicinctum - 2 females seen well [last report 2009]
This property is closed to the public, but it would be easy to get permission to survey it.

There is a large shallow lake, mostly lacking in vegetation, many small irrigation ditches, flooded areas and at the back of the property the Shasta River, which we found to be still running and deep.

On the 26^th we had one Shadow Darner male in hand at Soda Springs, McCloud. Other darners seen there and at our Dragonfly Roost pond in Mt. Shasta Forest, McCloud

…….

Monterey County
Don Roberson
San Antonio River, North Ford, below Wagon Caves in Los Padres NF
1150-1320; calm, clear, 101 degrees (!!) -- really hot this day
Given the very dry summer, the river is reduced to a small rivulet with larger puddles were ponds used to be
elev. ~1400 ft.; oak savanna with huge rock outcroppings
*Northern Bluet Enallagma annexum 10 i.d. presumed on these Northern/Boreal types. All such damsels caught here previously have been Northerns, 
and Boreal remains unrecorded for MTY (also date too late for Boreal) [last report 2009]
California Dancer 6 including tandem
*Sooty Dancer Argia lugens 1 male [last report 2009]
*Walker's Darner Aeshna walkeri 4 including a tandem in flight and briefly perched (photo) [last report 2009]
Flame Skimmer 1 m
*Red Rock Skimmer Paltothemis lineatipes 1 m (photo) [last report 2009]
Striped Meadowhawk 1 (photo)
Cardinal Meadowhawk 3
 
September 20-27, 2009
Mono County
Ron & Barbara Oriti
DeChambeau Pond

Striped Meadowhawks seen on Sept. 20, 21, 23, 26, and 27

*Black Meadowhawk Sympetrum danae, a few seen on Sept. 20, 21, 23, 26, and 27
**Bleached Skimmer – Libellula composita seen on Sept. 20, 21, 23, 26, and 27 [last report 2009 – NEW LATE DATE BY 2 WKS]]
Darners
Spreadwing of some kind
Green Creek, north of Mono and closer to Bridgeport
Darners,  lots 
Black Meadowhawks seen on Sept 26 and 27
Striped Meadowhawks seen on Sept 26 and 27
Meadowhawk small red one of some kind
Spreadwings lots 
 

September 25-26, 2009

Modoc County

Steve Rottenborn

I spent last weekend in Modoc County and visited several areas to see what odonates were still around this time of year.   On the afternoon of 25 Sep., along County Road 94 through the mountains in the southwestern part of the county, Striped Meadowhawks were common and widespread in virtually every habitat type (even miles from water).  Spotted Spreadwings were nearly as widespread but in much lower numbers.  This was a theme repeated throughout the weekend; even residential areas in Alturas and in Lakeview, Oregon had Striped Meadowhawks and Spotted Spreadwings scattered throughout.
Most of my time spent looking at odonates was on 26 Sep., when I had the following:
Pond on south side of Forest Service Road 9, ½-mile west of County Road 1 (on the east side of Fandango Pass):
Spotted Spreadwing  200+
Tule Bluet  15
Western Forktail  50
Mosaic darner  15 males (several seen well, and one photographed, were

*Variable Darners Aeshna interrupta – [last report 2009 – 9/26)
Striped Meadowhawk  200+ pairs ovipositing at edge of pond in "swarms" of up to 15 pairs/square meter where a very short (1-2" tall) sedge was growing in moist areas just above the water's edge. 

In my limited experience watching this species ovipositing in Santa Clara County, the females were dropping eggs from heights of 6-12 inches or more above the vegetation,

but all the females at this pond were physically brushing the tops of the sedges with the tips of their abdomens.
Saffron-winged Meadowhawk Sympetrum costiferum 6+ pairs ovipositing in the same areas where the Striped Meadowhawks were [last report 2009]
Applegate Hot Spring, along County Road 15B in Surprise Valley:
Spotted Spreadwing  5
Paiute Dancer  1000+ (numerous tandem pairs)
Pacific Forktail  1
*Black-fronted Forktail Ischnura denticollis 1000+ [last report 2009]
Mosaic darner sp.  1
Western Pondhawk  200+
*Comanche Skimmer Libellula comanche  1 [last report 2009]
*Desert Whitetail Plathemis subornata   3 [last report 2009]
Black Meadowhawk  2
Striped Meadowhawk  20
Band-winged Meadowhawk  3
Stough Reservoir, ~6300' elevation north of Cedar Pass in North Warner Mountains:
California Spreadwing  10 (several tandem pairs, ovipositing in willows)
Spotted Spreadwing  5
Northern/Boreal Bluet  1
Western Forktail  5
Mosaic darner  45 (of 10 males netted, 9 were Shadow and 1 was Paddle-tailed); 1 female Shadow also seen
Striped Meadowhawk  12
North Fork of Pit River, Highway 395 pulloff 4.2 mi N of Rt. 299, north of Alturas:
American Rubyspot  2
California Spreadwing  11 (several tandem pairs)
Spotted Spreadwing  4
Mosaic darner  2
Striped Meadowhawk  8
Modoc NWR:

Spotted Spreadwings

Common Green Darners

Striped Meadowhawks - numerous

Variegated Meadowhawks - a few

September 25, 2009
San Diego County
Gary Suttle
Lake Poway, 2:30-4:30, sunny, light breeze, 93-91 degrees.
(Dam base pond)
California Spreadwing 2M
California Dancer 1M
Vivid Dancer 1
*Desert Firetail Telebasis salva 3M 2F [last report 2009]
Common Green Darner 6
Variegated Meadowhawk 2
Blue Dasher 4
(lake)
Familiar Bluet 3
Tule Bluet 5
Bluet sp. >20
Common Green Darner >60 Tandems composed nearly half the count. Walking by a shallow 20'X 75' inlet stirred 11 simultaneously ovipositing pairs.
Blue-eyed Darner 1
Variegated Meadowhawk 5 
*Mexican Amberwing Perithemis intensa 1 [last report 2009]
Red-tailed Pennant 9M
Blue Dasher >10
Western Pondhawk 3
Flame Skimmer 6
Black Saddlebags 13 

*Red Saddlebags Tramea onusta 2 [last report 2009]

…….

Sacramento County

Tim Manolis

American River

*Widow Skimmer Libellula luctuosa [last report 2009]

September 24, 2009
Inyo County
Ron Oriti
North Lake, up Bishop Canyon
Black Meadowhawk - in one of the meadows

September 20, 2009

Riverside County

Peter Siminski

Dos Palmas Oasis and Fish Ponds, Dos Palmas Preserve, Elev. -100’; 7:15-11:45, 75-100F, cloudless, calm to gentle breeze SE.

Paiute Dancer, Argia alberta 3 including two in hand.

Blue-ringed Dancer, A. sedula 1 in hand.

Familiar Bluet, Enallagma civile 3

Desert Forktail, Ischnura barberi 16

Rambur’s Forktail, I. ramburii >20

Common Green Darner, Anax junius >50 including wheels, tandem pairs and ovipositing pairs.

Blue-eyed Darner, Rhionaeschna multicolor 11

Variegated Meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum >60 including tandem pairs some ovipositing.

Red-tailed Pennant, Brachymesia furcata 14

Western Pondhawk, Erythemis collocata >40 including a wheel.

Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis 14

Flame Skimmer, Libellula saturata 1

Roseate skimmer, Orthemis ferruginea 12

*Marl Pennant, Macrodiplax balteata >40 including one tandem pair [last report 2009]

Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerata >75 including tandem pairs.

Red Saddlebags, T. onusta 14

Note:  It rained in the past month, one big downpour I believe.  Most of the roads along the fish ponds have been graveled over the past year.  About 8 acres east of the fish ponds are being scraped of Tamarisk, idodine bush and saltbush leaving bare earth and puddles.

September 19, 2009

San Francisco County

Kathy & Dave Biggs, Bob Miller 
Ft. Point – below the Golden Gate Bridge, south side, 1:30-2:00, 59F, light breeze
SF Forktail - 2-3 males
It was cold enuf that they were just an inch or so above the water, and on our return canvas of the area, they had disappeared.
No other odes seen, but several sea lions and at least one dolphin were cavorting out in the bay.

…….

San Bernardino County

Peter Siminski

Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, Elev. 2500’: 7:45-9:40, 62-77F, cloudless, calm.

Vivid Dancer, Argia vivida 11

Neon Skimmer, Libellula croceipennis 2

Flame Skimmer, L. saturata 1

Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerata 1

September 17, 2009

Sonoma County

Kathy & Dave Biggs, Bob Miller
Bullfrog Pond (1300 ft, 87F, 3:30-4:00), Armstrong Redwoods State Park, Guerneville
Spotted Spreadwing - several
Common Green Darner
Blue-eyed Darner
12-spotted Skimmer - 1 male
Cardinal Meadowhawk - 1 male
Striped Meadowhawk - ~12 on the pond, and dozens seen flying over the nearby hills
We had seen a few Common Green Darners and what I assumed were Variegated Meadowhawks along the coast, the but Meadowhawks could have all be Striped!
At Steelhead Park on the Russian River north of Forestville we had what we think was a Shadow Darner.

September 12. 2009

San Benito County

Paul Johnson

Pinnacles National Monument, Bear Gulch Reservoir (back end), 1030-1200.  Calm, clear, 90F.

California spreadwing - 3

California dancer - 6

bluet spp. - 15

western forktail - 2

desert firetail - 3

common green darner - 5

blue-eyed darner - 7

variegated meadowhawk - 5

cardinal meadowhawk - 3

striped meadowhawk - 6

flame skimmer - 3

black saddlebags - 4

wandering glider - 1

September 11, 2009

Santa Clara County

Steve Rottenborn

Joseph Grant County Park and Smith Creek, both along Mt. Hamilton Road east of San Jose in Santa Clara County. 

Highlights were a late Western River Cruiser (one day shy of the late date for the state, I believe), Walker's Darner, and

seeing the eggs drop from aerially ovipositing Striped Meadowhawks.  Totals were as follows:
Grant Lake (I just checked the southern shoreline):

Spotted Spreadwing  4
Tule Bluet  40
Common Green Darner  15
Blue-eyed Darner  1
Flame Skimmer  2
Variegated Meadowhawk  7
Striped Meadowhawk  3
Black Saddlebags  4
McCreery Lake (a small pond just southeast of Grant Lake):
Spotted Spreadwing  8
Tule Bluet  175
Pacific Forktail  2
Western Forktail  6
Desert Firetail  12
Common Green Darner  15
Blue-eyed Darner  2 (plus one female mosaic darner sp.)
Western River Cruiser Macromia magnifica  1 (made several passes low over the pond before disappearing) [last report 2009]
Flame Skimmer  5
Variegated Meadowhawk  12
Cardinal Meadowhawk  3
Striped Meadowhawk  18 (including 3 tandem pairs aerially ovipositing over spikerush (Eleocharis) and pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium); when the meadowhawks were backlit, I could see the eggs dropping into the dry vegetation, which was 4-5 vertical feet or more above the current level of the pond but which is likely at least moist (if not inundated) in spring)
Black Saddlebags  20
Smith Creek at Mt. Hamilton Road:
Walker's Darner  2-3 males
*Emma's Dancer Argia emma  1 [last report 2009]

September 9, 2009

Sacramento County

Tim Manolis

American River Parkway near Rio Americano High School

*Spot-winged Glider Pantala hymenaea -- 4 [last report 2009]

Wandering Glider Pantala flavescens -- 4

Saw 2 Glider sp. at same site on 25 September -- could have been either species.

September 8, 2009

Trinity County

Kathy & Dave Biggs 
Ruth Lake – north-east of Garberville
Rugh Lake Marina at the north end of the lake (while eating breakfast)
Green Darners
Variegated Meadowhawk 
Tule Bluet
At Sheriff's Cove at the far north end of the lake:
Tule Bluet
Common Green Darner
Aeshna sp.
Flame Skimmer
Along the Mad River on Mad River Rd. at the Mad River Campground (north of the Ruth Lake) nd
Emma's Dancer - one female
Green Darner
Aeshna sp (Shadow?)
Flame Skimmer
Skimmer sp.
South Fork of the Trinity River along Hwy. 36 @ Forest Glen Campground
*Great Spreadwing Archilestes grandis - ~12 males
Aeshna sp.
Green Darner
Variegated Meadowhawk
Skimmer sp.
This spot was really pretty and had the potential, we thought, of having Red Rock Skimmers, which would be a new county record, so I hope someone will be able to check this site out next year.
The only other species seen in Trinity County was one young Striped Meadowhawk just 2 miles inside the border with Shasta County.
…….
Colusa County
Karen Havelna
Bear Creek, Hwys 20 & 16
*Giant Darner Anax walsinghami [last report 2009]
 

September 4-5-6, 2009

Modoc County

Steve Rottenborn

I spent a long weekend in northeastern Modoc County, and though I did not spend a lot of time looking for odonates, I did see a few species.  Common Green Darners and Striped Meadowhawks were common and widespread, from lowland grasslands on the east side of Goose Lake (often far from water) to Lily Lake in the north Warner Mountains.  Band-winged Meadowhawks were less abundant and widespread than Striped, but were still scattered around the lowlands east of Goose Lake.  Species/numbers in specific locations were as follows:
September 4, 2009
Black Meadowhawk 1 - in New Pine Creek, along railroad tracks just south of Stateline Road
Lower Lily Pond, along Forest Service Road 2 in north Warner Mountains east of New Pine Creek:
*Northern Spreadwing Lestes disjunctus  20 [last report 2009]
Vivid Dancer  3
Boreal Bluet Enallagma boreale  60+ (all 6 males examined in hand were Boreal, Northerns possible) [last for certain report 2009]
Pacific Forktail  4
Western Forktail  3
Variable Darner  100
*Paddle-tailed Darner Aeshna palmata 6 [last report 2009]
Common Green Darner  15
*Twelve-spotted Skimmer Libellula pulchella 1 [last report 2009]
Lily Lake, along F.S. Road 2 east of Lower Lily Pond:
Boreal/Northern Bluet  20
Variable Darner  40
Paddle-tailed Darner  3
Shadow Darner  2
Common Green Darner  4
Band-winged Meadowhawk  6
Striped Meadowhawk  5
September 5, 2009
Lower Lily Pond, along Forest Service Road 2 in north Warner Mountains east of New Pine Creek:
Spotted Spreadwing  3
Northern Spreadwing  2
Vivid Dancer  2
Boreal/Northern Bluet  20
Pacific Forktail  6
Western Forktail  2
Variable Darner  100
Paddle-tailed Darner  15
Shadow Darner  2
Common Green Darner  20
Striped Meadowhawk  4

September 2, 2009

San Diego County

Doug Aguillard

#Point Loma, Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery; morning - a swarm/migration event.

Common Green Darners 6

Red Saddlebags 30

Black Saddlebags 20

Wandering Gliders 50

Spot-winged Glider Pantala hymenaea 15

AUGUST

August 28, 2009

Santa Clara County

Steve Rottenborn

Arastradero Preserve in Palo Alto
Upper pond:
California Spreadwing  2
Spotted Spreadwing  10
Northern Spreadwing  9
Bluet spp.  30 (including Tule)
Pacific Forktail  1
Western Forktail  1
Blue-eyed Darner  1
Western Pondhawk  3
Flame Skimmer  2 (tandem pair, female ovipositing)
Variegated Meadowhawk  3
Striped Meadowhawk  12
Black Saddlebags  6
Lower pond:
Common Green Darner  2
Blue-eyed Darner  1
Western Pondhawk  5
Flame Skimmer  2
Cardinal Meadowhawk  1

August 27, 2009

Mendocino County

George Chaniot

Red Post Vineyard Pond, Potter Valley

Widow Skimmer

…….

Inyo County

Ron and Barbara Oriti

along a small creek in Buttermilk

**Pacific/Desert Spiketail [last report for desert Spiketail 2009 & latest date reported since KB started keeping records 1998]

August 26, 2009

Yolo County 
Ed Whisler 
My yard in east Davis Habitat: Old Growth Residential Time: 5:30 - 6:15pm Temp: 90 degrees F
#Common Green Darners – swarmed, estimated around 500 in my view. They ranged from shrub level to about 500 feet in altitude. 
#Black Saddlebags -  A few were associated with the flock of Green Darners.
At the same time a flock of about 200 Barn Swallows were flying in the same air column, probably feeding on the same insects.
It was pretty cool seeing the swallows and the darners flying together.
I have never seen more than one or two Common Green Darners in my yard at one time.

August 25, 2009
Monterey County
Don Roberson
17.7 miles west of Pt. Pinos 
Habitat: open ocean as far as the eye could see. 
I thought this a particularly poor spot for a darner to pick as the commonest bird around us was Long-tailed Jaeger, which might forage on darners?
Blue-eyed Darner 1 male [large blue-and-black darner which appeared to have BE Darner male appendage in quick binocular view]

August 22, 2009

Colusa County

Kathy and Dave Biggs

Driving home today - stopped in sweltering heat at 5 pm at Bear Creek @ Hwy 20 just long enuf to see a 
Giant Darner Anax walsinghami coursing about. 
Flame Skimmer and Bluets, but we were only there 5 mins....very hot!

…….

Monterey County

Paul Johnson

Arroyo Seco NRA; 1000-1400, cloudy, breezy, ~65-75F 

American rubyspot - 3
California dancer - 3
Emma's dancer - 2
sooty dancer - 11
tule bluet - 2
northern/boreal bluet - 3
common green darner - 1
unid. mosaic darner - 1
Pacific Spiketail Cordulegaster dorsalis - 1 [last report 2009]
flame skimmer - 2
red rock skimmer - 7
*pale-faced clubskimmer Brechmorhoga mendax – 2 [last report 2009]

August 24, 2009

Imperial County

John Sterling and Todd Easterla

near El Centro

Brimstone Clubtail Stylurus intricatus [last report 2009]

…….
Humboldt County

Sean McAllister

Cock Robin Island, Eel River Estuary
Emerald Spreadwing Lestes dryas (2^nd record for county)

August 23, 2009

Imperial County

John Sterling and Todd Easterla

near Imperial Dam on the Colorado River

Double-striped Bluets Enallagma basidens [last report 2009]

Citrine Forktails Ischnura hastata [last report 2009]

August 21, 2009

Siskiyou County

Kathy and Dave Biggs

#While we were finishing dinner out on the deck next to the pond, a Green Darner flew in and perhaps got a splash of water 
and then landed in the tree. 
A few moments later another one came in and they both started flying around, then more and more and more came in. 
This started about 7:45 - our high count was only about 35, but it was magical having that many flying in circles and figure 8s above us - until 8:05, when they 'bedded down' for the night. 
We weren't up early enuf to see if they took off together, or separately. 
Later we talked to folks who were in kayaks at Whiskeytown Lake (Trinity County), and they had the same experience the nite of the 21st there.
These dragonflies were flying in from the SE and heading NW - up the slopes of Mt. Shasta. 
We are at about 4550 ft. elevation.
We'd had a greenie here and there all week on the pond, including this morning, but not a 'mass' of them - of course, this was nothing compared to the 10,000 we had years ago that one time.
The only other dragonfly seen at our McCloud pond was a 12-spotted Skimmer that emerged on Thursday....there was also a dead 12-spot floating on the pond.

August 19, 2009

Trinity County

Kathy and Dave Biggs

We drove into the far northern part of Trinity County on a loop thru the back country from Castella on I-5 thru to the Gumboot Lake area and back home to McCloud thru Mt. Shasta City.
We tried to find Tamarack Lake to no avail (FS instructions didn't help!) and then went into nearby 'Twin Lakes' on a VERY rocky road. FS instructions said not to drive thru the meadow, but to hike in from there. BUT, lots of off-roading had occurred with many many deep ruts thru the meadow of Darlingtonia, Yellow-coneflower and Explorer's Gentian. All this activity had apparently drained the supposedly 14' deep shallow lake/pond as we could find no trace of it. We don't recommend putting in much effort in that area. We didn't even try to find the lower of the 'Twin Lakes.' The only dragonflies seen were pairs of Vivid Dancers, a dark Aeshna, and a Spreadwing (probably Northern).
We did find Mumbo Lake however - it's a bit smaller than it's nearby Siskiyou County neighbor, Gumboot Lake, with not much emergent vegetation but lots of fallen logs in the lake. Most interesting was a ~3 acre sedge meadow just a few yards beyond the pond with forest in between the two. We'd like to go back some day and check the sedge marsh out more. We ran out of time...
At the lake we caught every ode we could, but none were county records:
Mumbo Lake, 2-4 pm, upper 80s
Northern Spreadwing - common, many pairs, in-hand ID of dozens, all this species
Western Red Damsel Amphiagrion abbreviatum - 2 seen [last report 2009]
Boreal Bluet - many, one caught for ID
Variable Darner - a female caught for ID
Shadow Darner Aeshna umbrosa - both male and females in-hand

*American Emerald Cordulia shurtleffi - one male caught for ID [last report 2009]

August 17, 2009

Santa Barbara County
Adam Lewis 
Lake Los Carneros County Park, Goleta
Spot-winged Glider - Saw my first one today. It was on the fennel around the lake. Pictures at http://www.flickr.com/photos/sbfledgling/sets/72157621947321625/

…….
Alameda County
Alice Cavette
Fremont
Striped Meadowhawk - Sympetrum pallipes

…….

Mono County

Gary Suttle

Benton Crossing

*Great Basin Snaketail (2M) [last report 2009]

August 16, 2009

Riverside County

Peter Siminski

Dos Palmas Oasis and Fish Ponds, Dos Palmas Preserve, Elev. -100’; 7:15-11:40, 80-100F, cloudless hazy, gentle breeze S.

Desert Forktail, Ischnura barberi 6

Citrine Forktail, I. hastata 3

Rambur’s Forktail, I. ramburii >20

Common Green Darner, Anax junius >40 including wheels, tandem pairs and ovipositing pairs.

Blue-eyed Darner, Rhionaeschna multicolor 5

Red-tailed Pennant, Brachymesia furcata 1

Western Pondhawk, Erythemis collocata >35

Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis >50

Comanche Skimmer, Libellula comanche 3

Roseate skimmer, Orthemis ferruginea 8

Marl Pennant, Macrodiplax balteata 9

Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerata 17 including a tandem pair.

Red Saddlebags, T. onusta 6

Wandering Glider, Pantala flavescens 1

.......

Sierra County

Zach Smith + MO 
impressive green darner emergence, Sierra Nevada
Sacramento Audubon Sierra Bird/Ode trip 
Our Ode diversity was quite low. Green darner, black saddlebags and shadow/variable darner were it. 
But, the green darner show along the creek between Boca and Stampede Reservoirs (NE of Truckee) was impressive. 
Thousands of young were seen as far up and down the creek as you could see. 
No adult males or tandems were seen, just a bunch of female-looking individuals everywhere. 
At most of our other stops throughout the day, greens were quite numerous. It made up for the lack of diversity. 
…….
Mendocino County
George Chaniot 
Van Arsdale Reservoir, Eel River
*Common Whitetail Plathemis lydia   3 [last report 2009]

August 15, 2009

Riverside County

Peter Siminski

Fulmor Lake, San Bernardino National Forest, Elev. 5330’, N33.80402, W-116.78097; 11:30-13:00, 70F, cloudless, gentle breeze S.

Enallagma praevarum or carunculatum, >35 including tandem pairs ovipositing.

Tule Bluet, E. carunculatum, 3 in hand.

Pacific Forktail, Ischnura cervula 9

Common Green Darner, Anax junius 1

Blue-eyed Darner, Rhionaeschna multicolor 4

Cardinal Meadowhawk, Sympetrum illotum, 3

Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis 3

Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerata 2

…….

Mendocino County

George Chaniot

Mendocino College Pond, Ukiah

*Red-veined Meadowhawk Sympetrum madidum [last report 2009]

August 13, 2009 
Mono County
Don Roberson & Rita Carratello 
Navy Beach, Mono Lake - in short grassy edge of salt lake
Northern Bluet sev. males photo'd, appendages examined; hundreds in the grassy edge may have been all this species
Black Meadowhawk 2 males (1 photo'd)
 

August 12, 2009

Contra Costa County

Rob Thomas

Briones RP, Sindicich & Maricich Lagoons; 11:00am to 2:00pm, 85-95, clear, calm

Bluets – abundant

Pacific Forktail – common

Western Forktail – Abundant (must have been a recent emergence because there were many orange immature females)

Black-fronted Forktail – 2

Desert Firetail - 3

*California Darner Rhionaeschna californica – 1

Blue-eyed Darner – common

Common Green Darner – abundant

*Common Whitetail Plathemis lydia – few

Widow Skimmer Libellula luctuosa - 2

Flame Skimmer – few

*Eight-spotted Skimmer Libellula forensis – few [last report 2009]

Variegated meadowhawk – common

Cardinal Meadowhawk – common

Striped Meadowhawk – 4

Strangest sighting of the day was a female bluet ovipositing with seven segments of male abdomen sticking up off her back. No clue what got the rest of the male, but she seemed to be doing okay.

…….

Mono County

Don Roberson & Rita Carratello 
Bennettville at 9800' elev (2987m)
Variable Darner 1 fem (photo'd perched), other darners seen in flight, up to 10,000' elev., were likely this species.
Manolis' guide gives the range of Variable to 11,000'; other darners are listed as dropped out by 7500 or 8000'

…….

Yolo County

George Chaniot 
Cache Creek at Sand Hill Road
Emma's Dancer Argia emma,   Sentinel pair 
 
August 10, 2009 
San Francisco County
Valerie Elliot
Fort Point
vivid dancer - one 
SF forktails - at least 12 males and one female. Got some decent photos too.  
I also saw a mosaic darner just below the Coit Tower on Montgomery St 

August 9, 2009

Imperial County

Peter Siminski

Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR, ditches near headquarters at Sinclair Road, Elev. -235’, 8:00-9:30, 85-95F, calm, cloudless.

Familiar Bluet, Enallagma civile 1

Common Green Darner, Anax junius 1

Red-tailed Pennant, Brachymesia furcata 1

Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis >100

Mexican Amberwing, Perithemis intensa 3

Comanche Skimmer, Libellula comanche 7

Roseate Skimmer, Orthemis ferruginea 6

Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerata 1

Red Saddlebags, T. onusta 1

Wandering Glider, Pantala flavescens 1

Note: Many of ditch-side Tamarix were dead; ? ; the ditch had usual amount of water.

East Highline Canal at Sinclair Road and irrigation ditches, Elev. -55’; 10:15-11:00, 95-100F, calm, cloudless.

Powdered Dancer, Argia moesta >30

Blue-ringed Dancer, A. sedula 2

Familiar Bluet, Enallagma civile 6

White-belted Ringtail, Erpetogomphus compositus 1

Marl Pennant, Macrodiplax balteata 1

Note: The canal and the irrigation ditch at this site were recently dredged and much of the ditch-side vegetation has been removed.  Ode abundance and diversity was less than expected.

…….

Monterrey County

Steve Rovell & sons

Spent a few hours along the Arroyo Seco River just upstream of the green trestle bridge (36.280641,-121.322644).

Had the kids along, so we just concentrated on dragons and skipped the little blue things. Here is what we saw.

Pale-faced Clubskimmer, 2

Giant Darner, 1
Common Green Darner, 6
Blue-eyed Darner, 2
Flame Skimmer, 15+
Western River Cruiser, 1 (new site for species in county)
*Gray Sanddragon Progomphus borealis 6 (2^nd county record?) [last report 2009]
Black Saddlebags, 1
Blue Dasher, ! 2
American Rubyspot, 8+
Emma's Dancer, 5
little blue damsels, many - I didn't spend any time with them

…….

Mendocino County

Kathy & Dave Biggs, and M.O.

We taught dragonflies at the Kalb family reunion at Leonard Lake (private) nw of Ukiah.

Tule Bluet - in hand ID, some, other species possible

Pacific Forktail - male and females

Western Forktail - male

Common Green Darner – several pairs flying about the lake in wheel

Darner sp. – assumed to be Mosaic Darners some could have been Calif. Darners

Eight-spotted Skimmer - several males

Flame Skimmer - a few

Blue Dasher - MANY males; one female found away from the water

…….

Trinity County

Sean McAllister

South Fork Mad River at Ruth Airport Road

Pacific Spiketail

August 8, 2009

Imperial County

Gary Suttle

Across the road from Laguna Dam on S24 in a grassy area at the north end of the Trailer Park, 10:30-11:30, clear, 94 degrees.

Powdered Dancer >20

Familiar Bluet 3

*Double-striped Bluet Enallagma basidens 1 M

Planned to photograph Double-striped Bluets and Citrine Forktails at this site (where a friend and I had located them in September 08). But found the habitat mostly dried-up. Spoke to a groundskeeper. What I'd reported last September to be a spring-fed area was actually the result of seepage from Laguna Dam across the street. The trailer park recently took measures to stop the flow, which has ruined the site.

Westside Main Canal at Highway 98 bridge-crossing, 1:30-5:30, clear, light breeze, 98-102 degrees.

Powdered Dancer >200

Blue-ringed Dancer 3

Russet-tipped Clubtail 6 M

Brimstone Clubtail Stylurus intricatus 3 M 4 F

Unidentified Clubtails 9

Reveled in hours of ferreting out these two beautiful clubtails in shrubbery along both sides of the canal, walking a quarter mile or so north and south of the bridge. Hoped to see feeding flight in the late afternoon, without success, but did photograph a perched Brimstone female eating a fly!

White-belted Ringtail 6

Blue Dasher 2

Mexican Amberwing 1

Roseate Skimmer 2

Spot-winged Glider 1

…….

Marin County

Kathy & Dave Biggs, and M.O.

We taught a workshop at Pt. Reyes today. The field portion was done at 5 Brooks. It was quite warm, ~85 and sunny.

Last year on the 28th we saw 18 species, I planned this workshop to be a few weeks earlier, anticipating more species,

but the # seen this year was 14.

Boreal Bluet - in hand ID, some, but not abundant; 1 pair in wheel

Pacific Forktail - male and females, including 1 imm. female

Western Forktail - males and females, including females curling their 'tails' to 'just say NO!'

Common Green Darner - both a male and a female seen by Dave and others

Blue-eyed Darner - seen well, other Mosaic Darners could have been this species or Calif. Darners

Pacific Spiketail - 1 seen over entry way/parking area as we arrived

Western Pondhawk - MANY females seen, including one who caught a damselfly

Eight-spotted Skimmer - several males

Flame Skimmer - a few seen

Blue Dasher - MANY males seen

Spot-winged Glider - several seen flying over pathways

Wandering Glider - some assumed to be this species

Cardinal Meadowhawk - several males seen

Black Saddlebags - several seen

……. 

Mendocino County

Karen Havlena, George Chaniot, K. Marianchild and Matt Matthiessen

Leonard Lake (northwest of Redwood Valley) and its environs.  On a small pond to the east of the lake we found a group of about eight NORTHERN SPREADWINGS.  This is a first MEN county record for this species. 

Northern Spreadwing Lestes disjunctus – 8 PHOTO RECORD August 8, 2009 OC # 317580
Boreal Bluet - 3
Tule Bluet - 100+
Pacific Forktail - 2
Western Forktail - 12
Common Green Darner - 3
Blue-eyed Darner - 35
Pacific Spiketail - 1
Eight-spotted Skimmer - 10
Widow Skimmer - 1
Flame Skimmer - 5
Blue Dasher - 40
Black Saddlebags – 12

…….
Tulare County 
Ali Sheehey
I found a pair of Giant Darners working a pond on Ave. 64 near Road 168 in. 
Unfortunately, I could not get a photo.
I returned to the same area on the 12th and did not see them.
Other Species present;
Common Whitetail
Black Saddlebags
Blue Dasher
Blue-eyed Darner
Common Green Darner
Giant Darner Anax walsinghami – a pair, first Tulare County SIGHT record
Flame Skimmer
Variegated Meadowhawk

I saw several other species over the weekend throughout Tulare and Kings County...

 
August 5, 2009 
Sonoma County
Alan Wight
Nagasawa Park in Santa Rosa
The highlight was a male Band-winged Meadowhawk, a species that is hard to
find in Sonoma County. Some photos of this individual are here:
http://www.sonic.net/~shwand/odonata/band_winged_meadowhawk.htm
Bluet sp.
Vivid Dancer
Blue Dasher
Eight-spotted Skimmer
Widow Skimmer
Common Whitetail
Flame Skimmer
Band-winged Meadowhawk
Black Saddlebags
Blue-eyed Darner (?) - flying individuals appeared to be Blue-eyed's
Common Green Darner

August 4, 2009
Humboldt County

Sean McAllister

Black Oak Ranch, Laytonville

Gomphus kurilis (Pacific Clubtail)

August 3, 2009

Colusa County

Kathy & Dave Biggs

Bear Creek @ Hwy 20 (We were encouraged by Matt’s report!), 10 mins. from the road; 5PM, 88
We found that the gate that is now by the bridge is NOT LOCKED and there is not a “No Trespassing” sign, so this spot is still available! ;-) 
American Rubyspot – 1
Bluets – many
Dancer sp. – 1 (Vivid?)
Giant Darner – 1-2
Widow Skimmer – a few
Flame Skimmer – many
Variegated Meadowhawk – some
Black Saddlebags – 1
…….
Humboldt County
Sean McAllister
Argia lugens (Sooty Dancer)
Argia emma (Emma’s Dancer)
……….
Sacramento County
Tim Manolis 
American River
*Olive Clubtail Stylurus olivaceus, a new emerger.  [last report 2009]
Saw more exuviae on dates after that, so they probably were around longer. 
 

August 2, 2009

Sonoma County

Alan and Marin Wight

Ellis Creek Water Recycling Facility, Petaluma

Black-fronted/San Francisco Forktail – 15+ individuals, males and females, probably Black-fronted based on photographs but not viewed up close in hand to be sure

…….

Colusa County

Matthew Matthiessen

Bear Creek @ Hwy 20
I found a good spot to walk down to the creek and imagine my surprise when a Giant Darner immediately flew past I also saw White-belted Ringtail while I was there.

August 1, 2009 
Mendocino County
George Chaniot, Kate Marianchild, and Matthew Matthiessen 
Lake Pennyroyal in the hills just northwest of Ukiah - several hours 
The lake is a 40+ year old man-made reservoir at about 750 ft elevation. 
We only saw 18 species but the sheer number of odes was staggering. 
The highlight was photographing Band-winged Meadowhawk to confirm a new county species. 
The lowlight was watching a pair of Green Darners getting eaten by a fish or bullfrog while ovipositing in tandem. 
It was great to study them through the scope prior to their demise though.
Tule Bluet - 10
bluet sp - 1,500+
Western Forktail - 2
Pacific Forktail - 25
Common Green Darner - 25
Blue-eyed Darner - 50
Paddle-tailed Darner - 2
Band-winged Meadowhawk Sympetrum semicinctum – 10 – photographed, upgrade of prior sight only record from last month CA Chart# 102 OC#:317579
Cardinal Meadowhawk - 1
Red-veined Meadowhawk Sympetrum madidum – 2 
Striped Meadowhawk - 2
Blue Dasher - 100+
Western Pondhawk - 1
Eight-spotted Skimmer - 12
Twelve-spotted Skimmer - 3
Widow Skimmer - 35
Common Whitetail - 8
Flame Skimmer - 50
Black Saddlebags - 35

 
JULY
 

July 31, 2009
Siskiyou County

Kathy & Dave Biggs
Medicine Lake Road – at a gravel pit/storage area

Glider sp. – 1 seen (2^nd Siskiyou sighting)

Darner sp – 1 seen

Blanche Lake – east of Medicine Lake; noon

Northern Spreadwing - some

*Emerald Spreadwing Lestes dryas – some [last report 2009]

No/Bo Bluet - plentiful

Western Forktail – a female seen

Variable Darner – many

*Crimson-ringed Whiteface Leucorrhinia glacialis – several [last report 2009]

12-spotted Skimmer - many

Striped Meadowhawk – many tenerals, a few matures

Bullseye Lake, just east of Blanche Lake; 1-1:30; 79F

Emerald sp. – American?

*Hudsonian Whiteface Leucorrhinia hudsonica – 1 m [last report 2009]

Emerald Spreadwing - many

Spotted Spreadwing – possibly this species, teneral female photographed in hand

Darner sp – possibly a Shadow, female ovipositing in wood, green side stripes

No Name Lake, just east of Bullseye Lake; 3-3:30; 81F

Emerald Spreadwing – thousands – more than we’d ever seen before

Northern Spreadwing – some

No/Bo Bluet – many

Variable Darner – many

American Emerald – many

*Mountain Emerald Somatochlora semicircularis – 1m in hand; probably more [last report 2009]

*Dot-tailed Whiteface Leucorrhinia intacta – 1 m [last report 2009]

Striped Meadowhawk – many tenerals, a few matures

Saffron-winged Meadowhawk – 2-3

Also seen at all 3 of these lakes, MANY gilled salamander larva, froglets and toadlets

Payne’s Springs, just east of No Name Lake exit

California Darner – 1 F in hand

Emerald Spreadwing – 2

Striped Meadowhawk - 1

Little Medicine Lake, 4-4:30; 81F

No/Bo Bluet – many

Western Forktail - a few

Variable Darner – many, assumed this species

Common Green Darner – 1-2

American Emerald – many

Crimson-ringed Whiteface – several

Saffron-winged Meadowhawk – a few

Striped Meadowhawk – some

Pumice Stone Well, off Harris Springs Rd. ; 5 pm; 80F

Spreadwing sp.- 1-2

American Emerald – many

Mountain Emerald – 1 f in hand

Variable Darner – many, assumed this species

12-spotted Skimmer - 1

July 29, 2009
Siskiyou County

Kathy & Dave Biggs
Stink Creek in Neys Springs Wildlife Area, below Castle Lake & south of Lake Siskiyou; noon; 90F

*Grappletail Octogomphus specularis – one mature male [last report 2009]

Pacific Spiketail – 2-3 patrolling males

Gumboot Lake; 2-4 pm; 85F; thin overcast
Northern Spreadwing - some

No/Bo Bluet - plentiful

Western Forktail – a few
Paddle-tailed Darner

Aeshna sp – probably Variable

Common Green Darner

American Emerald – some, in hand ID

Crimson-ringed Whiteface – several

Hudsonian Whiteface – 1 m

12-spotted Skimmer - many
*Four-spotted Skimmer Libellula quadrimaculata – many [last report 2009]

Variegated Meadowhawk – 1

Saffron-winged Meadowhawk – 1 male

July 28, 2009
Mendocino County

Sean McAllister

Hwy 271, Piercy, Eel River

Emma’s Dancer

Sooty Dancer

…….

Mariposa County

Tim Manolis

Argia agrioides California Dancer – 1 collected _ CA Chart #6

Enallagma civile Familiar Bluet - in hand sight ID, CA Chart #6

Pachydiplax longipennis Blue Dasher - sight ID, CA Chart #6

July 27, 2009

Madera County

Yosemite Lakes Park, Madera County

Enallagma civile Familiar Bluet sight ID, CA Chart #6

July 27- 31, 2009
Siskiyou County

Kathy & Dave Biggs
Our McCloud pond, Mt. Shasta Forest, 4700 ft., 80F 11:00
Common Green Darner – fly bys
12-spotted Skimmer – one young male/female

Striped Meadowhawk – 1 male, new species for our pond!

Also seen and photographed – our first black bear at the pond!! It was brown with a tan mantle!

July 27, 2009

San Diego County

Gary Suttle

Escondido, Felicita County Park, 1:00-1:45, clear, 86 degrees. Species listed in 7-23 report for this site plus

California Spreadwing Archilestes californicus 1M

July 26, 2009

San Bernardino County

Peter Siminski

Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, Elev. 2500’; 7:40-10:30, 81-94F, cloudless, calm.

Vivid Dancer, Argia vivida >20

Common Green Darner, Anax junius 3

Blue-eyed Darner, Rhionaeschna multicolor 8

Neon Skimmer, Libellula croceipennis 1

Flame Skimmer, L. saturata 2

Spot-winged Glider, Pantala hymenaea 8

July 25, 2009

Riverside County

Peter Siminski

Dos Palmas Oasis and Fish Ponds, Dos Palmas Preserve, Elev. -100’; 7:45-11:30, 90-104F, 80% thin cirrostratus to 20% cirrus, calm to gentle breeze SE.

Blue-ringed Dancer, A. sedula 1

Desert Forktail, Ischnura barberi 1

Citrine Forktail, I. hastata 1

Rambur’s Forktail, I. ramburii 18

Common Green Darner, Anax junius 6 including one tandem ovipositing pair.

Red-tailed Pennant, Brachymesia furcata 2

Western Pondhawk, Erythemis collocata >50

Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis >75

Comanche Skimmer, Libellula comanche >30 including two wheels.

Widow Skimmer, L. luctuosa 9

Roseate skimmer, Orthemis ferruginea 14

Marl Pennant, Macrodiplax balteata 20 including two tandem ovipositing pairs.

Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerata 5

Red Saddlebags, T. onusta 1

…….

Mendocino County

Matthew Matthiessen, Karen Havlena and ~ dozen local oders got together for the first annual dragonfly field trip in Mendocino County. 

We spent the day at the UC Davis field station near Hopland.  The day list was 23 species including the first county record of BAND-WINGED MEADOWHAWK.
*Lyre-tipped Spreadwing Lestes unguiculatus – 50 [last report 2009]
*Black Spreadwing Lestes stultus – 2 [last report 2009]
Tule Bluet - 1
Northern Bluet - 1
NoBo Bluet - 5
Pacific Forktail - 4
Western Forktail - 3
Vivid Dancer - 1
Paddle-tailed Darner - 1
Blue-eyed Darner - 4
Common Green Darner - 3
Pacific Spiketail - 1
Common Whitetail - 1
Flame Skimmer - 2
Eight-spotted Skimmer - 3
Western Pondhawk - 3
Variegated Meadowhawk - 1
Cardinal Meadowhawk - 2
Red-veined Meadowhawk - 4
Band-winged Meadowhawk Sympetrum semicinctum – 2 – sight record only, but well documented
Blue Dasher - 25
Black Saddlebags - 4
Wandering Glider - 5
Spot-winged Glider – 25

……….

Santa Clara County

Steve Rottenborn 
Coyote Creek south of San Jose

*Aztec Dancer Argia nahuana - a male identified in the hand in  direct comparison with a California [last report 2009]

July 24, 2009

Shasta County

Ray Bruun and family

Afternoon at Summit Lake in Lassen Park. The lake is about 34 miles (40 minutes) from our house.

Crimson-ringed Whiteface were abundant, normal this time of year.

They were also pretty approachable. A couple of weeks ago, I hiked in to Huckleberry Lake (Shasta County).

Many Crimson-ringed but very skittish. Don't know why they can be flighty at one place and

approachable at another. Today's pix - http://www.flickr.com/photos/bruunphoto/

Emerald Spreadwing - several

Boreal Bluet - common

Variable Darner - several

Common Green Darner - 1

American Emerald - approx. 10

Crimson-ringed Whiteface - abundant

Four-spotted Skimmer - 2

 
July 23, 2009
San Diego County
Gary Suttle, David Rawlins
Escondido, Felicita County Park, 10:30-11:30, clear,78-80 degrees
Pacific Forktail
Vivid Dancer
Cardinal Meadowhawk
Blue Dasher
Flame Skimmer
Neon Skimmer 3
Pale-faced Clubskimmer 1
Encinitas, San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve, 12:30-4:30pm, mostly clear, 75-79 degrees
Pacific Forktail
Black-fronted Forktail
Vivid Dancer
Cardinal Meadowhawk
Blue Dasher
Blue-eyed Darner
Flame Skimmer
Neon Skimmer 1
Wandering Glider several
Spot-winged Glider several Both glider species landed on shrubbery in late afternoon for close-up viewing

…….

Colusa County

Kathy & Dave Biggs

Bear Creek @ Highway 20, ¼ mile in (area near bridge now fenced off); 1-1:15 from road, 93F

Bluet sp.

Gray Sanddragon

No giant darners

Widow Skimmer – many

Flame Skimmer – abundant

Variegated Meadowhawk – a few

…….
Alameda County
Alice Cavette
Lake Elizabeth, Fremont
Common Green Darner - Anax junius – photo @ http://www.cavette.net/photos/dragonflies.html#latest

July 22, 2009

Mendocino County

George Chaniot

Pioneer Crossing Bridge over Eel R. near Potter Valley

Emma's Dancer

July 19, 2009

Riverside County

Gary Suttle

Santa Rosa Mountains, Toro Peak (8716') partly sunny, high 70's, thunderclouds in late afternoon

Spot-winged Glider >15 photo id Individuals and pairs seen en route to the peak, with a group of 6 flying near the summit.

…….

Siskiyou County
Dave Payne

Klamath River; It was about 103 degrees today with very little wind. The river board puts you at eye level with all the surface activity. It is a pretty fun way to watch the odes.

*River Jewelwing Calopteryx aequabilis - 1 male [last report 2009]

Emma's Dancers - numerous pairs ovipositing on river algae mats

Western River Cruiser - 1 male patrolling

*Sinuous Snaketail Ophiogomphus occidentis - several live males and 1 dead specimen floating

Flame Skimmer - 1 male

12 Spot Skimmer - 1 male

Widow Skimmer - several males

Aeshna sp - 1 (maybe Paddle-tail male) working the bank

……..

Modoc County
Steve Rottenborn
Goose Lake in New Pine Creek:
Alkali Bluet Enallagma clausum - 2 [last report 2009]
Pond at CR 133B and Highway 395 north of Davis Creek, southwest of Goose Lake:
Emerald Spreadwing  4
Lyre-tipped Spreadwing  5
Striped Meadowhawk  3
Three Springs Ranch, on southwest side of Goose Lake:
Lyre-tipped Spreadwing  4
Western Red Damsel  3
Northern/Boreal Bluet  2
Alkali Bluet  1
Pacific Forktail  2
Western Forktail  300+
Blue-eyed Darner  6 (plus 5 unidentified mosaic darners)
Western Pondhawk  1
Dot-tailed Whiteface  1
Eight-spotted Skimmer  2
*Hoary Skimmer Libellula nodisticta   1 [last report 2009]
Black Meadowhawk  3
Band-winged Meadowhawk  6
Striped Meadowhawk  2
North Fork of Pit River, Highway 395 pulloff 4.2 mi N of Rt. 299, north of Alturas:
River Jewelwing  55
American Rubyspot  21
Emma's Dancer  45
Sooty Dancer  18
Vivid Dancer  4
Tule Bluet  1
Western Forktail  5
*Pale Snaketail Ophiogomphus severus 1 [last report 2009]
Eight-spotted Skimmer  3
Ash Creek in Adin:
Glider sp. – 1

…….

Lake County

Sean McAllister

Lake Pillsbury

Libellula forensis (Eight-spotted Skimmer)

Sympetrum pallipes (Striped Meadowhawk)

Sympetrum corruptum (Variegated Meadowhawk)

…

Mendocino County

Eel River near Potter Valley

Plathemis lydia (Common Whitetail)

Tramea lacerata (Black Saddlebags)

Libellula saturata (Flame Skimmer)

Libellula pulchella (Twelve-spotted Skimmer)

Progomphus borealis (Gray Sanddragon)

Pachydiplax longipennis (Blue Dasher)

Erythemis simplicicollis collocata (Western Pondhawk)

July 18, 2009
Alameda County
Alice Cavette
Lake Elizabeth, Fremont
Eight-spotted Skimmer - Libellula forensis – male

…….

San Diego County

Peter Siminski

Santa Margarita River downstream of Sandia Creek Road, Elev. 358’, N33.41349 W-117.24059; 9:00-11:30, 80-95F, cloudless, calm.

American Rubyspot, Hetaerina americana >60

Vivid Dancer, Argia vivida 6

Enallagma sp. >75

Familiar Bluet, E. civile 3 in hand.

Arroyo Bluet, E. praevarum 2 in hand.

Pacific Forktail, Ischnura cervula 1

Black-fronted Forktail, I. denticollis 1

Common Green Darner, Anax junius 10

Giant Darner, A. walsinghami 3

Gray Sanddragon, Progomphus borealis 2

Western Pondhawk, Erythemis collocata 2

Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis ~20

Mexican Amberwing, Perithemis intensa 7

Flame Skimmer, Libellula saturata >25 including one wheel.

Red Rock Skimmer, Paltothemis lineatipes 5

Pale-faced Clubskimmer, Brechmorhoga mendax 3

Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerata 1__,_._,___

…….

Contra Costa County

Kathy & Dave Biggs & a workshop participants

Tilden Botanical Gardens

At the pond in the gardens:

Cardinal Meadowhawk - males and a tandem pair or two; possibly ovipositing seen

Blue Dasher - males

Common Green Darner - (female ovipositing)

Desert Firetail - at least one red male seen well over and over again!

Bluet sp. - probably a Northern or Boreal Bluet

Tule Bluet – pair photographed with the female submerging to oviposit

Pacific Forktail - male

Western Forktail - females seen ovipositing

Along the Wild Cat Creek within the gardens:

Flame Skimmer - male seen patrolling

Pacific Spiketail - reported by one participant

Vivid Dancer - males, pairs and a teneral seen many times

Pacific Forktail - a female seen briefly by Kathy & a few others

……..

Modoc County
Steve Rottenborn
Modoc NWR auto tour loop near Alturas:
Northern Spreadwing  1
Northern/Boreal Bluet  <100
Tule Bluet  hundreds
Alkali Bluet  1
Pacific Forktail  100+
Western Forktail  hundreds
mosaic darner  6 (all apparently California)
Western Pondhawk  5
Eight-spotted Skimmer  many hundreds, maybe 1000+
Common Whitetail  100+
Variegated Meadowhawk  15
Saffron-winged Meadowhawk Sympetrum costiferum 4+ (possibly more; I admit to having more than a little difficulty identifying many of the meadowhawks I saw at this location, even many seen well and some photographed)
Black Meadowhawk Sympetrum danae  3
*Cherry-faced Meadowhawk Sympetrum internum 10-20+ [last report 2009]
Band-winged Meadowhawk  50+
Striped Meadowhawk  10+
Cave Lake, along Forest Service Road 2 east of New Pine Creek in north Warner Mtns.:
Emerald Spreadwing  20
Northern/Boreal Bluet  3 (1 male Boreal identified in-hand)
Variable Darner Aeshna interrupta 1 (plus 2 unidentified mosaic darners)
Common Green Darner  1
California Darner  2
emerald sp.  3
Striped Meadowhawk  5
Lily Lake, along F.S. Road 2 just west of Cave Lake:
Northern Spreadwing  2
Emerald Spreadwing  10
Northern/Boreal Bluet  200+ (5 male Boreal identified in-hand)
Western Forktail  15
mosaic darner sp.  20 (all appeared consistent with California)
American Emerald sp. – at least 5, possibly 15

Mountain Emerald – at least 3 (one in-hand) possibly 17
Eight-spotted Skimmer  10
Four-spotted Skimmer  25
Striped Meadowhawk  2
Lower Lily Pond, along F.S. Road 2 west of Lily Lake:
Emerald Spreadwing  2
Northern/Boreal Bluet  1500+
Variable Darner  15+ (4 in-hand)
Paddle-tailed Darner Aeshna palmata  1 dead male found by my daughter Megan
California Darner  35+ (4 in-hand)
emerald sp.  35
Dot-tailed Whiteface  2
Eight-spotted Skimmer  10
Four-spotted Skimmer  80

July 17, 2009

Inyo County

Gary Suttle

Dirty Soxs Hot Springs near Olancha, 9:10-10:30, sunny and warm

Familiar Bluet

Tule Bluet

Desert Forktail

Blue-eyed Darner

Darner sp.

Variegated Meadowhawk

Western Pondhawk

Desert Whitetail

Bleached Skimmer tandem, ovipositing

……..

Modoc County
Steve Rottenborn
Applegate and Seyferth's Hot Springs in Surprise Valley:
Lyre-tipped Spreadwing  2
Paiute Dancer  1
Black-fronted Forktail  1
Western Forktail  6
mosaic darner sp. (probably California)  2
Western Pondhawk  245
Comanche Skimmer  14 (looked for Bleached, didn't see any)
Eight-spotted Skimmer  17
Hoary Skimmer  7
Twelve-spotted Skimmer  2
Desert Whitetail  29
Cherry-faced Meadowhawk  1
Striped Meadowhawk  1
South Fork of Pit River along County Road 64 about 9 mi. east of Likely:
Emma's Dancer  30
Vivid Dancer  5
Northern/Boreal Bluet  20 (2 each of male Northern and Boreal identified in-hand)
Western Forktail  15
California Darner  2
Great Basin Snaketail Ophiogomphus morrisoni  1 teneral flushed from emergent vegetation along the river; photographed in nearby willows
Eight-spotted Skimmer  5

…….

Sonoma County

Linda Petrulias

Bullfrog Pond, Armstong Grove SP, Guerneville

Flame Skimmer

8-spotted Skimmer

Common Whitetail

…….

Lassen County

Steve Rottenborn

Blue Lake

*White-faced Meadowhawk Sympetrum obtrusum

July 16, 2009

Sonoma County

Kathy & Dave Biggs

Our front yard, lower Bloomfield Rd, Sebastopol

Pacific Spiketail – a male and a female both seen. Female caught and scanned: http://southwestdragonflies.net/caphotos/PacificSpiketailFemale.html

In our pond, the usual suspects:

Flame Skimmer

Cardinal Meadowhawk

Blue Dasher

Northern Bluet

Pacific Forktail

Western Forktail

Vivid Dancer

And a Common Whitetail male in the side yard.

…….

Placer County

Gary Suttle

Tahoe Rim Trail, north of Brockway Summit, 11:20, clear, mild

Pacific Forktail an immature seen basking at an elevation of about 8,200 feet

July 15, 2009

Mono County

Ron & Barbara Oriti

Owens River at Benton Crossing

Great Basin Snaketails - lots

Tubs hot tub area around the corner from Hot Creek (visited by’07 Blitz)

Desert Whitetails - tons!

…….

Siskiyou County

Gary Suttle

Gumboot Lake, 10:30-1:30, clear, breezy, 73-75 degrees

Thanks to Kathy for suggesting this beautiful lake, so rich in odes, butterflies, wildflowers, and serenity.

Lyre-tipped Spreadwing

Western Forktail

Boreal Bluet in hand

No/Bo Bluet

Common Green Darner

Darner sp.

*Ringed Emerald Somatochlora albicincta 3 [ONLY report 2009]

Four-spotted Skimmer

Crimson-ringed Whiteface

Dot-tailed Whiteface

July 14, 2009

Butte County

Gary Suttle

Cherry Hill Campground, 9:00-10:00, clear, windy, 64-67 degrees. Hoped-for Black Petaltail not found, perhaps too early in the day or too late in the season.

Vivid Dancer

No/Bo Bluet

Western River Cruiser

Plumas County

Willow Lake, 12:30-4:00, clear, 77 degrees

Northern Spreadwing

No/Bo Bluets

Western Forktail

Pacific Forktail

Western Red Damsel

*Sedge Sprite Nehalennia irene 2 Netted and released. Felt fortunate to find them after a couple of hours of swishing grasses! [ONLY sighting 2009]

Darner sp.

American Emerald

Four-spotted Skimmer

Hudsonian Whiteface

Dot-tailed Whiteface

*White-faced Meadowhawk Sympetrum obtrusum many immatures [only report 2009!]

 
July 13, 2009
Sonoma County
Kathy Biggs and Nancy Bauer
Russian River at Asti, off Washington School Rd.; 11-1, 90F, breezy
At first it was quite windy and all we saw were Flame & 8-spotted Skimmers, but after noon the wind died down and the odes started appearing:
American Rubyspot - a half dozen males
Emma's Dancer - Kathy saw one 
Sooty Dancer - a few mature males
Tule Bluet - many, inc. tandems
Forktail sp - Kathy saw one, likely a male Pacific
Common Green Darner - Kathy saw several cruising the shoreline
Bison Snaketail - Kathy possibly saw one of this species
Gray Sanddragon - several males seen well
Western River Cruiser - one male seen well, patrolling the shoreline
Pale-faced Clubskimmer - several seen well, possibly one female seen ovipositing
Widow Skimmer - Kathy saw 1-3 males
Eight-spotted Skimmer - a few seen well
Flame Skimmer - several males seen well
Meadowhawk sp. - one red male seen briefly by Kathy, possibly a Red-veined

Black Saddlebags- 1-3 seen briefly
A few female Skimmers were seen ovipositing so briefly as to defy identification, but probably Flame Skimmers.
Also seen, Lorquin's Admiral Butterfly; Green Heron, Osprey, and a family of Common Mergansers

…….

San Francisco County

Gary Suttle

Fort Point, 9:50-12:00, clear, breezy, 63-66 degrees

Vivid Dancer

Pacific Forktail

San Francisco Forktail – 8 including two tandems on the same stem. One pair flew into a spider's web.

They flipped and flapped about trying to extricate themselves for several minutes--the female finally untangled herself, but the male did not, so I gently freed him.

Looked for a long time before finding them; they favored grass and sedge stems in shallow water along the moister stretches of the ditch.

From the 'Battery East' stairway, heading west, this area began about 30 yards east of the second '15 MPH' sign.

Blue-eyed Darner

Wandering Glider

The darner repeatedly hovered above a small pool where Ischnura gemina perched. Watched for 15 minutes. Never saw him go for a forktail, but he did (unsuccessfully) attack the glider that rested atop a sedge stem by the edge of the pool.

…….

Inyo County

Ron & Barbara Oriti

Buttermilk Hills

Olive Clubtail Stylurus olivaceus – photo taken 
 
July 12, 2009
Santa Clara County
Steve Rottenborn 
Uvas Canyon County Park in western Santa Clara County
Red Rock Skimmer - A male was flying along the road just east of Sveadal, about a mile west of the park entrance. 
A walk along Swanson Creek above its confluence with Uvas Creek produced -
Vivid Dancers - 25
Grappletails - 3,
Pacific Spiketail - a female was ovipositing in a sandy area at the edge of a pool within the otherwise mostly rocky/cobbly stream.

…….

Santa Cruz County

Gary Suttle (with Tyler Suttle)

Loch Lomond Recreation Area, 10:15-11:30, 77 degrees

Familiar Bluet

Tule Bluet

Arroyo Bluet

Western Forktail

Pacific Forktail

Common Green Darner

Darner sp.

Blue Dasher

Western Pondhawk

Widow Skimmer

Common Whitetail

Flame Skimmer

Quail Hollow Pond, 12:00-1:00, clear, 80 degrees

Familiar Bluet

Tule Bluet

Western Forktail

Pacific Forktail

Desert Firetail

Common Green Darner

Blue-eyed Darner

Darner sp.

Cardinal Meadowhawk

Variegated Meadowhawk

Blue Dasher

Western Pondhawk

Eight-spotted Skimmer

Flame Skimmer

Black Saddlebags

Sam Lorenzo River below Water Street Bridge, 3:00-3:15

*Exclamation Damsel Zoniagrion exclamationis [last report 2009]

 
July 11, 2009
Lake and Mendocino Counties
Matthew Matthiessen and Karen Havlena 

Boardman Ridge just north of Lake Pillsbury in Lake County we saw four PACIFIC SPIKETAILS.  Finally, back in Mendocino County, we stopped at a pond in Potter Valley and saw:
Variegated Meadowhawk - 3
Blue Dasher - 5
Eight-spotted Skimmer - 2
Widow Skimmer - 2
Flame Skimmer - 2
Black Saddlebags – 5

…….

Santa Clara County

Gary Suttle

Henry Coe State Park, Coyote Creek, about 1/4 mile upstream from the end of Gilroy Hot Springs Road, and beyond

(thanks to Steve Rottenborn and his 6-27 report). 10:30-12:30, mostly cloudy, windy, with a few sprinkles, 65-77 degrees.

Sooty Dancer

California Dancer

Emma's Dancer

Familiar Bluet

Tule Bluet

Blue-eyed Darner

Walker's Darner female netted, photographed, released She was hawking along the trial/dirt road approximately 75 yards from the creek and 100 feet above it.

Western River Cruiser

Flame Skimmer

Red Rock Skimmer

Black Saddlebags

Glider sp.

…….

Shasta County

Ray Bruun

Stream nearby, South Fork Bear Creek

Stylurus olivaceus (Olive Clubtail) CA Chart #55, OC# 314073

July 10, 2009

Mendocino County

Matthew Matthiessen and Karen Havlena

Eel River in Dos Rios in the morning.  The highlights here were PALE-FACED CLUBSKIMMER and GRAY SANDDRAGON. 

This is the only location in the county so far for clubskimmer (found here for the first time last year) and the second location for sanddragon (also found for the first time last year). 

We also saw one unidentified ode in the bill of an Ash-throated Flycatcher.  The total list at this location:
Sooty Dancer - 50+
California Dancer - 1
CAztec Dancer - 10
Vivid Dancer - 1
Emma's Dancer - 2
Western Forktail - 1
*Bison Snaketail Ophiogomphus bison – 10 [last report 2009]
Gray Sanddragon - 2-3
Eight-spotted Skimmer - 1
Widow Skimmer - 1
Flame Skimmer - 3
Pale-faced Clubskimmer - 1-3
Black Saddlebags - 1
Black Butte Campground along the Eel River at the end of Hwy 162 east of Covelo. 

American Rubyspot - 3
Sooty Dancer - 3
Emmas' Dancer - 1
Western Forktail - 1
Gray Sanddragon - 3
Pacific Spiketail - 1
Flame Skimmer - 3
Wandering Glider - 1
After this we drove up into the mountains along Etsel Ridge we saw one BLUE-EYED DARNER at about 3,000 feet, one

VARIEGATED MEADOWHAWK at about 6,000 feet, and one meadowhawk sp also at about 6,000 feet.

…….

Sonoma County

Linda Petruilias

E Austin Creek, Cazadero

I saw a newly emerged sooty dancer ( I think) with part of the nymph exoskeleton still stuck to its wing. I was able to free it from the old nymph exoskeleton….I also saw a few rubyspots which are always a treat and lots of flame skimmers.

…….
Los Angeles County
David and Linda Blue
Piru Creek, Frenchman Flat
American Rubyspot Hetaerina americana – 20, ph.
California/Aztec Dancer Argia agrioides/nahuana – 1, ph.
Sooty Dancer Argia lugens – 30, ph.
Vivid Dancer Argia vivida – 1
Giant Darner Anax walsinghami – 1
*Serpent Ringtail Erpetogomphus lampropeltis – 20, ph. - multiple Serpent Ringtails in every pool [only report 2009]
Gray Sanddragon Progomphus borealis – 8, ph.
Pale-faced Clubskimmer Brechmorhoga mendax – 12
Flame Skimmer Libellula saturata – 10, M, F, ovipositing
Red Rock Skimmer Paltothemis lineatipes – 8

July 9, 2009
Inyo County

Ron & Barbara Oriti

Buttermilk Hills

Olive Clubtails – our foy

…….

Imperial County

Doug Willick

W Main Canal

Brimstone Clubtail – males, a couple

Russet-tipped Clubtail - 1

July 8, 2009
Inyo County

Ron & Barbara Oriti

Klondike Lake

Bleached Skimmers – all very fresh and 'new' looking, so must have recently emerged.

…….

Mendocino County

Kate Marianchild

NW of Ukiah

Band-winged Meadowhawk Sympetrum semicinctum – photo record Chart# 102 OC#:317579

July 5, 2009
Shasta County
Ray Bruun
Shingletown
I was out exploring a favorite spot about one mile from my house (this is in a pine forest at roughly 3,000' elevation).
Among the things photographed was a young female gomphid. 
I thought to myself, "Olive Clubtail," but tried not to get too excited since the location is nowhere near what I would consider Olive Clubtail habitat 
But after going home and looking it up in Tim's book and online, there's nothing else it can be. 
Here's a photo of what should be Shasta County's first 
*Olive Clubtail Stylurus olivaceus --- http://www.flickr.com/photos/bruunphoto/3692191458/sizes/o/ (CA chart #55, photo record)
The habitat here is evergreens (incense cedar, ponderosa pine, white fir, Douglas fir, etc.) and black oak. 
Not far from where the Olive Clubtail was found is a small irrigation ditch, and about 150 yards from that, the South Fork of Bear Creek. Stream odes that occur here are 
Pacific Spiketail (very common right now); 
Pale-faced Clubskimmer (also pretty common); 
Bison Snaketail (lots of those earlier on); and 
Vivid Dancer 

I'll be checking this spot several times between now and the end of July, hoping to find more Olive Clubtail.

…….

San Francisco County

Damien Pinguey (of UK)
SF - Pt. Point (below South end of Golden Gate Bridge) - some parts had become completely dried up

*San Francisco Forktail Ischnura gemina - 3 males - images at http://www.flickr.com/photos/rezamink/sets/72157620944332597/

These are the first to be reported to me [kb] or to CalOdes since August 11, 2007!
Pacific Forktail - males and immature females

San Andreas Reservoir at about 19:30 pm

Tule Bluet – ‘cold’ male photographed

Blue Dasher – female photographed

 
July 4-5, 2009
Sacramento County
Tim Manolis 
The change in weather patterns over northern California and the …, including a shift and increase in winds, brought the first big wave of Pantala gliders (vast majority Spot-winged, 
perhaps a few Wandering thrown in for good measure, plus saddlebags, etc.) to the Sacramento area.  
Since Sunday there have been swarms over my home and nearby yards, easily 200+ at their maximum.  
I have seen similar swarms elsewhere around town.  A friend who is not familiar with dragonfly species reported a similar phenomenon near Fresno; I suspect they were gliders, too.  
The appearance of large swarms of gliders here in the summer is an annual occurrence, but it was quite noticeably related to the change in large-scale weather patterns this time.  
Of course, swarms of Pantala gliders (and in the tropics, other species such as Miathyria and Tramea spp,) are well known to be affected by the movement of weather fronts, etc.
 
July 4, 2009
Siskiyou County
Kathy & Dave Biggs
Mt. Shasta City, Pond and stream adjacent to Mercy Hospital; 12 noon, 85F, no wind
Vivid Dancer - many
Pacific Forktail - some
Tule-type Bluet - few
Blue-eyed Darner - 1 male
Pacific Spiketail - 1 male, then a female who was ovipositing (in the dappled shade, about 8 mins. total time spent)
Cardinal Meadowhawk - 3 males, 1 female
Interesting was that we saw fewer species than we did on June 2nd
…….
Modoc County
Steve Rottenborn
Dismal Swamp, along Forest Service Road 48N21 approx. 1.25 miles NE of Highgrade Road, Modoc National Forest
Leucorrhinia hudsonica (Hudsonian Whiteface) CA Chart #102; OC# 314013
 

July 3-6, 2009

Siskiyou County

Kathy &/or Dave Biggs

Dragonfly Roost Pond, Mt. Shasta Forest, NE of McCloud

Pacific Forktail - a few males and females
Darner sp - 1 or 2
Twelve-spotted Skimmer* - 2 males, 1 female ovipositing
Four-spotted Skimmer* - 1 male
PANTALA species - 1 on the 5th, didn't see a spot on wing, but couldn't be certain of the species, so a sight only record for the species Pantala. (CA chart #7]
*I ate breakfast in a lounge chair by the pond - and I saw what I first thought was going to be a froglet crawl out of the pond onto the beach....
but too much body emerged for it to be a froglet. It was a Skimmer nymph! 
It crawled the 5' to my chair, and I thought for a moment it was going to choose my leg to emerge on - how cool would that have 
been! 
But, it continued under the chair, and I lost track of it as I finished my breakfast. It had very good camouflage - but not good enuf I guess. 
Twenty minutes later, I saw a W-fence Lizard make a lunge - he had it in his mouth - oh well!
Also noted: Later, sitting in the same chair at 3 that afternoon I had another good experience: 
A C. Nighthawk swooped down, Skimmer/Swallow-like, and got a drink from the pond. Cool!
 
July 3-5, 2009
Modoc County
Steve Rottenborn

I spent last weekend …seeing 40 species of odonates around Alturas, Goose Lake, and the north Warner Mountains. 

Highlights include apparent first county records of Hudsonian Whiteface and Grappletail, as well as Pacific Spiketail, Western River Cruiser, and Mountain Emerald 

(for which, I believe, there are relatively few county records). 

Sites visited included the following:
3 July - TSR = Three Springs Ranch on southwest side of Goose Lake;

DC = Pond in Davis Creek at CR 133-B and Rt. 395;

LC = Lassen Creek upstream from Lassen Creek Campground, southwest of Fandango Pass;

FS 47 = small pond along Forest Service Road 47 midway between Rt. 395 and the Lassen Creek Campground;

GLSP = Goose Lake State Park area (on CA/OR border) in New Pine Creek
4 July - DS = Dismal Swamp, in north Warners east of New Pine Creek; LL = Lily Lake, along Forest Service Road 2 east of New Pine! Creek; LLP = Lower Lily Pond, along Forest Service Road 2 west of Lily Lake
5 July - NFPR = North Fork of Pit River, at Rt. 395 pullout 4.2 mi N of Rt. 299, north of Alturas; MNWR = Modoc National Wildlife Refuge auto tour loop
Species, locations, and approximate numbers were as follows:
River Jewelwing:  NFPR (35)
American Rubyspot:  NFPR (10)
Spotted Spreadwing:  DC (7)
Northern Spreadwing:  FS 47 (4)
Emerald Spreadwing:  FS 47 (1), MNWR (10)
Lyre-tipped Spreadwing:  TSR (1), FS 47 (10)
Western Red Damsel:  TSR (20), NFPR (1)
Emma's Dancer:  LC (15), NFPR (12)
Sooty Dancer:  LC (2), NFPR (28)
Aztec Dancer Argia nahuana:  TSR (1)
Vivid Dancer:  LC (30)
Northern Bluet:  TSR (1 male in hand), NFPR (4 males in hand among 10 Bo/No Bluets)
Boreal Bluet: TSR (4 males in hand + 5 Bo/No Bluets), LC (1 male in hand), FS 47 (3 males in ! hand among 60 Bo/No Bluets), LL (4 males in hand among 150 Bo/No Bluet s), LLP (6 males in hand among 1000+ Bo/No Bluets)
Tule Bluet:  MNWR (hundreds)
Alkali Bluet:  TSR (4)
Pacific Forktail:  TSR (10), MNWR (100+)
Western Forktail:  TSR (75), LC (2), LL (6), MNWR (100+)
Common Green Darner:  LC (1), NFPR (2), MNWR (60+)
California Darner:  TSR (4), LC (6), LL (15), LLP (3)
Blue-eyed Darner:  TSR (2)
Grappletail Octogomphus specularis :  LC (3, photographed) [CA chart #102] OC#: 314010
Pale Snaketail:  LC (1), NFPR (9)
Pacific Spiketail Cordulegaster dorsalis:  LC (7, photographed) [upgrade of prior sighting only record – CA chart #102]
Western River Cruiser:  LC (1, sight record only) OC#:314011
American Emerald:  LL (45), LLP (50)
*Mountain Emerald Somatochlora semicircularis:  DS (15+, photographed; flying from pine forest, where evidently spent the night, into the meadows at around 09:00-09:15)
Western Pondhawk:  TSR (1), MNWR (5)
Hudsonian Whiteface Leucorrhinia hudsonica: DS (25+, photographed in-hand), LL (1) [CA chart #102] OC#:314012
Dot-tailed Whiteface:  TSR (5), LLP (2)
Eight-spotted Skimmer:  TSR (6), LC (2), FS 47 (6),! LL (40), LLP (35), NFPR (5), MNWR (hundreds)
Hoary Skimmer:  TSR (1)
Twelve-spotted Skimmer:  LC (8), FS 47 (15), LL (6), NFPR (1), MNWR (10)
Four-spotted Skimmer:  TSR (10), LC (12), FS 47 (1), DS (1), LL (80), LLP (80), MNWR (8)
Wandering Glider:  MNWR (1)
Common Whitetail:  FS 47 (4), LLP (2), MNWR (8)
Variegated Meadowhawk:  TSR (3), GLSP (4), LL (2), MNWR (40)
*Cherry-faced Meadowhawk Sympetrum internum:  GLSP (5), MNWR (5)
*Band-winged Meadowhawk Sympetrum semicinctum:  TSR (3), MNWR (10)
Striped Meadowhawk:  DC (7), FS 47 (7), LL (4), LLP (5), NFPR (4), MNWR (2)
Black Saddlebags:  LC (1), MNWR (1)

 
July 3, 2009
San Mateo County
Todd Morris 
Ano Nuevo State Beach: Weather was warm with fog remaining offshore from at least Half Moon Bay (30 minutes, some time before noon):
Blue-eyed Darner - few hawking around the parking lot, seen well in flight. 
Ano Nuevo State Reserve (2-3 hours, beginning noonish):
Blue-eyed Darner - few throughout, a number seen well in flight.
Vivid Dancer - several males & females along the trail that passes the pond on the north. Photos of both sexes 
Sooty Dancer - one male seen among the Vivid Dancers; photo also obtained. Life ode, woo-hoo!
Pacific Forktail - one male seen well & photographed; same location as above. 
?Northern Spreadwing - few seen only moderately well & photographs too distant to reveal much (to me) when magnified. 
These were along a mostly dry depression near the North Beach e-seal viewing area. I've only seen this species once previously, & these ones were only slightly pruinose 
 
July 2, 2009
Glenn County
Kathy & Dave Biggs
I-5 north in the Sacramento Valley at the Blue Gum Rest Stop 
There was a swarm of approximately 200 Wandering Gliders concentrated over this one tree in the central area. 
Then within 8 minutes the swarm had divided itself between that tree and the one just south of it (I would have expected them to head a bit North, but no, not at this point). 
There were many of these trees in a generally north to south line, but the other trees had no Gliders over them at all. 
All the Gliders we saw were Wandering Gliders, but we only spent a minute or two, as we headed into and then out of the restrooms, observing them.
 
JUNE
 
 
June 29, 2009
Imperial County
Gary Suttle
West Main Canal at Highway 98 crossing, 10:45-1:15, cloudy with a few sprinkles in the morning, mostly sunny with a wispy breeze in the afternoon, 92-108 degrees.
Powdered Dancer >10 
Darner sp. 1
*Russet-tipped Clubtail Stylurus plagiatus 3M 1F
*Brimstone Clubtail Stylurus intricatus 3M 5F 
(Rustled arroweed and tamarisk shrubs to stir the clubtails; sometimes they flew off, unidentified, but more often they alighted nearby, easy to see and photograph 
when their landing spots were observed...otherwise they blend into the vegetation. 
Worked the area between the Highway 98 bridge and the footbridge crossing the canal, a short distance to the north. 
Found most of the clubtails in the shrubbery lining the east edge of the main canal, a bit thicker than that on the west side, so affording more shade from the heat).
White-belted Ringtail 2 M 3 F 
Blue Dasher 1
Roseate Skimmer 1 F
Spot-winged Glider  2