Variegated Meadowhawks at 6th Conc Burford and Wight Rd, Brant County

[Bill Lamond]

Hi,

Today I saw at least six Variegated Meadowhawks in a wetland in a farm field at 6^th Conc Burford and Wight Rd, Brant. When I saw the first individual flying I was sure it was a Wandering Glider until it landed. All of the individuals were very fresh-looking and likely recently emerged. This wetland is a dip in a farm field (corn/soybeans) that gets flooded from the adjacent Kenny Creek. The last couple of years it has not been able to be tilled and a wetland has developed dominated by Water Plantain and other dicots associated with wet soil. It is about 100m long and 5m wide.

These individuals obviously over-wintered at this location. Almost all of the records in Ontario this year (about 30) were immigrants in April-June but today's dragonflies were obvious over-wintering individuals based on the number and the condition of the individuals. 

I was  checking the wetland for shorebirds (only Killdeers) but thrilled by the Meadowhawks.

Bill