California's Year 2012 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 and/or the CalOdes Dragonfly discussion group on Yahoo!
date (month/day/year)
County (name of county where seen)
your name
place, etc.
species common name &/or scientific name - #s & other data, comments, etc.
species common name &/or scientific name - #s & other data, comments, etc.
See examples below (after dates start)
THANK YOU
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 (some new, but prior to 2011 records are listed at the bottom of the page)
OC= Odonata Central: http:/www.odonatacentral.org/index.php/PageAction.get/name/HomePage%20 - 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,
46 species (out of
113 known species) have been reported to this site as flying in CA in the
2012 season.
4
new California
county records &/or upgrades to county
records have been reported this year
(this # may
include upgrades of previous sighting only records, newly accessed museum
collections and new reports of prior years 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> & to
Odonata Central: http://odonatacentral.bfl.utexas.edu/records/US_new_records.asp
for verification
May
May 17, 2012
Yolo County
Stephan Telm
UC Davis Arboretum 1615-1630, low
80s SW breeze
flame skimmers 2 (1M/1F)
Common whitetails 2 F http://www.flickr.com/photos/36618387@N06/7219757238
"L" Street, near 8th:
Black saddlebags 1
May 15, 2012
Siskiyou County
Cary Kerst
Yreka, camped at the Shasta River at Hudson Road.
So far, lots of
*River Jewelwing Calopteryx aequabilis
Vivid Dancer
*Northern Bluet Enallagma
annexum
Tule Bluet
Western Forktail
Pacific Clubtails
Common Green Darner
California Darner
Cardinal Meadowhawk
..
Colusa County
Kathy & Dave Biggs
Bear Creek @ Highway 20 for about 40 minutes. It was about 86F with a slight breeze. 5:05-5:45. We viewed dragonflies from the Rd, Ό mile from hwy 20 and then walked under the bridge and slightly to the south.
Am. Rubyspot 4 m, 3F (1 teneral)
Vivid Dancer 1 m
No/Bo Bluet MANY; hordes of tenerals
Pacific Forktail - 2 males
Western Forktail - 3 females seen, no males
Common Green Darner- 3 males
Rhionaeschna Darner sp. - 5 males
Pacific Clubtail 1-2 mal
(still no Cruiser exuviae on bridge supports)
Flame Skimmer - 15 males, 2 f, both ovipositing
.
Santa Clara County
Leslie Flint
I hiked 1/2 mile in to Arastradero Lake to see what Odes might be there. The overall numbers were low but it was hard to see all around the lake since it is surrounded by cattails and there were very few access points. 75 degrees with slight breeze.
Vivid Dancer (all along the trail to the lake in good numbers)
Tule Bluet? (not positive of this ID) 6
Cardinal Meadowhawk (2)
Flame Skimmer (2)
Mosiac-type darners - both Blue-eyed and California - some day I will be able to ID these on the wing
Blue Dasher (several males) and one female emerging over a 45 minute period.
May 14, 2012
San Luis Obispo County
Peter Gaede
a cattle pond in eastern SLO County (Carrizo Plain), I found three species of odonata, including one probable first county record. In addition to
Black-fronted Forktails - about 20
Flame Skimmer - one
DESERT FORKTAILS Ischnura barberi nine: PHOTO record, CA Chart #112, OC# 374950
This pond is on private property east of Bitterwater Road. I wonder, though, if other ephemeral ponds in the area have this species, as there are a number or vernal pools in this region. This cattle pond has only recently been filled with groundwater from a well and had been completely dry (at least at the surface) for most of the winter. It fills and holds water for longer periods of time in years of higher rainfall.
.
Tehama County
Michael Plank and wife
Finley Lake near the town of Paynes Creek Ca. It is off of Hwy. 36 East. about 25 miles East of Red Bluff.
Western Pondhawk
Common Green Darner
Blue-eyed Darner
*Hoary Skimmer Libellula nodisticta
Eight-spotted Skimmer
**Dot-tailed Whiteface Leucorrhinia intacta new early flight date by 11 days
Pacific Forktail
Familiar Bluet
May 13, 2012
Siskiyou County
Celise Sharpe, Dennis Ball, Dave and Kathy Biggs
We drove up to Hilt to
see if we could locate where the Spiny Baskettail could be breeding. Ray Bruun
had given us quite exact directions. We stopped first, however at the old mill
ponds for Fruit Growers Inc. as this is a likely spot. One would need
permission to enter however, and we had not yet obtained permission. We did not
see a swarm of Odes from the fence line. Dennis will be in contact soon with
the proper authorities and hopes to enter the property within a month. We did
see the following there at a small pond near the road:
No/Bo Bluets
Western Forktail - males
Common Green Darner
Then we drove and sometimes walked the route to the meadow where Ray found the
Spiny Baskettail.
We found no ponds along the route, but along the creek and in marshy areas next
to it we found
Western Red Damsel - 3-4 males, 1
female
Vivid Dancer - a few
When we arrived at the meadow where Ray found the Baskettail, we spread out.
Amazingly, at one point one Dragon,
just the right size and color to be the Spiny, darted out, chased a bug, and disappeared.
No other Odes were seen there.
We drove another mile up the road, looking for ponds. We thought we'd found one
at an old ranch and we able to enter the property, but alas, the
impoundment was only a few square feet and held no odes.
Then we drove back by a slightly different route, still checking for Odes. We
did find a small pond with water ranunculus growing in it, but the only dragon
there was a Variegated Meadowhawk.
There were many No/Bo Bluets and Western Forktail males though but only one
female Western Forktail was seen.
Still, it was a great way to spend Mother's Day.
May 12, 2012
Humboldt County
Sandra Hunt-vonArb
1200-1400 Hot and Calm.
California Darners (4-6) at the Humboldt State University Football Field during Graduation Ceremonies--flying over the recent
graduates!
1600-1800 Hot, Sunny, Light breeze at Private Korbel Ponds. The ephemeral ponds are all full of water and buzzing with ode action-- the permanent pond with all the Lilies seemed less active with fewer odes.
Emerald Spreadwings Lestes dryas - 100's maybe even 500- all tenerals and immature. NONE had blue eyes nor any pruinosity yet, but many were fully green metallic color. I was flushing most of them as I walked in the drying tall grasses ~10-15' from shores. Few were at the water- mostly tenerals. Must have had a huge emergence in the last few days.
**Pacific Forktails- 100's (20's in wheel). Had everything from tenerals on exuvia to ovipositing females.
Swift Forktails- 20's (all in one region)
Western Forktails- 10's
Bluet Species- 20's... all were perched on emerging vegetation well away from shore and I did not wade into the water.
Darners- 8-10... none would sit still as usual, and they didn't look particularly blue enough for blue eyed darners- but too large for California Darners.
Common Green Darners- 10-15 all adult males.
May 10, 2012
San Diego County
Gary Suttle
Lake Poway, 1:00-2:00, sunny, light breeze, 77 degrees.
Familiar Bluet
Tule Bluet
Pacific Forktail
Common Green Darner
*Giant Darner Anax walsinghami 1M Patrolling Hidden Bay.
Blue-eyed Darner
Western Pondhawk
Flame Skimmer
Black Saddlebags
*Red Saddlebags Tramea onusta
.
Siskiyou County
Ray Bruun
Hilt
While chasing butterflies, I photographed a teneral dragonfly that I thought, at the time, was a Beaverpond Baskettail. However, when looking at the dragonfly on the computer this evening, it seems to be a photograph of a male Spiny Baskettail, which would be a life ode for me and a new Siskiyou County record.[record verified by Tim Manolis and Jim Johnson- kb)
Spiny Baskettail Epitheca spinigera 1 young male, not on water: PHOTO RECORD CA CHART #55, OC# ??
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bruunphoto/7174635116/in/photostream/
Right click and select "original" size and one can make out the base of the spine on one of the appendages (it's a bit fuzzy, sorry) which are not at all shaped like Beaverpond Baskettail. The picture caption contains the lat/long coordinates for the location, which is about 3 miles SE of Hilt (Hilt is just off of I-5 and less than 1 mile south of the Oregon border).
May 9, 2012
Napa County
Leslie Flint
Skyline Wilderness park in Napa 9:30 - 1:30 hiked the Marie Lake Road for about 1+ mile until I reached the Marie Creek trail where I hiked up the creek for a bit but then turned back. Temp 75-80 degrees Slight breeze
Vivid Dancer - abundant all along the trails and at the creek
Pacific Forktail - quite a few at a little seep in the Native Plant Garden
Mosaic type Darners - many but I couldn't ID
Grappletail - at least 8 (this was a new Ode for me and I spent quite a bit of time trying to photograph it. See my flickr site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/leslie_flint/7168009836/in/set-72157627336546660
Cardinal Meadowhawk - 1
8-spotted Skimmer - at least 10
Common Whitetail - several
The latter 3 were on the lake that is on Napa State Hospital Property and is posted "no trespassing" so I was reluctant to walk in even though the gate was open. I could see these two easily with binoculars but couldn't ID anything else flying around.
May 8, 2012
Siskiyou County
Kathy & Dave Biggs
Spent 45 mins. at Soda Springs, McCloud, Siskiyou County. 75F, 3:30-4:15
Swift Forktail - ~16 inc. one female ovipositing
Forktails, teneral - perhaps some of these were Western Forktails
Western Red Damsel - one teneral, 90% certain on ID.
.
Humboldt County
Sandra Hunt-von Arb
Warm, breezy ~1100. Stopped by my Vivid Dancer "hot spot" at the spring by Pine Creek Bridge- saw ZERO.
But the yellow sea of Monkeyflowers was a beautiful treat.
~1630. Stopped at Big Rock River Access In Willow Creek. The river is still quite high, so there are no still backwaters yet. Only saw a single adult
western forktail (it was eating a fly-like insect)
May 7, 2012
Colusa County
Kathy & Dave Biggs
Bear Creek @ Highway 20 for about 45 minutes. Like everywhere else, things seem slower than usual for the time of year:
It was about 75F with a slight breeze. 12:45-1:30. We mainly walked under the bridge and slightly to the south.
(no Rubyspots)
(no spreadwings)
Dancer sp. - a few
No/Bo Bluet - MANY
Western Forktail - many females seen, no males
California Darner - 6-12 males
Blue-eyed Darner -perhaps one male of this species
Pacific Clubtail - 4-8 males
Bison Snaketail Ophiogomphus bison - 1 male
Flame Skimmer - 1 male (ONLY!!)
Cardinal Meadowhawk - 1male
.
Alameda County
Caryn Gregg
Berkeley, CA 94705 - backyard garden
Flame Skimmer dragonfly
.
San Francisco County
Leslie Flynn
Golden Gate Park
Pacific Forktail - There were millions everywhere, in all phases.
.
Shasta County
Michael Plank
Whiskeytown Lake at a pond about 1/2 mile west of the lake on the right.
*Emerald Spreadwing Lestes dryas teneral males and females a few
May 6, 2012
Yolo County
Stephan Telm
Putah
Creek South Fork Restoration Area:
Noonish,
high 70s to low 80s, partially cloudy, a pretty good north breeze
familiar bluets Dozens of and that was
about it. I only had about 20 minutes to spend. I saw one quick
fly-by by a darner spp., but only
because another Ode-head pointed it out to me. It was quick!
Got
one pretty good picture of a feeding bluet, but the dappled light was tricky.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36618387@N06/7150599773
North Davis Pond:1600-1630,
low to mid 80s, partially cloudy, a pretty good north breeze
common whitetails Three male
familiar bluets Three or four
Pacific forktails Dozens (mostly males,
two lone females and one wheel)
Flame Skimmer One
.
Alameda County
Ken A. Wilson
I briefly visited Morgan Territory.
Before I entered the gate I could see 8-10 Darners
and other dragonflies on patrol.
I didn't stay long enough to get IDs
or count but wanted to say that this place on the surface has a healthy ode
population.
Contra Costa County
Heather Farms Nature Area - the Ode activity was the best I've seen
this early season:
Flame Slimmer 6 http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaeagles/7004732750/in/photostream
Eight-Spotted Skimmer 2 http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaeagles/7150823279/in/photostream
Common Green Darner - 3
Common Whitetail - 1
Variegated Meadowhawk - 6
Blue-eyed Darner - 5
Mosaic Darners - ID unk many
Blue Dasher - 4
There were good numbers of damsels. However I didn't keep count.
Exclamation Damsel
Pacific Forktail
Western Forktail -1
May 5, 2012
Santa Clara County
Ken A. Wilson
Ogier Ponds
Beaverpond Baskettail - 7
Blue-eyed Darner - 2
! Pacific Clubtail - 2
Blue Dasher - 3
May 4, 2012
Sacramento County
Tim Manolis
Flying over/in his backyard
Spot-winged Glider my first of the year
Western Pondhawk a female
Blue-eyed Darner a young female
.
Alameda County
Ken A. Wilson
Coyote Hills in Fremont
Blue-eyed Darners are there in force now. I even saw a couple of females. So some of my concern about the lack of Ode activity here in this area was eased a bit.
.
Humboldt County
Sandra Hunt-von Arb
Hot, Sunny.~1400. I was doing Owl stand search on property above Aldergrove Marsh
California Darners - 4 in grassy openings/edges- all females foraging.
pacific forktails - a few, on the eastern end of the marsh.
May 2, 2012
Sonoma County
Alan Wight
Nagasawa Park in Santa Rosa at lunch
Pacific Forktail - many
Western Forktail - 1
Black Spreadwing - 20+, these are out in force now at this location
Vivid Dancer - 1
Darner sp. - 6+
Western Pondhawk - 2
Cardinal Meadowhawk - 2
Beaverpond Baskettail 3
.
Yolo County
Stephan Telm
UC Davis Arboretum- Approx
1630-1700, the sky changed from mostly clear to a complete, thin cloud-cover.
This dropped the temperature from (estimate) low 80s to low to mid 70s in
a few minutes.
This caused most of the dragonflies
to bask on the warm ground (decomposed granite path). Slight SW breeze.
flame skimmers
(1M/1F -- I did not observe these basking)
common whitetail males (2 immature, one developing pruinescence -- mostly there)
Pacific Clubtails - several dozen http://www.flickr.com/photos/36618387@N06/7137871875
.
Alameda County
Ken A. Wilson
Shadow Cliffs RRA, Pleasanton @ approx 5:06 PM I saw Weather was
mids 60's with gusty winds and partly cloudy conditions
Blue Dasher,
female. my FOS Thanks to Kathy Biggs for ID help. http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaeagles/6991895832/in/photostream
May 1-2, 2012
Sonoma County
Kathy
& Dave Biggs; Gloria & Harry Conley
Bigsnest Wildlife Pond & Conley Pond, Sebastopol:
Vivid Dander 1 male, Bigsnest Pond on 2nd
Pacific Forktail several
Western Forktail several
California Darner several (1 female was chocolate brown!!)
Blue-eyed Darner 1 male, Bigsnest Pond on 2nd
Cardinal Meadowhawk several
.
Alameda County
Ken A. Wilson
Sunol/Pleasanton & Oka Ponds
Common Whitetail - one female, seen both days. This is only the 4th dragonfly species I've seen since late February.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaeagles/6988280704/in/photostream
Ode activity, especially dragonflies, seems to be down
compared to last year. That's just a casual observation and not one based on science.
At Shadow Cliffs in Pleasanton
Pacific Clubtail - sparse numbers
California Darner - sparse numbers
Pacific Forktail- lots
Vivid Dancer - lots
May 1, 2012
Yolo County
Ed Whisler
Roosevelt Ranch, about 2 miles west
of Knights Landing. About 74 degrees F., clear, north breeze. The Ranch
includes created wetlands and riparian habitat.
The wind deterred some of the
dragonflies, but I did see:
Blue-eyed darner: 5
Variegated meadowhawk: 6, including one being eaten by an Ash-throated
Flycatcher.
April
April 30, 2012
Contra Costa
County
Rob Thomas
Briones Regional Park, Maricich and Sindicich Lagoons, 4/1000-2100hrs, upper 60s to mid-70s, light westerly wind
Familiar Bluet few, including 1 wheel
No/Bo Bluet common
Pacific Forktail abundant
Western Forktail 2
Blue-eyed Darner common
California Darner common
Common Green Darner few
Western Pondhawk few
Cardinal Meadowhawk common, including several ovipositing pairs
April 29, 2012
Riverside County
Peter Siminski
Dos Palmas Oasis and
Fish Ponds, Dos Palmas Preserve, Elev. -100; 7:30-12:00, 72-92F, cloudless,
light to gentle breeze SE.
Blue-ringed Dancer, A. sedula
7
Desert Forktail, Ischnura barberi
8
*Citrine Forktail, I.
hastata 1
Ramburs Forktail, I.
ramburii 8
Common Green Darner, Anax junius
1
*Blue-eyed Darner, Rhionaeschna multicolor 1
Variegated Meadowhawk, Sympetrum
corruptum 9 all fresh today
Western Pondhawk, Erythemis
collocata >65 including one pair in wheel, several fresh today.
Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis
>40
Flame Skimmer, L.
saturata >45 including one female ovipositing.
*Marl Pennant, Macrodiplax
balteata 6
*Black Saddlebags, Tramea
lacerata 8
Spot-winged glider, Pantala
hymenaea 2
.
Santa Clara County
Leslie Flint
sag pond at Monte Bello - all the ponds are very high
Swift Forktail
vivid dancers
western forktails
ca darner
cardinal meadowhawk
.
Orange County
Tim Manolis
Ladera Ranch
Black-fronted Forktail, a male - my first of the year
April 28, 2012
Marin County
Kathy & Dave Biggs and participants in our dragonfly walk for the Pt. Reyes Birding and Nature Festival
5-Brooks, PRNP
No/Bo Bluets - many
Pacific Forktail - quite a few
Western Forktail - some, inc. mature females
California Darner - many, inc. some seen and photographed in wheel.
Common Green Darner - one was knocked into the pond (probably by a California Darner). It appeared very teneral and couldn't escape the water tension
- it's hind two wings alternated with it's right two wings being free, but still it couldn't escape. We watched a turtle approach, but never saw it eat it.....
Beaverpond Baskettail - 4-5 along trail on north side of the pond
Western Pondhawk - many, many females, one immature male (still all green)
Eight-spotted Skimmer - 2 females, one quite immature
Cardinal Meadowhawk - 1 immature male; he appeared patterned in orange and red on his whole body.
April 27, 2012
Santa Clara County
Jan Hintermeister
Coyote Ridge - south San Jose, just
east of 101, dominated by serpentine outcrops. Access is limited to
docent led walks because of the presence of the endangered Bay Checkerspot
butterfly.
The area contains numerous
serpentine seeps. The Ogier Ponds are directly west across 101.
Pacific
Clubtail - 1
.
Yolo County
Stephen Telm
UCD
Arboretum - Approx 16:00, sunny sky, light north breeze and mid 70s.
common whitetail Plathemis lydia,
an immature male, my first of the season.http://www.flickr.com/photos/36618387@N06/7121991301/in/photostream
I was
photographing bees, bumble bees, and trying for a male carpenter bee (do those
things ever land?), when the dragonfly landed near me.
I'll take
a dragonfly anytime, especially if it volunteers.
April 24, 2012
Humboldt County
Sandra Hunt-von Arb
Arcata Marsh South G st Parking lot ditch - 12:30-13:30 Sunny, variable breeze but pretty calm in the ditch
Pacific Forktails~20 male
Pacific Forktails ~6 Heteromorph female (light non blue colored thorax, lots of blue on end of abdomen)
Pacific Forktails=2 Andromorph female
April 22, 2012
Sonoma County
Kathy & Dave Biggs
Took an Earth Day walk around Riverfront RP, ~14 miles north of Sebastopol and near the Russian River, although the habitat is what I believe are old quarry ponds.
We hiked into & around Benoit (sp?) Pond
Vivid Dancer - 1 mature male
Pacific Forktail - many, most immature
Neotropical Dancers 6-10, none seen perched, all probably CA Darners
Clubtail sp. 2-3 tenerals took maiden flights before we could get IDs, probably Pacifics
Beaverpond Baskettail - count of 26, all but 3 seen on the trail, not on the water. Most seen on the entry and N/W side of Benoit Pond.
8-spotted Skimmer - 1 male
Skimmer sp. - one pale colored from a distance
Cardinal Meadowhawk 1-2 males
Here at home we also had
Western Forktails
and another 'rescue' Cardinal Meadowhawk, high count 7 on the pond.
David G. Bieling
His backyard pond in Sebastopol
Flame Skimmer
a mature female
.
Yolo County
Stephen Telm
UC Davis Arboretum today, about 1/4
mile from the remnants of a fork of Putah Creek.
flame skimmer
(female) My first of the season http://www.flickr.com/photos/36618387@N06/7103925017/
.
San Bernardino County
Leslie Flint
Zzyzx at the Mojave Preserve
flame skimmer
- My first of the season
familiar bluets - I think
.
Humboldt County
Sandra Hunt-von Arb
Aldergrove Pond/marsh- 1330-1400, warm sunny,
Zero Odes
Arcata marsh-1400-1515, warm, sunny, very light breeze
Did the trail around log pond which also follows Butcher Slough (where I found the pacific forktails a couple days ago)- and found nothing
At the interpretive center-
California Darner One teneral female, perched low in the vegetation- ID'ed in hand
At the roadside ditch on South G Street at the Southern parking lot
Pacific Forktails 12 Male
Pacific Forktails2 Female
Pacific Forktails1 pair in wheel
Western Forktails (in hand) 2 male
California Darner - One small brown darner fly over- likely a Female based on small size and lack of colors.
Pond by the Arcata Community Center- 1600-1615 warm sunny light breeze
swift forktail 1 found in a spider's web--nothing on the wing
.......
Alameda County
Ken A. Wilson
Shadow Cliffs in Pleasanton
*Bison Snaketail Ophiogomphus bison - still emerging. The exuvia was beneath the Clubtail. See pictured below
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaeagles/7105020299/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaeagles/6958951696/in/photostream
Blue-eyed Darners - a few (probably this species)
Pacific Forktails many
Tilden Nature
Cardinal Meadowhawk - at least 3 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaeagles/7101161919/in/photostream
Califonia Darners - a few. One of the Darners was observed perching and then eating a large insect. The insect was devoured in a few minutes.
April 21, 2012
Yolo County
Ed Whisler
Davis at a stripmall
common green darner - my first 2012. It was after sunset and hunting for insects around the
lights.
.
Santa Clara County
Jan Hintermeister
Coyote Creek, near the Ogier Ponds
American Rubyspot
April 20, 2012
Sonoma County
Alan Wight
Nagasawa Park in Santa Rosa at lunch time wanted to photograph different ages/sexes of Pacific Forktails and saw the following:
Pacific Forktail - many
*Black Spreadwing Lestes stultus - 1, greenish female, first I have seen this year
.
Sacramento County
Tim Manolis
the American River Parkway lagoons behind Rio Americano High School. Several FOY for me:
*Twelve-spotted Skimmer Libellula pulchella (1 female)
*Common Whitetail Plathemis lydia (1 mature male)
Tule Bluets
Familiar Bluets
Exclamation Damsels
*Sinuous Snaketail Ophiogomphus occidentis Found an exuvia of so they are on the wing already.
April 18, 2012
Sonoma County
Alan Wight
Nagasawa Park in Santa Rosa at lunch time
Vivid Dancer - 1
Pacific Forktail - 20+
Tule Bluet (?) - 3, likely this species based on past experience here
*Eight-spotted Skimmer Libellula forensis- 1
Cardinal Meadowhawk - 1+
Darner sp. - 2+
Beaverpond Baskettail - 4+
April 16, 2012
Sonoma County
Kathy
& Dave Biggs; Bill and Arlene Houghton
Sonoma Horticultural Gardens, Sebastopol: From Hwy 116, turn on Hessel
Rd. and then onto McFarlane. http://www.sonomahort.com/visitor_info.htm
We had planned to go buy some native Bleeding Hearts, and a Rhododendron
and this garden is the best place I know of in the state for not only
those plants, but for Exclamation Damsels too!!
It turned out to still be early in the season for the Damsels, and the first
one we saw was a teneral, but we found more as we walked around, all
seen in the "yellow gardens. Images on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26704961@N03/sets/72157629842807843/
Pacific Forktail - 2 males (only the 2nd time in a decade to see another
damselfly species in the Yellow Garden)
Exclamation Damsels - 9 females, 2 males (later in the season you can
see 100 there!!)
California Darner - 2-5 at Yellow Gardens, 1 female at pond
Cardinal Meadowhawk - 1 female "at the tanning salon" as our witty
friend Bill said (she was sunning herself)
At our Bigsnest Pond we also had
Vivid Dancer 1 male, 1 female
Cardinal Meadowhawk - 1 male on territory
Pacific Forktail a few
.
Yolo County
Stephen Telm
Davis (about 16:00, mostly cloudy, low 70s)
A fast fly-by of a likely Variegated Meadowhawk yesterday as I biked (did I mention it was fast and on the other side of the street?).
Pacific Forktails, several dozen; was able to get a few pictures.
I also saw several brown/tan damselflies I was not able to photograph, but I will try again later. Here are the damsels:
Male: http://www.flickr.com/photos/36618387@N06/6940119128
Female: http://www.flickr.com/photos/36618387@N06/7086194437
Pair: http://www.flickr.com/photos/36618387@N06/6940125670/
.
Alameda County
Ken A. Wilson
Shadow Cliffs RRA, Pleasanton, Pleasanton
Pacific Forktail - numerous
*Pacific Clubtail Gomphus kurilis My FOY (THE FOY report - kb) http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaeagles/6939926226/in/photostream
April 15, 2012
Mendocino County
Ron LeValley
His Little River backyard pond
Cardinal Meadowhawk 1 male emerged
Shasta
County
Michael Plank
Coleman Fish Hatchery ponds
Pacfic Forktails - Male and female.
Darah Fish Hatchery
*Grappletail Octogomphus specularis - one Female
Vivid Dancer - Females - many
Both of these hatcheries are located in Shasta County east of Interstate 5
We found the Grappletail last year on the 11th of April within 5 feet of where we saw it this year.
These are our first flies of the new season.
.
Santa Clara County
Steve Rottenborn and daughter Holly
Ogier Ponds, along Coyote Creek north of Morgan Hill (12:15-13:00, 63 degrees F, clear, sunny, light breeze):
Pacific Forktail 4
Familiar Bluet - 1 (plus 3 unidentified bluets)
*Exclamation Damsel Zoniagrion exclamationis 4
Vivid Dancer 1
California Darner 1
*Beaverpond Baskettail Epitheca canis - 1 (the Ogier Ponds are the only known location for the species in Santa Clara
County and may be the southernmost known location anywhere in the West)
Monte Bello Open Space Preserve, west of Palo Alto (14:15-15:00, same conditions as above):
*Swift Forktail Ischnura erratica 4 in sag pond along Canyon Trail, Ό-mile south of Page Mill Road (a known location for this species)
April 10, 2012
Marin County
Leslie Flint
Martin Griffin Preserve of Audubon Canyon Ranch (on Bolinas Lagoon)
Common Green Darner- 1 patrolling one of the canyons. First Ode I have seen this year.
April 9, 2012
San Diego County
Gary Suttle
Elfin Forest Preserve, Escondido Creek, sunny, 72 degrees.
*American Rubyspot Hetaerina americana 1M
Vivid Dancer several
*Red Rock Skimmer Paltothemis lineatipes 1M
Flame Skimmer 2
April 8 & 9, 2012
Sonoma County
Kathy
& Dave Biggs
We were surprised to find an Easter transformation on the 8th here at our home in Sebastopol:
Variegated Meadowhawk 1 emerged from our polliwog tank! our first documentation of them emerging here.
And on the 9th:
Cardinal Meadowhawk our first pair ovipositing
.
Yolo County
Zack Smith
Mondavi Center
Green Darner fly over & my only ode so far this year
April 7, 2012
Sonoma County
Kathy
& Dave Biggs
5 species of dragonflies here today at our Sebastopol pond - 4 of them in reproductive behaviors...
Cardinal Meadowhawk - a young male was holding a territory on the
pond. No lady loves showed up for him today, but he's ready!!
California Darner - one male flew over the pond a few times and landed in a nearby pear
tree
Pacific Forktail - several inc.
several in mating wheels
Western Forktail - a mature female
ovipositing
Vivid Dancer - one young one was on
the driveway. Our foy
.
Alameda County
Caryn Gregg
Berkeley, CA 94705 - backyard garden
Flame Skimmer dragonfly
April 6, 2012
Sonoma County
Kathy
& Dave Biggs
Bigsnest Pond in their Sebastopol backyard
Western Forktail one mature male
Cardinal Meadowhawk one emerged, our foy
On the 3rd, we saw a Darner, probably a California, along the Laguna in town.
April 4, 2012
Santa Cruz County
Scott Peden
Rancho del Oso, After 3 weeks I got one of these fleeting brown or blue damsels to stop long enough for some photography.
Vivid Dancer - Males
http://scottpeden.smugmug.com/Animals/In/Dragonflies-and-Damselflies/4921247_wbk4HQ#!i=1778998031&k=PRv9BRp
March
March 25, 2012
Santa Barbara County
Steve Courtney
Lake Los Carneros - I got about an hour
between showers!
Pacific Forktail - 3
California Darner Rhionaeschna californica 3
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CalOdes/photos/album/645635675/pic/51990035/view?picmode=&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=61&count=20&dir=asc
CA Chart #114 Photo record OC#??
March 24, 2012
Riverside County
Peter Siminski
Dos Palmas Oasis and Fish Ponds, Dos
Palmas Preserve, Elev. -100; 8:15-12:15, 67-78F, 70% thin cirrus, light breeze
SE.
*Paiute Dancer, Argia alberta 2
*Blue-ringed Dancer, A.
sedula 2
*Desert Forktail, Ischnura
barberi 7
*Ramburs Forktail, I. ramburii 20
Common
Green Darner, Anax junius 5
Variegated Meadowhawk, Sympetrum
corruptum 9
*Western Pondhawk, Erythemis
collocata 1
*Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax
longipennis 7
*Flame Skimmer, Libellula
saturata 11
**Roseate Skimmer, Orthemis
ferruginea 1
[new early flight date, old early date 4/7/2006 kb]
*Spot-winged Glider, Pantala hymenaea 1
March 18, 2012
Sonoma County
Gloria Conley
It's 52 degrees out there and we have our first emergent cardinal!!!! I'm stunned! 2:13 pm.
Cardinal Meadowhawk Sympetrum illotum - 1
.it's been out for a while because it's already pumping fluid into its wings and they have a bit of color to them.
March 15, 2012
San Diego County
Gary Suttle
Poway, Lake Poway, 1:30-3:00, mostly clear, 66 degrees.
*Familiar Bluet Enallagma civile
Tule Bluet
*Arroyo Bluet Enallagma praevarum
*Black-fronted Forktail Ischnura denticollis
Variegated Meadowhawk
March 10, 2012
Contra Costa County
Ken Wilson of Pleasanton
Mitchell Canyon, Clayton
*California Darner (Rhionaeschna californica) - A recently emerged male. http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaeagles/6971323079/in/photostream
March 9, 2012
Sonoma County
Kathy & Dave Biggs
Their Sebastopol backyard pond (Bigsnest Pond)
Pacific Forktail - a mature male, their foy Ode March 7 - Ode withdrawal symptoms
started fading...
*Western Forktail Ischnura
perparva - a
mature female ovipositing (on 9th)!
March 3, 2012
Sacramento County
Chris Conard
American River Parkway in Rancho
Cordova
Vivid Dancer
5-10; female photographed: http://www.flickr.com/photos/conardc/6968723003/in/photostream
March 2, 2012
Sonoma County
Sandra Hunt-von Arb
Ellis Ck ponds from 11-1,
Variegated Meadowhawk, a single male, good condition (not weathered).
February
February 25, 2012
Sacramento County
Chris Conard
Cosumnes River Preserve, near Galt.
variegated meadowhawks multiple #s flying
February 24, 2012
Sonoma County
Sandra Hunt-von Arb
Schollenberger park to Ellis Creek Ponds (@ Ellis Creek Water Recycling Facility). At the southwestern edge of the seasonal pool @~11:00 I saw a single blue damselfly. My initial guess was that it was a
*tule bluet Enallagma carunculatum, but I did not get a good enough look to confirm- So I'm listing it as "one of the blue damsels". It was the only ode seen on the 2hour walk. It was a beautiful Sunny and calm day- probably close to 80deg. Felt more like summer than February! [Note: Tule is only bluet noted there in the last several years, and not a new flight date, so it is being counted as foy kb]
February 23, 2012
Alameda County
Alice Cavette
Fremont
*Blue-eyed Darner or California - Rhionaeschna multicolor/californica 1 female, photos taken, but ID inconclusive: http://bugguide.net/node/view/615756
Dennis Paulson, Tim Manolis, Kathy Biggs and Alice lean towards R. multicolor, but since that would be a new early flight date by nearly 3 wks,
and historically CA Darners usually fly for weeks ahead of the appearance of Blue-eyeds, this is not confirmed new early flight data as the ID is tentative.
-------
Sonoma County
Alan Wight
Nagasawa Park in Santa Rosa at lunchtime
Pacific Forktails - 12+
There were also five species of butterflies flying.
February 22, 2012
Santa Cruz County
Steve Gerow
Santa Cruz, Antonelli Pond
Pacific Forktail - one male
Common Green Darner - a male flying around the area too
-------
San Francisco County
Jules Evans and Mary Anne Flett
San Francisco, Lobos Creek
*Vivid Dancers Argia vivida - a big flight of these damselflies
. these guys are REALLY hard. (They make Empidonax seem easy!)
February 18, 2012
Sonoma County
Kathy Biggs
Bigsnest Pond, Sebastopol
Forktail exuvia 1 found!
February 17, 2012
Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara
Steve Courtney
Pacific Forktail 2 - photos
February 9, 2012
Humboldt County
Sandra Hunt-von Arb
I was fortunate to have some field work today in Hoopa- Bald C Road (west of Trinity River, not far south from Klamath River)- an unseasonable warm and sunny afternoon. Driving along a dirt road with many springs/wet areas. One very sunny landing with some pooled water and several water obligate plants (so it never dries out completely)-- two variegated meadowhawks flushed from some dead vegetation.
February 8, 2012
Santa Clara County
Coyote Hills Regional Park, Fremont
Ken Wilson of Pleasanton
*Common Green Darner Anax junius - I observed one male this afternoon at, CA. This was my first dragonfly seen there since early November.
February 5, 2012
San Diego County
Gary Suttle
Torrey Pines State Reserve, Penasquitos Lagoon, 12:30-2:00, clear, 72 degrees.
*Pacific Forktail 2
Variegated Meadowhawk 3 tandem, ovipositing
February 2, 2012
? County
Tony Westkamper
on my walk I spotted at least two Odes, one in the same place as my last sighting in December.
This one exhibited the same colors, same flight habit, and same perching behavior as the last specimen
I saw in the same location. (Within ten feet) Which begs the question, "Is this the same individual as before?"
I would guess so, but his gives it a pretty long life.
Much of which may have been spent in a depressed metabolic rate due to cold weather.
It was certainly active and apparently healthy.
Too active to get close enough for a good photo before my neighbor's dog came over to investigate!
January
January 13, 2012
Sonoma County
Alan Wight
Nagasawa Park, Santa Rosa at lunchtime
Variegated Meadowhawks - two
January 5, 2012
Humboldt County
Sandra Hunt-von Arb
Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation- Rock Creek Watershed
variegated meadowhawk - Single male
Flying along sunny section of road just above year round rock creek tributary during my lunch-hour hike
January 3, 2012
Humboldt County
Sandra Hunt-von Arb
Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation- Norton Creek Watershed
To my surprise, I've already seen my first odes of 2012!
The weather has been beautiful and the Variegated Meadowhawks have come out of hiding.
No nighttime frost that week, but it returned over the weekend.
*variegated Meadowhawk - Single male (possibly 2)
Dashing in and out of sunny roadside berry brambles when disturbed from driving through.
Happened going both directions 1/2 hour apart. Thought I saw two, but only sure about one.
COUNTY RECORDS FROM PRIOR YEARS, NOT REPORTED UNTIL THIS YEAR
May 1, 2011
Santa Cruz County
Scott Peden
Rancho del Oso section of Big Basin Redwoods State Park. 11:50AM
about 1 mile from the northern coastal boundary of Santa Cruz to San Mateo County, 2 miles from the entrance to Ano Nuevo State reserve.
Swift Forktail, Ischnura erratica one male photographed
CA Chart #113 - PHOTO RECORD OC# 374167
July 3, 2010
Tehama County
Location Notes 1/4 mile northeast of Wilson Lake on Road 769. Latitude 40.34648° Longitude -121.43118°
Peter Gaede
Black Petaltail, Tanypteryx hageni one male photographed in hand
CA Chart #112 - Photo record OC record # 320661