Patuxent Research Refuge last Sunday, Tuesday & Wednesday (June 14-16-17), 2026

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I visited the Little Patuxent River at Bailey Bridge last Sunday, the north end of Cash Lake and the Patuxent River at Duvall Bridge last Tuesday and the south end of Lake Redington yesterday.  The emergence of the summer dragonflies is in force, while butterflies seem to be fewer in number.  The exception may be the Appalachian Browns which have started to show up.  The totals below are the sum of all three days.

DRAGONFLIES AND DAMSELFLIES SEEN:

Ebony Jewelwings -- 12

American Rubyspots — 5 — See: Male American Rubyspot | Male American Rubyspot (Hetaerina a… | Flickr 

Elegant Spreadwings -- 13

Blue-fronted Dancers -- 2

Powdered Dancers — 6 — See: Male Powdered Dancer on River | Powdered Dancer (Argia moest… | Flickr 

Blue-tipped Dancers -- 35+

Stream Bluets -- 4

Skimming Bluet -- 1

Lilypad Forktails -- 40+

Fragile Forktails -- 22+

Unicorn Clubtails -- 6

Black-shouldered Spinylegs — 4 cast skins

Dragonhunters — 6 adults — 21 cast skins

Common Sanddragons — 4 adults — 3 cast skins — See: Sanddragon on Territory | Common Sanddragon (Progomphus obsc… | Flickr 

Laura's Clubtails — 16 cast skins — looks like it might be a good year for them

Common Green Darner -- 1

Fawn Darners — 3 adults — 1 cast skin — See: Fawn Darner Emerging from River | Fawn Darner (Boyeria vinos… | Flickr 

Cyrano Darner -- 1

Royal River Cruiser -- 1

Halloween Pennant -- 1

Banded Pennant — 30+ — emerging in force from Cash Lake — See: Just Emerged Banded Pennant | Banded Pennant (Celithemis fas… | Flickr 

Eastern Pondhawks -- 56+

Spangled Skimmers -- 6

Slaty Skimmers -- 50+

Widow Skimmers -- 12

Painted Skimmers -- 6

Common Whitetails -- 36+

Blue Dashers -- 80+

Blue-faced Meadowhawk — 1 — See: Young Male Blue-Faced Meadowhawk | Blue-faced Meadowhawk (Sy… | Flickr 

Black Saddlebags -- 3

BUTTERFLIES SEEN:

Eastern Tiger Swallowtails -- 2

Zebra Swallowtails -- 4

Cabbage White -- 1

Orange Sulphur -- 1

Eastern Tailed Blue -- 1

Pearl Crescents -- 4

Great Spangled Fritillaries -- 8

Monarch -- 1

Variegated Fritillaries — 3 — See: Variegated Fritillary on Rock | Variegated Fritillary (Eupto… | Flickr 

Little Wood Satyrs -- 3

Appalachian Browns -- 6

Silver-spotted Skipper -- 1

Least Skippers -- 5

Little Glassywing — (I think?) — 1 — See: Little Glassywing | Little Glassywing (Pompeius verna). Patu… | Flickr 

Richard Orr