Fort Frederick State Park May 29, 2026

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Bonnie Ott and I spent the morning of May 29^th along the Potomac River and an adjacent beaver pond (See:   Chasing Dragonflies at Fort Frederick | Beaver Pond Fort Fre… | Flickr) at Fort Frederick State Park in Washington County.  The highlights of the day were finding a pair of Stygian Shadowdragons and a possible Lilypad Clubtail, which if confirmed, would be a new Maryland dragonfly species record.  Watching a Common Gallinule (an uncommon bird in Maryland) feeding among the Spatterdock in the beaver pond was also an enjoyable find.  The river proper was high from the recent rains and was overflowing its banks so trying to collect riverine dragonfly cast skins was unfortunately not possible on this trip. 

DRAGONFLIES SEEN:

Ebony Jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata) -- 3

Blue-fronted Dancers (Argia apicalis) -- 8

Powdered Dancers (Argia moesta) — 15+ — See: Young Male Powdered Dancer | Powdered Dancer (Argia moesta).… | Flickr 

Blue-tipped Dancers (Argia tibialis) -- 20+

Fragile Forktails (Ischnura posita) -- 8

Eastern Forktails (Ischnura verticalis) -- 2

Unicorn Clubtails (Arigomphus villosipes) — 2 — See: Unicorn Clubtail on Spatterdock Leaf | Unicorn Clubtail (Ari… | Flickr 

Possible Lilypad Clubtail (Arigomphus furcifer) — See: Possible Lilypad Clubtail | Possible Lilypad Clubtail (Arigo… | Flickr 

Lancet Clubtails (Phanogomphus exilis) — 9 — See: Lancet Clubtail in Wheel | Lancet Clubtail (Phanogomphus exi… | Flickr 

Cobra Clubtails (Gomphurus vastus) — 15 — See:  Cobra Clubtail at Fort Frederick | Cobra Clubtail (Gomphurus… | Flickr 

Stygian Shadowdragons (Neurocordulia yamaskanensis) — 2 — See: Male Stygian Shadowdragon | Stygian Shadowdragon (Neurocordu… | Flickr 

Common Baskettails (Epitheca cynosura) — 8 — See: Common Baskettail on Territory | Common Baskettail (Epitheca… | Flickr 

Spangled Skimmers (Libellula cyanea) -- 6

Common Whitetails (Plathemis lydia) -- 5

Wondering Glider (Pantala flavescens) -- 1

Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata) -- 2

BUTTERFLIES SEEN:

(Eastern?) Tiger Swallowtail -- 1

Spicebush Swallowtail -- 3

Cabbage Whites -- 2

(Summer?) Azures -- 6

Great Spangled Fritillary -- 1

Pearl Crescents -- 2

Easterm Commas -- 3

Red Admiral -- 1

Red-spotted Purple -- 1

Silver-spotted Skippers -- 7

Zabulon Skippers -- 5

Photos of the Common Gallinule if interested: Common Gallinule Hunting for Spatterdock Flowers | Common Ga… | Flickr  &  Common Gallinule in Spatterdock | Common Gallinule (Gallinul… | Flickr 

Richard Orr