Trip Report, Rockland Audubon Society

 

June 28, 2009  Dragonflies and Damselflies at Lily Pond

 

Leader:  Alan & Della Wells

 

Participants: Dan Albantides, Zenon Bachir, Peter Johnson, Maggie McManus, Pat Murray, Jane Shumsky,

 

Weather: Sunny with puffy clouds and light breeze.

 

Highlights: Great trip with beautiful weather. And to top it off, the odes were very cooperative!

 

   

For those interested in obtaining the Massachusetts and Ohio field guides:

 

Massachusetts: http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/publications/nhesp_pubs.htm

 

 Northeastern Ohio: http://www.ddneo.info/

 

Photo 6/26 6/28 Comments
Ebony Jewelwing, Female   X Ebony Jewelwing, female. One mating pair observed. Note white spot wing of female.
Swamp Spreadwing male X X Swamp Spreadwing, male. Confirm identify by close-up examination of terminal segments. Paraprocts (Inferior Appendage) slender and very long, nearly long as cerci (Superior Appendage).
Elegant Spreadwing male X X Elegant Spreadwing. Larger than Swamp Spreadwing. Paraprocts distinctly longer than Cerci, and bent at a right angle near tip.
Variable Dancer, female X X Violet Dancer, female. Note forked shoulder stripe and long spines on tibia (leg). Mature males are violet in color while females are drab brown.
Marsh Bluet, male and female in tandem X X Marsh Bluet, tandem pair. Small, mostly blue abdomen.
Lilypad Forktail, male X X Lilypad Forktail, male. Several seen. Note distinctive bent tail poster.
Eastern Forktail, male X X Eastern Forktail, male. Note green body with blue terminal segments (S8 and S9); distinctive black rectangular marks on sides of S8 & S9.
Common Green Darner, female   X Common Green Darner, female. A single male was seen cruising the small field above the pond.
Swamp Darner   X Swamp Darner. The individual flying high above the field was likely this species.
Lilypad Clubtail, male X X Lilypad Clubtail, male.  Frequently seen resting on lily pads. Similar to Unicorn Clubtail, but note light, aqua colored eyes (not jade green),  more restricted yellow on S9, and inward pointing cerci.
Unicorn Clubtail, male X X Unicorn Clubtail, male. More often seen perching on shore, or other objects on or near shore. Eyes darker than Lilypad Clubtail, S9 frequently all yellow, and cerci point more rearward than Lilypad.
Lancet Clubtail, male X   Lancet Clubtail, male. Not seen by RAS on 6/28. Found along the trail to the pond on 6/26. Smaller than Lilypad or Unicorn Clubtails.
Prince Baskettail X X Prince Baskettail. Seen flying high above fields. Wing pattern and high flying behavior are distinctive.
Calico Pennant, female   X Calico Pennant, female. Single female observed in field. Note yellow heart-shaped markings on abdomen.
Banded Pennant, female   X Banded Pennant, female. Single female observed near the Calico Pennant. Note more distinct banding and absence of yellow/orange color on hindwing. Also note dark (rather than orange) stigma.
Eastern Pondhawk, female X Eastern Pondhawk, female. Not seen by RAS on 6/28. A single female seen on 6/26. Emerald green color with black-striped abdomen make for an easy identification.
Chalk-fronted Corporal, male X X Chalk-fronted Corporal, male. Nearing the end of the flight season for this species, no females observed. Look for the two "whitish" stripes on the front of the thorax.
Frosted Whiteface, male X X Frosted Whiteface, male. Several males seen. Similar to Chalk-fronted Corporal but much smaller and lacks thoracic stripes. Has a white face.
Dot-tailed Whiteface, male X X Dot-tailed Whiteface, male. Easily remembered and descriptive name. Look for the yellow dot on the tail (at S7) and the white face.
Spangled Skimmer, female X Spangled Skimmer, female. Not seen on 6/28. Several females observed along the trail to pond on 6/26.
Slaty Skimmer, male X X Slaty Skimmer, male. Deep slaty color with dark bluish/black eyes. Looked great as a decoration atop Dan's hat!
Widow Skimmer, female X X Widow Skimmer, female. Several females seen in upland areas away from water. No males observed.
Blue Dasher, male X X Blue Dasher, male. Single immature male observed.
Common Whitetail female X X Common Whitetail, female. Females common along the trail and in upland areas. A few males were observed in and around the small ponds below the beaver dam.
Sympetrum sp. X X Sympetrum sp. Identification typically not possible in the field. Undoubtedly a member of the Ruby/Cherry-faced/White-faced/Jane's complex.