Patuxent Research Refuge on April 10th and 12th

[odona...@comcast.net]

I spent a few hours on the Central Tract last Friday and another few hours on the North Tract today (Sunday).  The odonates are starting to move at the Refuge and the spring butterflies are in full swing.  Over one hundred teneral damselflies lifting off the ponds on the Central Tract were not identified.

ODONATA SEEN (sum of both days):

Sweetflag Spreadwing — 1 mature male at Hobb's Pond — See: Sweetflag Spreadwing at Hobb's Pond | Male Sweetflag Spreadw… | Flickr 

Fragile Forktails -- 25+

Eastern Forktails -- 1

Ashy Clubtails — 2 teneral adults and 2 cast skins on the Little Patuxent River

Common Green Darners -- 4

Springtime Darners — 4 adults and 1 cast skin 

Harlequin Darners -- 3

Common Baskettails — 200+ — none yet on territory — See: Common Baskettail with Small Wing Spots | Male Common Basket… | Flickr  &  Common Baskettail with Large Wing Spots | Male Common Basket… | Flickr 

Robust Baskettails — 3 at Patuxent Marsh

Blue Corporals — 80+ — emerging to males on territory — See: Young Male Blue Corporal | Male Blue Corporal (Ladona deplan… | Flickr 

Common Whitetail -- 1

Painted Skimmer — 1 — a freshly emerged female — See: Fresh Painted Skimmer | Female Painted Skimmer. Patuxent Res… | Flickr 

BUTTERFLIES SEEN (sum of both days):

Eastern Tiger Swallowtails -- 7

Zebra Swallowtails -- 14

Spicebush Swallowtail -- 1

Cabbage Whites -- 10

Falcate Orangetips -- 4

Clouded Sulphur -- 1

Azures -- 7

Eastern Tailed Blues -- 6

Henry's Elfins -- 3

Brown Elfins — 8 — See: Brown Elfin at Refuge | Brown Elfin Patuxent Research Refuge… | Flickr 

Eastern Pine Elfin — 1 — See: Pine Elfin on Dead Leaf | Pine Elfin Patuxent Research Refug… | Flickr 

Pearl Crescents -- 2

Anglewing — 1 — interesting that it was a fresh black form — not sure of species

Mourning Cloak -- 1

Juvenal's/Horace's Duskywings — 15+ — See: Juvenal's or Horace's Duskywing | Juvenal's or Horace's Dusk… | Flickr 

Richard Orr

[Rick Borchelt]

I am assuming most of not all the Brown Elfins were seen on the location that is now off limits to mere mortals? That is, one should not expect to visit the Refuge during its restricted public hours and see Brown Elfins anywhere else. 

On Apr 13, 2026, at 12:19 am, 'odona...@comcast.net' via MDLepsOdes <mdlep...@googlegroups.com> wrote:



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[Richard Orr]

Rick,

You are correct. However, my initial impression is that Browns are having a good year and they might be seen elsewhere on the Refuge.

Very mortal,

Richard

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 13, 2026, at 1:14 AM, Rick Borchelt <rbor...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Rick Borchelt]

Even in good years they're pretty much restricted to known habitats, unlike Henry's and Pne.  

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Rick Borchelt
College Park, MD
preferred personal email:  rborchelt |AT| gmail |DOT| com

http://leplog.wordpress.com