Patuxent Research Refuge March 31st & April 1st

[odona...@comcast.net]

Last Tuesday (March 31) and Wednesday (April 1), I spent a couple hours each on the Central Tract of Patuxent Research Refuge.  Although a bit early for emerging resident dragonflies to start, two observations are worth noting.  The first is that the influx of north-moving migrant Common Green Darners is the highest that I have recorded in well over a decade.  In the past few years, the spring migrants have been limited, but this year the mature Common Green Darners are everywhere.  The second observation of interests is that it is a great year for the Falcated Orangetips which also are in higher than normal numbers at the Refuge this year.  

ODONATES SEEN (sum of both days):

Common Green Darners — 100+ — all mature adults (migrants) — See: Spring Migrant Common Green Darner | Common Green Darner (An… | Flickr 

Fragile Forktail — 1 mature male

BUTTERFLIES SEEN (sum of both days):

Cabbage White -- 1

Falcated Orangetips — 38+ — See: Extra Male Not Needed | Mating Falcate Orangetips (Anthochar… | Flickr 

Azures — 2 — both bright blue above

Eastern Commas -- 3

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS TAKEN:

Hance Pond --  Hance Pond 1 at Beaverdam | Hance Pond 1, Patuxent Research … | Flickr 

Golden Club --  Golden Club at the Refuge | Golden Club (Orontium aquaticum)… | Flickr  &  Golden Club in Flower | Golden Club (Orontium aquaticum). Pa… | Flickr 

Cutleaf Toothwort --  Cutleaf Toothwort | Cutleaf Toothwort (Cardamine concatenata… | Flickr 

Virginia Bluebells with Hairy-footed Flower Bee -- Bluebells and Bee | The native Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia… | Flickr 

Canadian Serviceberry --  Canadian Serviceberry in Flower | Canadian Serviceberry (Ame… | Flickr 

Northern Watersnake --  Northern Watersnake at Refuge | Northern Watersnake (Nerodia… | Flickr 

Richard Orr

[Rick Borchelt]

Just Falcate. And yes, I was seeing them in some numbers even in suburban Hyattsville along Northeast Branch. Since those species is capable of “passing” a year — that is, remaining another full year as a chrysalis if environmental conditions aren’t right — we could be seeing both 2024 and 2025 adults. 

On Apr 2, 2026, at 9:34 am, 'odona...@comcast.net' via MDLepsOdes <mdlep...@googlegroups.com> wrote:



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