Patuxent Research Refuge May 22-24-26, 2024

[odona...@comcast.net]

I spent three days (total of 12-hours) at Patuxent Research Refuge checking various sites last Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.  The locations on Wednesday were on the Central Tract checking sections of the Patuxent River (off limits to the public), on Friday I visited the North Tract where I spent my time at Sundew Bog (off limits to the public) and the Little Patuxent River downstream from Bailey Bridge (open to the public) and on Sunday I focused on the New Marsh Ponds on the North Tract (open to the public).  See: Little Patuxent River from Bailey Bridge | Little Patuxent R… | Flickr  &  New Marsh with Water-Shield Covering | New Marsh (back pond)… | Flickr 

Large number of teneral damselflies lifting off from the river and ponds were pretty much ignored and thus not counted.   Likewise, I pretty much ignored the grass skippers and except where I could make an easy identification or take a good photo, they were left unidentified (too much distraction from the dragonflies to chase skippers).  Those skippers that I did take photos of I hope the butterfly people will confirm my identifications.  Rick Borchelt has already saved me from one embarrassing identification attempt on one of my skippers.

Odonates Seen:

Ebony Jewelwings – 12+

American Rubyspot – 1 – this was an early record for this species at the Refuge – See: Early Flying American Rubyspot | This American Rubyspot (Het… | Flickr 

Violet Dancers – 2

Blue-tipped Dancers – 20+

Azure Bluets – 2

Skimming Bluet – 1

Fragile Forktails – 20

Eastern Forktails – 3

Citrine Forktails – 2

Furtive Forktail – 1 – this is the third year that I have picked up this species at Sundew Bog so it is likely that a small population of this rare damselfly is established.

Lilypad Forktails – 8 – See: Lilypad Forktails in Tandem | Lilypad Forktails (Ischnura ke… | Flickr 

Lancet Clubtails – 3

Ashy Clubtails – 6 adults and 3 cast skins – males on territory over rivers – See: Ashy Clubtail on the Patuxent River | The Ashy Clubtail male… | Flickr 

Dragonhunter – 1 cast skin

Common Sanddragons – 62 cast skins & 2 adults – currently emerging from the Little Patuxent River – See: Common Sanddragon Emerging | I counted 62 emerged or emergin… | Flickr 

Common Green Darner – 1

Swamp Darners – 8

Cyrano Darners – 3

Calico Pennant – 1

Double-ringed Pennants – 65+ – See: Double-Ringed Pennants Mating | Double-ringed Pennants (Celi… | Flickr  &  Mature Double-Ringed Pennant | Male Double-ringed Pennant (C… | Flickr 

Eastern Pondhawks – 85+

Blue Corporals – 23 – this spring species is still hanging on – some are still looking fresh – See: Blue Corporal on Cow Lily Leaf | This male Blue Corporal (La… | Flickr 

Golden-winged Skimmers – 9 – May 24^th was a new early record for this species for the Refuge despite that they were mature individuals  – this appears to be a good year for them – See: Golden Wings | Mature male Golden-winged Skimmer (Libellula … | Flickr 

Bar-winged Skimmers – 15 – most were mature and on territory – See: Bar-Winged Skimmer Ovipositing | This Bar-winged Skimmer is … | Flickr  & Male Bar-Winged Skimmer | This male was actively guarding th… | Flickr  

Spangled Skimmers – 115+ 

Yellow-sided Skimmers – 2 – tenerals

Slaty Skimmers – 10

Widow Skimmer - 1

Painted Skimmers – 9 – both mature migrants and young residents are flying

Great Blue Skimmers – 2

Blue Dashers – 158+

Elfin Skimmers – 25+ – the population was hit hard from the drought last year and is currently only around 1/5^th the numbers expected – See: Female Elfin Skimmer | The Elfin Skimmer (Nannothemis bella)… | Flickr 

Carolina Saddlebags – 8

Black Saddlebags – 1

Butterflies Seen:

Eastern Tiger Swallowtails --5

Zebra Swallowtail – 1

Cabbage Whites – 5

Clouded Sulphur – 1

Eastern tailed Blues – 2

American Lady – 1

Red-spotted Purples – 3

Red Admirals – 3

Viceroy – 1 – See: A Fresh Viceroy | My first for the year at the Refuge. Patux… | Flickr 

Northern Pearly Eye – 1 – See: Northern Pearly-Eye | This was my first Northern Pearly-Eye … | Flickr 

Little Wood Satyr – 1

Least Skippers – 3

Little Glassywing – 1 – See: Little Glassywing on the Bank of the Patuxent River | Flickr 

Dusted Skipper – 1 – See: Fresh Dusted Skipper | It appears like it is going to be a g… | Flickr 

Sothern Broken-dash – 1 – See: Southern Broken-Dash at New Marsh | An early Southern Broken… | Flickr 

Richard Orr