Patuxent Research Refuge on June 4, 14 & 16th

[odona...@comcast.net]

So far this month I have visited the Refuge on three separate days covering a variety of habitats on the Central and North Tracts.  What prompted this email more than anything else was to let everyone know that the Somatochlorans are on the wing.  Somatochlora linearis, tenebrosa and provocans are currently flying together over the South Road near the junction of Kingfisher drive (just south of Rieve's pond on the North Tract).  Years ago, I named this stretch of South Road "Somatochloran alley" due to the tendence for feeding swarms to form over the road around this time of the year.  It has been my experience that the swarm's height over the road likely reflects the optimal temperature at which the dragonflies find comfortable.  Early in the morning, say around 9:00 they may be flying at head height while later on when the temperature rises, they fly much higher, so check high over your head when the temperatures start to warm up.  Even when they are high up, they will, if they spot prey lower down or get in a tassel with one of their own, come down to head level.  Your best bet for positive identification is to wait until they perch (usually after taking a meal) using binoculars.   There are subtle differences between the two species even in flight, but it is often difficult to do so, especially if not familiar with separating the three species.

Butterfly numbers seem low, but the summer dragonflies are doing well, and you should get a good variety of species at the ponds.  Laura's Clubtail cast skins are starting to show up on the Little Patuxent River – hopefully more will emerge over the next couple of weeks.

Odonata seen:

Ebony Jewelwings --40+

American Rubyspots – 5

Elegant Spreadwings – 3 – See: Male Elegant Spreadwing | Male Elegant Spreadwing (Lestes in… | Flickr 

Powdered Dancers – 3 – Although abundant on the Potomac, it has been only in the past decade or so that they can be found in good numbers on the Little Patuxent River -- See:  Powdered Dancer on the Little Patuxent River | Male Powdered… | Flickr 

Blue-tipped Dancers – 53+ – See: Female Blue-Tipped Dancer | Blue-tipped Dancer (Argia tibial… | Flickr 

Azure Bluets – 7

Attenuated Bluets – 15+ – See: Attenuated Bluet Mating | Attenuated Bluet (Enallagma daecki… | Flickr 

Stream Bluets – 8 – See: Stream Bluets in Tandem | Stream Bluets in tandem (Enallagma… | Flickr 

Skimming Bluet – 1

Citrine Forktail – 1 – See: Gold & Green & Black Damselfly | Male Citrine Forktail. Patu… | Flickr 

Fragile Forktails – 22+

Sphagnum Sprites – 3

Unicorn Clubtails – 3

Lancet Clubtails – 3

Ashy Clubtails – 4

Dragonhunter – 1 (cast skin only)

Common Sanddragons – 7 adults 2 cast skins – See: Female Common Sanddragon | Female Common Sanddragon Patuxent… | Flickr 

Laura's Clubtails – 2 (cast skins only) – See: Cast Skins of Laura's Clubtail & Dragonhunter | Laura's Club… | Flickr 

Russet-tipped Clubtail – 1 (cast skin only)

Common Green Darners – 2

Swamp Darners – 10

Cyrano Darners -- 9

*Mocha Emeralds – 2

*Treetop Emeralds – 2

*Clamp-tipped Emeralds – 4

Calico Pennants – 4

Banded Pennants -- 2

Double-ringed Pennants – 4

Eastern Pondhawks – 30+

Bar-winged Skimmers – 4 – See: Female Bar-Winged Skimmer | The Bar-winged Skimmers are stil… | Flickr 

Spangled Skimmers – 60+

Yellow-sided Skimmers – 3

Slaty Skimmers – 43+

Widow Skimmer – 1

Golden-winged Skimmers – 2

Painted Skimmers – 13

Great Blue Skimmers – 9 – See: Great Blue Skimmer | Male Great Blue Skimmer (Libellula vibr… | Flickr 

Common Whitetails – 13

Blue Dashers – 100+

Elfin Skimmers – 60+

Carolina Saddlebags – 2

* At least a dozen additional Somatochlorans were seen in flight but could not identify to species.

Butterflies seen:

Zebra Swallowtails – 2

Spicebush Swallowtail – 1

Cabbage Whites – 2

Cloudless Sulphur – 1 – my first for the year at the Refuge

Eastern Tailed Blue – 1

Summer Azures – 3 – See: An Azure for the Heat of Summer | Summer Azure Patuxent Rese… | Flickr 

Pearl Crescent – 1

Red Admiral – 1

American Lady – 1

Great Spangled Fritillaries – 2

Monarch – 1

Little Wood Satyrs – 2

Least Skippers – 2 

Richard Orr