Texas Odes

Birdingonthe.Net

Recent Postings from
Texas Odes

Updated on Wednesday, January 7 at 07:30 AM ET
The most recently received Mail is at the top.

07 Jan I want to meet you. Give me a chance! ["fofhdfwh" ]
6 Jan female Turquoise-tipped Darner Rhionaeschna (Aeshna) psilus 010308 []
2 Jan SANWR Leptobasis, Anzalduas Golden-wingeds ["Joshua Rose" ]
27 Dec Filigree Skimmer Pseudoleon superbus Hidalgo Pump House streams 12 26 08 []
26 Dec Bentsen/NABA odes Xmas eve, day, & day after ["Joshua Rose" ]
14 Dec Bentsen odonata 12-14-08 ["Joshua Rose" ]
12 Dec Bentsen odes for 12-7-08 ["Joshua Rose" ]
12 Dec FW: Resaca Grand Opening Dragonflies ["Joshua Rose" ]
10 Dec Resaca Grand Opening Dragonflies ["Katherine Miller" ]
7 Dec Re: Dragonfly ID request [Greg Lasley ]
7 Dec Dragonfly ID request ["Bert Wessling" ]
26 Nov Some Late Season Odes at Buffalo Springs Lake's Llano Estacado Audubon Trail ["dragonflywatcher1029" ]
22 Nov Black Pondhawk Erythemis Attala Estero Llano Grande Weslaco TX 11 22 08 []
22 Nov Re: Black Pondhawk Erythemis attala San Benito Cameron Co TX 112208 [Dennis Paulson ]
22 Nov Black Pondhawk Erythemis attala San Benito Cameron Co TX 112208 []
18 Nov Re: ID help [Dennis Paulson ]
17 Nov ID help ["Terry Hibbitts" ]
15 Nov Bentsen odonata 11-14-08 and thereabouts ["Joshua Rose" ]
13 Nov Possible Blue-eyed Darner finally caught in SE Oklahoma ["David Arbour" ]
12 Nov Houston County (Big Slough Wilderness) over the weekend ["Troy, Marla, & Cheyenne Hibbitts" ]
9 Nov Evening Skimmer x 2 Tholymis citrina San Benito Cameron Co TX 11 09 08 []
7 Nov Re: Can we regroup, TEXODERS? [Martin Reid ]
7 Nov Re: Can we regroup, TEXODERS? ["David T. Dauphin" ]
7 Nov Can we regroup, TEXODERS? [Martin Reid ]
5 Nov M. pseudimitans photo per Martin's request ["Troy, Marla, & Cheyenne Hibbitts" ]
5 Nov Santa Ana NWR, 11/5/2008, incl. CARIBBEAN DARNER ["Nicholas Block" ]
5 Nov Re: Macrothemis pseudimitans at Santa Ana NWR last week [Dennis Paulson ]
5 Nov RE: Blue-eyed Darner Confirmed in SE OK ["T Donnelly" ]
4 Nov Blue-eyed Darner Confirmed in SE OK ["David Arbour" ]
4 Nov Macrothemis pseudimitans at Santa Ana NWR last week [Martin Reid ]
3 Nov Re: Blue-eyed Darner(?) in SE OK [Greg Lasley ]
3 Nov Pale-green Darner Triacanthagyna septima San Benito TX 110308 []
3 Nov Black Pondhawk Eythemis attala San Benito Tex 110308 []
3 Nov Blue-eyed Darner(?) in SE OK ["David Arbour" ]
2 Nov Re: Rio Grande oxbows [Dennis Paulson ]
2 Nov Thanks! [Chris Hill ]
2 Nov RE: Rio Grande oxbows ["Joshua Rose" ]
2 Nov RE: help for visitor ["Joshua Rose" ]
2 Nov help for visitor [Chris Hill ]
31 Oct Rio Grande oxbows [Dennis Paulson ]
29 Oct You have received a new friend request! ["matcheigrfriends" ]
26 Oct Comanche County today [Victor Fazio III ]
24 Oct Odonata in Comanche Co., OK this week [Victor Fazio III ]
24 Oct Swamp or Regal Darner? [Victor Fazio III ]
24 Oct Intergeneric mixed-species pair: Sympetrum & Perithemis [Victor Fazio III ]
22 Oct Odonata seen during the Texas Butterfly Festival ["david_t_dauphin" ]
22 Oct Late Odes for Lubbock County, Texas ["dragonflywatcher1029" ]
20 Oct Odonata sightings from Texas Butterfly Festival ["Joshua Rose" ]
20 Oct RE: visiting South Padre Island - any recommendations for odeing? ["Joshua Rose" ]
19 Oct Tholymis citrina Evening Skimmer x 2 10 19 08 San Benito TX []
19 Oct visiting South Padre Island - any recommendations for odeing? [Chris Hill ]
17 Oct For the Bentson-Rio Grande Valley State Park crowd ["jason" ]

Subject: I want to meet you. Give me a chance!
From: "fofhdfwh" <fofhdfwh AT yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:29:54 -0000

I want to meet you. Give me a chance! Click here to chat with me online: http://snffjtf.topcities.com/chat.htm
Subject: female Turquoise-tipped Darner Rhionaeschna (Aeshna) psilus 010308
From: TNMF AT aol.com
Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 07:01:15 EST

Had a surprise darner in my yard San Benito Cameron Co Texas Saturday to distract me from the Christmas Bird Count. Turquoise-tipped Darner Rhioneaschna (Aeshna) psilus. Appeared fresh, newly emerged. Warm "winter" likely accounts for this. Thanks to Dennis Paulson who helped with id. Terry Fuller TNMF AT aol.com **************New year...new news. Be the first to know what is making headlines. (http://www.aol.com/?ncid=emlcntaolcom00000026) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: SANWR Leptobasis, Anzalduas Golden-wingeds
From: "Joshua Rose" <joshua.rose AT tpwd.state.tx.us>
Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2009 13:40:03 -0600

Howdy folks, I've been watching more birds than odonates lately, what with the Christmas Bird Counts in progress and all. But Tom Pendleton just dropped into my office to show me some photos he had taken at Santa Ana NWR on December 14. One of them is a female Leptobasis melinogaster, Cream-tipped Swamp-damsel! He's going to upload the photos to my computer, whence I can relay them to Odonata Central; am guessing that this is a very, very big extension to the species' documented flight season... His other mystery bug was a spreadwing, I'm thinking Rainpool, but with an unusual thoracic pattern; will have to share a photo or two with some people who know spreadwings better than I. While Tom was here, Rick Nirschl dropped in as well. He had photos of Golden-winged Dancer, Argia rhoadsi, from the irrigation canal just outside Anzalduas County Park, a pair mating. He said that these were among at least 30 individuals of the species present! For a species that we usually cannot find outside of the McAllen Nature Center, this winter's invasion is really amazing. Cheers, Josh Joshua S. Rose, Ph.D. Natural Resource Specialist World Birding Center at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park http://www.worldbirdingcenter.org/sites/mission/index.phtml Joshua.Rose AT tpwd.state.tx.us (956) 584-9156 Extension 236 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Filigree Skimmer Pseudoleon superbus Hidalgo Pump House streams 12 26 08
From: TNMF AT aol.com
Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2008 19:40:03 EST

The rock lined streams at the pump house are typical habitat for this skimmer. It seemed to have taken up a patrol on a stretch of the stream inside the main garden area near the central circle. Filigree Skimmer Pseudoleon superbus Hidalgo Pump House streams 12 26 08 Terry Fuller _TNMF AT aol.com_ (mailto:TNMF AT aol.com) San Benito TX **************One site keeps you connected to all your email: AOL Mail, Gmail, and Yahoo Mail. Try it now. (http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp&icid=aolcom40vanity&ncid=emlcntaolcom00000025) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Bentsen/NABA odes Xmas eve, day, & day after
From: "Joshua Rose" <joshua.rose AT tpwd.state.tx.us>
Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2008 19:10:47 -0600

Howdy folks, I was off duty Christmas Eve, actually flying back to the LRGV from a visit to in-laws. While I was doing that, Rick and May Snider and Loren and Babs Padelford (and maybe some other people) were finding a Turquoise-tipped Darner (Rhionaeshna psilus) at NABA-IBP. Christmas Day I was back at work in Bentsen-RGV State Park. Ran into Jim Bangma, who reported that at least two Caribbean Yellowface (Neoerythromma cultellatum) were still loitering near the park boat ramp. Just after that, Rick Snider and I were cruising up the park road in a golf cart when I noticed a dragon flying just ahead of us. It had dark wing patches which made me think Band-winged Dragonlet, but the more I watched it, the stranger its flight and behavior seemed, flitting up the road as if the road were a river, plus I had not seen the species in weeks, not a typical one for December. I eventually got a good enough look at it to figure out that it was a Filigree Skimmer (Pseudoleon superbus)! Jim Bangma was back again today and mentioned that Golden-winged Dancer (Argia rhoadsi), as well as Kiowa (A. immunda), were still present on the little pond in the butterfly garden. Cheers, Josh Joshua S. Rose, Ph.D. Natural Resource Specialist World Birding Center at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park http://www.worldbirdingcenter.org/sites/mission/index.phtml Joshua.Rose AT tpwd.state.tx.us (956) 584-9156 Extension 236 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Bentsen odonata 12-14-08
From: "Joshua Rose" <joshua.rose AT tpwd.state.tx.us>
Date: Sun, 14 Dec 2008 16:43:54 -0600

Howdy folks, Four people showed up for this week's dragonfly walk at Bentsen-RGV State Park, including park volunteer naturalists Jim Bangma and Rick Nirschl. The main story is the continuing invasion of the park by Golden-winged Dancers. As of a month ago, I had seen this species here exactly once. Within the past month, we have seen it at least three weeks, and the numbers today were the highest yet, at least four solo males plus a tandem pair ovipositing! The formerly scarce Kiowa Dancer remains present in numbers as well. Also exciting was a male Amelia's Threadtail, which appears to be a new late flight date for its species by a couple of weeks. Good thing I digiscoped a couple of photos! Did have a few noteworthy misses. Tried for Carmine Skimmer in the water features along Kiskadee Trail, including Eagle Pond, but failed to find one. And not a single Dasher nor Pondhawk of any species! I guess it really is winter... 10 damsel species, 7 dragons, 17 species total. The list: Amelia's Threadtail (Neoneura amelia) - 1 male on the canal Kiowa Dancer (Argia immunda) - 1 pair ovipositing + several males on the pond Golden-winged Dancer (A. rhoadsi) - 1 male on the pond, 2+ on the canal, an ovipositing pair plus additional male or two at the boat ramp! Blue-ringed Dancer (A. sedula) - a few males on the canal, 1 at the pond Dusky Dancer (A. translata) - 1-2 males on the canal Familiar Bluet (E. civile) - numerous males and pairs in all locations Neotropical Bluet (E. novahispaniae) - 4+ males, canal Rambur's Forktail (Ischnura ramburii) - fairly common in all locations Caribbean Yellowface (Neoerythromma cultellatum) - 1-2 males off boat ramp Desert Firetail (Telebasis salva) - several pairs and males in the pond Common Green Darner (Anax junius) - pair ovipositing & males patrolling pond Black Setwing (Dythemis nigrescens) - 1+ males, on the canal Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens) - 1 foraging along Bentsen Palm Drive Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea) - 1 male on pond Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum) - a few males in all locations Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata) - one above the boat ramp Red Saddlebags (T. onusta) - one near the boat ramp Cheers, Josh Joshua S. Rose, Ph.D. Natural Resource Specialist World Birding Center at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park http://www.worldbirdingcenter.org/sites/mission/index.phtml Joshua.Rose AT tpwd.state.tx.us (956) 584-9156 Extension 236 ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links
Subject: Bentsen odes for 12-7-08
From: "Joshua Rose" <joshua.rose AT tpwd.state.tx.us>
Date: Fri, 12 Dec 2008 22:19:46 -0600

Howdy folks, Apologies for that last post; I am a bit behind on my e-mail, and did not notice until too late that Katherine had already subscribed to TexOdes and posted John's sightings here before I got to it... At Bentsen-RGV State Park, with the change of seasons from autumn to winter, we have rescheduled our dragonfly walk to Sunday afternoon. Butterfly walk has moved to Monday. Both begin at 1:30 PM. Y'all come! This past Sunday, December 7, had a larger than average turnout, a dozen people at the start. A few were really more interested in leps than odes, including a pair of visitors from Sweden, so we did spend a fair amount of time on butterflies. But the odonates did not disappoint. The canal did, as the water level had abruptly dropped, presumably in connection to the levee improvement construction project, but some of the species normally found there popped up in unusual places. Most surprising was Golden-winged Dancer (Argia rhoadsi), with only two previous park records; we found not one but two males, one in the pond in the butterfly garden, the other at the boat ramp on the resaca! The garden pond also had quite a squad of the normally uncommon Kiowa Dancer (Argia immunda), several males and at least one pair ovipositing. A Rainpool Spreadwing (Lestes forficula) lurked in the grass nearby. Tom Pendleton reported seeing a Caribbean Yellowface (Neoerythromma cultellatum) in the pond as well, just before the walk started; first time the species has been spotted in that location. Cheers, Josh Joshua S. Rose, Ph.D. Natural Resource Specialist World Birding Center at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park http://www.worldbirdingcenter.org/sites/mission/index.phtml Joshua.Rose AT tpwd.state.tx.us (956) 584-9156 Extension 236 ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TexOdes/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TexOdes/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:TexOdes-digest AT yahoogroups.com mailto:TexOdes-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: TexOdes-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Subject: FW: Resaca Grand Opening Dragonflies
From: "Joshua Rose" <joshua.rose AT tpwd.state.tx.us>
Date: Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:25:25 -0600

Hey all - see below for a belated post, relayed on behalf of John Yochum. Cheers, Josh Joshua S. Rose, Ph.D. Natural Resource Specialist World Birding Center at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park http://www.worldbirdingcenter.org/sites/mission/index.phtml Joshua.Rose AT tpwd.state.tx.us (956) 584-9156 Extension 236 _____ From: John Yochum Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2008 9:03 PM To: Katherine Miller; Joshua Rose; jbangma AT ptd.net Subject: Resaca Grand Opening Dragonflies Jim, Katherine, Josh: If any of you want to post the Resaca dragonflies, that's fine, but I'm not subscribed to Texas Odes-- I so far only read the posts on birdingonthe.net. I'm not even sure I know how to subscribe, although I plan to do so in the near future. The day was so cool that I was surprised any dragonflies were flying at all, and as a matter of fact we found four species floating by on the water, perhaps too cold to get out of the water once they fell in it. I have a few pix of them on http://bijou36.tripod.com/resaca . \My list so far is: Plateau Spreadwing Familiar Bluet Rambur's Forktail Common Green Darner Pin-tailed Pondhawk Thornbush Dasher Roseate Skimmer Blue Dasher Variegated Meadowhawk Evening Skimmer Black Saddlebags Red Saddlebags but I think Jim can vouch for Carolina Saddlebags, and maybe he or Tom can add other species. Both Jim and Terry Fuller feel the photos on the above-mentioned website are enough to vouch for Evening Skimmer. You can see the odd angle: the dragonfly landed at the bottom of the OPPOSITE side of the deck railing for probably only a minute or so. It was great fun: thanks for inviting me, Katherine, and thanks for all the great company on the deck, Jim, and thanks for all those great dragonfly walks, Josh . I haven't found Tom's email yet, since the Big Move. He may have more to contribute as well. Sincerely, John [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Resaca Grand Opening Dragonflies
From: "Katherine Miller" <Katherine.Miller AT tpwd.state.tx.us>
Date: Wed, 10 Dec 2008 09:35:25 -0600

Resaca de la Palma State Park is now open! Being a birder who now chases butterflies too (or, birder gone bad) I have lots of work to do on learning my odes, and lean on those more experienced folks. What follows is a list made by the folks who doing dragonfly and damselfly lessons on one of our observation decks. Many thanks to all the folks who made our Grand Opening a success. Katherine Miller Natural Resource Specialist Resaca de la Palma State Park and World Birding Center 1000 New Carmen Blvd. Brownsville, TX 78521 (956) 350-2920 _____ From: John Yochum Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2008 9:03 PM To: Katherine Miller; Joshua Rose; jbangma AT ptd.net Subject: Resaca Grand Opening Dragonflies Jim, Katherine, Josh: If any of you want to post the Resaca dragonflies, that's fine, but I'm not subscribed to Texas Odes-- I so far only read the posts on birdingonthe.net. I'm not even sure I know how to subscribe, although I plan to do so in the near future. The day was so cool that I was surprised any dragonflies were flying at all, and as a matter of fact we found four species floating by on the water, perhaps too cold to get out of the water once they fell in it. I have a few pix of them on http://bijou36.tripod.com/resaca . My list so far is: Plateau Spreadwing Familiar Bluet Rambur's Forktail Common Green Darner Pin-tailed Pondhawk Thornbush Dasher Roseate Skimmer Blue Dasher Variegated Meadowhawk Evening Skimmer Black Saddlebags Red Saddlebags but I think Jim can vouch for Carolina Saddlebags, and maybe he or Tom can add other species. Both Jim and Terry Fuller feel the photos on the above-mentioned website are enough to vouch for Evening Skimmer. You can see the odd angle: the dragonfly landed at the bottom of the OPPOSITE side of the deck railing for probably only a minute or so. It was great fun: thanks for inviting me, Katherine, and thanks for all the great company on the deck, Jim, and thanks for all those great dragonfly walks, Josh . I haven't found Tom's email yet, since the Big Move. He may have more to contribute as well. Sincerely, John [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: Dragonfly ID request
From: Greg Lasley <glasley AT earthlink.net>
Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2008 21:15:43 -0600

That's it, Bert. male Twelve-spotted Skimmer. Greg Lasley, Austin On Dec 7, 2008, at 8:09 PM, Dec 7, Bert Wessling wrote: > I photographed this in San Juan, Hidalgo County, November 7th, 2008. > I think > it is a Twelve-Spotted Skimmer but would like to know for sure. > > http://picasaweb.google.com/BWessling/DragonfliesAndDamselflies#5266128279600644418 > > TIA > Bert Wessling > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Dragonfly ID request
From: "Bert Wessling" <bwessling AT gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2008 20:09:42 -0600

I photographed this in San Juan, Hidalgo County, November 7th, 2008. I think it is a Twelve-Spotted Skimmer but would like to know for sure. http://picasaweb.google.com/BWessling/DragonfliesAndDamselflies#5266128279600644418 TIA Bert Wessling [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Some Late Season Odes at Buffalo Springs Lake's Llano Estacado Audubon Trail
From: "dragonflywatcher1029" <dragonflywatcher1029 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:59:47 -0000

Hey All! Happy Thanksgiving! Yesterday I was our at the Audubon Trail and saw lots of Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum)species, one male Blue-eyed Darner (Rhionaeschna multicolor), and one female and male and female in tandem Springwater Dancer (Argia plana). I was able to photograph all but the Blue-eyed Darner. Jerry K. Hatfield
Subject: Black Pondhawk Erythemis Attala Estero Llano Grande Weslaco TX 11 22 08
From: TNMF AT aol.com
Date: Sat, 22 Nov 2008 20:05:11 EST

After beginning the day with Black Pondhawk in my yard, I can hardly believe this pondhawk could be a rarity when I found my second of the day at Estero Llano Grande. As you go through the entrance to the park from the parking lot you can go left on to the sidewalk to the visitor center. Go right to a small circular trail. At the fork where the trail completes it's circuit go right to a small bench, then forward to marker 22 on the left. Seven steps forward from here is a small opening in the dense brush on the right side. The dragonfly was hunting the trail, and hanging just inside the woods. I was there at 3:30pm and was still there but on a different branch when I returned 30 minutes later. This is a nice dense patch of native woods and just seemed to say darners and pondhawks. Terry Fuller _TNMF AT aol.com_ (mailto:TNMF AT aol.com) San Benito, TX **************One site has it all. Your email accounts, your social networks, and the things you love. Try the new AOL.com today!(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1212962939x1200825291/aol?redir=http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp %26icid=aolcom40vanity%26ncid=emlcntaolcom00000001) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: Black Pondhawk Erythemis attala San Benito Cameron Co TX 112208
From: Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson AT comcast.net>
Date: Sat, 22 Nov 2008 10:14:29 -0800

Terry, From the number of pondhawks you've seen in your yard, you must have some good swampy area(s) near your house, perhaps one of those resacas that is overhung by trees or a wooded pond somewhere. Both Black and Claret Pondhawks breed in wooded wetlands (swamps), usually with a good cover of floating vegetation such as duckweed or water lettuce. Those dusk-flying darners also like swamps. Male pondhawks ought to be obvious at the water on a sunny day, although I suppose the season is drawing to a close now. Dennis On Nov 22, 2008, at 10:00 AM, TNMF AT aol.com wrote: > Despite cool temperatures a nice female Black Pondhawk took > advantage of the > early sun to warm itself for the day. This is my fourth yard record. > > Oct 07 07, Aug 22 07, Nov 3 08, Nov 22 08 > > > Terry Fuller > _TNMF AT aol.com_ (mailto:TNMF AT aol.com) > San Benito TX > ********** > > . > > ----- Dennis Paulson 1724 NE 98 St. Seattle, WA 98115 206-528-1382 dennispaulson AT comcast.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Black Pondhawk Erythemis attala San Benito Cameron Co TX 112208
From: TNMF AT aol.com
Date: Sat, 22 Nov 2008 13:00:53 EST

Despite cool temperatures a nice female Black Pondhawk took advantage of the early sun to warm itself for the day. This is my fourth yard record. Oct 07 07, Aug 22 07, Nov 3 08, Nov 22 08 Terry Fuller _TNMF AT aol.com_ (mailto:TNMF AT aol.com) San Benito TX **************One site has it all. Your email accounts, your social networks, and the things you love. Try the new AOL.com today!(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1212962939x1200825291/aol?redir=http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp %26icid=aolcom40vanity%26ncid=emlcntaolcom00000001) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: ID help
From: Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson AT comcast.net>
Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:51:36 -0800

Terry, I don't see what those could be other than Lestes australis, Southern Spreadwings. Dennis On Nov 17, 2008, at 9:21 PM, Terry Hibbitts wrote: > I recently photographed two Lestes species. The first one was found in > Duval County, Texas on September 18, 2008 and the second one was > found in > Houston County on November 9, 2008. > > Are they Lestes australis or something else? > > http://www.thehibbitts.net/terry/111908/L.a.TX.Duval.08.9562cc.jpg > > http://www.thehibbitts.net/terry/111908/L.a.TX.Houston.DCNF. > 08.0406cc.jpg > > Terry Hibbitts > > Camp Wood, TX > > www.thehibbitts.net > > . > > ----- Dennis Paulson 1724 NE 98 St. Seattle, WA 98115 206-528-1382 dennispaulson AT comcast.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: ID help
From: "Terry Hibbitts" <thibb AT swtexas.net>
Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2008 23:21:29 -0600

I recently photographed two Lestes species. The first one was found in Duval County, Texas on September 18, 2008 and the second one was found in Houston County on November 9, 2008. Are they Lestes australis or something else? http://www.thehibbitts.net/terry/111908/L.a.TX.Duval.08.9562cc.jpg http://www.thehibbitts.net/terry/111908/L.a.TX.Houston.DCNF.08.0406cc.jpg Terry Hibbitts Camp Wood, TX www.thehibbitts.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Bentsen odonata 11-14-08 and thereabouts
From: "Joshua Rose" <joshua.rose AT tpwd.state.tx.us>
Date: Sat, 15 Nov 2008 14:35:13 -0600

Howdy folks, This week's dragonfly walk at Bentsen-RGV State Park did not turn up any first US records, but was impressive for both diversity and numbers. Diversity, because we tallied 30 species in a two-hour walk yesterday (Friday 11-14-08); Rick Snider noted one more afterwards. In previous November walks I had never seen more than 20 species. And numbers, because certain normally rare species were amazingly abundant. I can usually find Desert Firetail here, but not more than a few of them; yesterday the pond was swarming with what seemed like hundreds! Kiowa Dancer, if we see it here at all, is very scarce; but the inlet where the water pours into the pond had at least four ovipositing pairs plus several more individuals! And Amelia's Threadtail is consistently present here, but usually no more than a few individuals. Yesterday a mat of floating dead vegetation in the canal harbored no less than 12 ovipositing pairs, plus a few solitary males for at least 28 individuals! We did have a few noteworthy rarities present yesterday. Perched above the floating mat and the swarm of threadtails was a lone male Golden-winged Dancer, only the second I have seen in the park. There may have been others, maybe even an ovipositing pair, but there were so many things ovipositing on that raft of plant matter that it was difficult to pull individuals out for scrutiny. A Narrow-striped Forceptail lurked in the tall reeds by the boat ramp, just two days shy of tying the late flight record. And a couple of Carmine Skimmers still at Eagle Pond actually do extend the species' known flight season, by a whole day. We also saw several individuals of Tawny Pennant on the resaca near the boat ramp, but not a single Four-spotted... Last weekend I was very busy with the RGV Birding Festival and did not get a chance to post. It was cool and breezy that Friday, so I did not expect to see much, but we did manage a fair number of species. We saw at least 10 Amelia's Threadtails, which was the most I had ever seen, until yesterday... The only species we saw on 11-7 that we missed on 11-14 were a lone male spreadwing, probably Rainpool; and a lone male Orange Bluet, both on the resaca by the boat ramp. This morning a Bar-sided Darner was flying around the park store, bouncing off the windows, trying to get to the nice dark space inside. It eventually gave up and roosted in the Turk's-cap nearby, where a few folks have photographed it since. 30 species from this week's walk, 13 damsels and 17 dragons, plus four other species from outside of yesterday's 2 hours. The list: American Rubyspot (Haeterina Americana) - 2-3 males on the irrigation canal Amelia's Threadtail (N. amelia) - 12 pairs ovipositing, 4+ others, on canal Rainpool (?) Spreadwing (Lestes forficula) - last week, male, by boat ramp Blue-fronted Dancer (Argia apicalis) - 1-2 males on the canal Kiowa Dancer (A. immunda) - 4 pairs ovipositing, 4+ other males, pond inlet Golden-winged Dancer (A. rhoadsi) - 1+ male on the canal Blue-ringed Dancer (A. sedula) - a few males and pairs on the canal Dusky Dancer (A. translata) - a few pairs plus 4+ males on canal Familiar Bluet (E. civile) - numerous males and pairs on both pond and resaca Neotropical Bluet (E. novahispaniae) - 5+ males, canal Orange Bluet (E. signatum) - last week, 1 male, boat ramp Citrine Forktail (E. hastata) - 1 male lurking in grass on the pond's edge Rambur's Forktail (Ischnura ramburii) - a few males in each location Caribbean Yellowface (Neoerythromma cultellatum) - 1 pair on the canal, 2 males off boat ramp Desert Firetail (Telebasis salva) - hugely abundant in pond, many pairs Common Green Darner (Anax junius) - pair ovipositing in pond, males there and at boat ramp Bar-sided Darner (Gynacantha Mexicana) - today outside of park store Narrow-striped Forceptail (Aphylla protracta) - male near boat ramp Red-tailed Pennant (Brachymesia furcata) - a few males at boat ramp Tawny Pennant (B. herbida) - 3+ males near boat ramp Black Setwing (Dythemis nigrescens) - only 1 male, on the canal Pin-tailed Pondhawk (Erythemis plebeja) - 1 male near boat ramp Eastern Pondhawk (E. simplicicollis) - 1 male at boat ramp Great Pondhawk (E. vesiculosa) - Rick Snider found one post-walk Band-winged Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax umbrata) - 1 pair on the pond Spot-tailed Dasher (Micrathyria aequalis) - a few males at all 3 locations Thornbush Dasher (M. hagenii) - a few scattered away from water Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea) - 1 male on pond, 1 at boat ramp Carmine Skimmer (O. discolor) - 1-2 males at Eagle Pond (Kiskadee Trail) Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) - 1 male at the boat ramp Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera) - 1 female in grass near canal, males off boat ramp Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum) - 2+ pairs ovipositing in the pond, 2 males along the canal edge Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata) - a few at pond and boat ramp Red Saddlebags (T. onusta) - a few at pond and boat ramp Cheers, Josh Joshua S. Rose, Ph.D. Natural Resource Specialist World Birding Center at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park http://www.worldbirdingcenter.org/sites/mission/index.phtml Joshua.Rose AT tpwd.state.tx.us (956) 584-9156 Extension 236
Subject: Possible Blue-eyed Darner finally caught in SE Oklahoma
From: "David Arbour" <arbour AT windstream.net>
Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:12:48 -0600

Berlin Heck came down to Red Slough WMA today and not only refound one of the possible Blue-eyed Darners found last week but he was able to catch it. They had disappeared after the cold front last week and I have been looking for them ever since. Now we will know for certain whether it be Blue-eyed or Spatterdock. Not much other Ode activity this week up here except for a few Common Green Darners and a glimpse of a female saddlebags today. David Arbour De Queen, AR Visit the Red Slough Website: http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/ouachita/natural-resources/redslough/index.shtml Personal Photo Galleries: http://www.pbase.com/sloughbirder [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Houston County (Big Slough Wilderness) over the weekend
From: "Troy, Marla, & Cheyenne Hibbitts" <alterna2627 AT swtexas.net>
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:10:36 -0600

Saturday and Sunday (11/8 and 11/9) Dad & I spent some mid-day Ode-photographing at Big Slough Wilderness in Houston County (Davy Crockett National Forest). Had good numbers of a few common species: Common Pondhawk - lots of females, only a few males Blue Dashers (lots) Roseate Skimmers (dozens) Common Whitetail (a few) Common Green Darners (a few) Blue-faced Meadowhawks (only one male seen, and without camera, lots of females)*** Little Blue Dragonlet 1 female *** Familiar Bluets (females) Common Spreadwing 1 *** Citrine Forktail (several) *** Fragile Forktail (several) *** *** = county records Troy [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Evening Skimmer x 2 Tholymis citrina San Benito Cameron Co TX 11 09 08
From: TNMF AT aol.com
Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2008 21:11:32 EST

My yard in Cameron Co San Benito Texas in the Rio Grande Valley again had Evening Skimmers with two separate individuals. This represents the ninth sighting for the yard and the eleventh individual. Evening Skimmer x 2 Tholymis citrina Terry Fuller _TNMF AT aol.com_ (mailto:TNMF AT aol.com) San Benito TX **************AOL Search: Your one stop for directions, recipes and all other Holiday needs. Search Now. (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1212792382x1200798498/aol?redir=http://searchblog.aol.com/2008/11/04/happy-holidays-from -aol-search/?ncid=emlcntussear00000001) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: Can we regroup, TEXODERS?
From: Martin Reid <upupa AT airmail.net>
Date: Fri, 7 Nov 2008 17:43:27 -0600

Dear TEXODERs, I have corresponded privately with David Dauphin to provide some detail on the situation as I understand it. I don't feel at liberty to be more specific in this public domain, but the information that I have gotten indicates that specific complaints of the type I alluded- to have been made, and that this has affected the scope of collecting under permit in certain situations. I would very much prefer that those directly involved would choose to provide more details, if that is appropriate. Thus this problem DOES exist, sadly. Regards, Martin --- Martin Reid www.martinreid.com >> >> On Nov 7, 2008, at Nov 7, 11:09 AM, David T. Dauphin wrote: >> >>> Don't know who in the Valley was complaining about collecting. >>> Most enthusiasts that I know down here are very supportive of >>> collecting....so long as the specimens finally end up with John >>> A., of course. The problem is there are few places to collect >>> anything, not just odes, that do not require a Fed or State >>> permit. Other than roadsides, where else can you collect if not >>> on public or private property. Or, why do I carry around three >>> nets in the back of my truck! >>> >>> Martin, I think you are looking for problems that do not exist. >>> >>> David Dauphin >>> Mission, TX >>> For Valley wildlife info. go to: >>> http://www.thedauphins.net >>> >>> >>> >>> >> > > >
Subject: Re: Can we regroup, TEXODERS?
From: "David T. Dauphin" <dauphins AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Fri, 7 Nov 2008 11:09:58 -0600

Don't know who in the Valley was complaining about collecting. Most enthusiasts that I know down here are very supportive of collecting....so long as the specimens finally end up with John A., of course. The problem is there are few places to collect anything, not just odes, that do not require a Fed or State permit. Other than roadsides, where else can you collect if not on public or private property. Or, why do I carry around three nets in the back of my truck! Martin, I think you are looking for problems that do not exist. David Dauphin Mission, TX For Valley wildlife info. go to: http://www.thedauphins.net ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TexOdes/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TexOdes/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:TexOdes-digest AT yahoogroups.com mailto:TexOdes-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: TexOdes-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Subject: Can we regroup, TEXODERS?
From: Martin Reid <upupa AT airmail.net>
Date: Fri, 7 Nov 2008 09:14:43 -0600

Dear Fellow Oders, It is with considerable trepidation that I make my following comments � but I feel that this matter needs to be brought into the open and discussed in a sensible manner. It has come to my attention from discussions with various people in the Rio Grande Valley and elsewhere that there have been complaints made about the collecting of some odonata. I gather that the thrust of these complaints is that the objector(s) were unhappy that a particular �rare� individual odonate was collected and that this prevented them from going to see and enjoy that bug themselves. As a birder and butterflier as well as oder, I understand where this sentiment comes from � I know of situations where a rare butterfly or bird has disappeared even as some people were hoping to get there and see it � and that the creature�s disappearance was likely or definitely linked to the activities of others. Such disappearances are sometimes due to collecting the creature, but are more often caused by pressuring the creature to relocate (observers getting too close; photographers getting too close). There are a number of facets to this issue that apply in a generic sense, whatever the type of animal is involved � but I want to say that there is one aspect in which odes are different to birds and � to some extent to butterflies also: I have been lucky enough to be able to visit the LRGV fairly often, and in those visits I�ve been even luckier to have found a number of odes that fall into the category of �others would like to see this species here�. Note that I said �species�, not individual, because, based on my experience, it is almost impossible to �chase� a specific individual ode! I have �chased� rare odes in the Valley, but I cannot think of any example where I it was clear � or even likely � that I saw the SAME individual reported previously. That�s just not the way odes are. Many species are not territorial and those that are are only so ephemerally � males defending a small patch of microhabitat until they are displaced, predated, die naturally, or the microhabitat changes. Think about the rare butterflies you�ve been able to �chase�; how many have NOT been seen at a nectar/host plant concentration? I recently was able to �chase� a Gilbert�s Flasher, then a week later a Yellow-tipped Flasher at the NABA garden; both had developed a feeding pattern at a particular patch of flowers there, and thus were chaseable. Odes simply are not �attractable� except by providing habitat; in almost all cases where I�ve found an unusual ode, that individual has never been seen again (BTW you can count the number of rarities I�ve found that were collected on very few fingers). You have to be within minutes of the location or you�ll never see that particular individual. There have been rare exceptions: the Black Pondhawks at NABA were predictable for as long as the habitat there was in-place and the population survived � but even there, based on my analysis of the observations, a minimum of four individuals were present � probably many more. As Dennis indicated, many of the recent discoveries in the Valley are not of vagrants, but are of unknown (maybe recently arrived and/or temporary) populations evidenced by the subsequent discovery of OTHER individuals by those who �chased� the initial discovery. A case in point: The recent discovery of Blue-spotted Comet Darner at Bentsen:- Josh found one near the hawk tower; a few days later one was seen and collected on a part of the site well away from the original sighting � the odds that the same bug were involved are vanishing, I think. Anyway, I read about these discoveries on TEXODES and decided to �chase�� Keep in mind that I knew that the 2nd bug had been collected to obtain the first U.S. specimen (a male), yet I still went down to look for �it� � because I knew that even if that bug had not been collected there was no chance of finding that individual � but that the information shared on TEXODES had allowed me to make an assessment that there were �some� Blue-spotted Comet Darners at Bentsen and I�d have to try to find my own. Luckily, after much perseverance, I did find my own � a female � and was able to share it with all the fellow oders on the trail with me prior to collecting it under permit. Unless you had been within minutes of that location you would not have seen that bug if it had not been collected. And please note that the ID of this taxon is not clear-cut, as young female Comet Darners look almost identical, and Comet Darner has been photographed in the Valley. Without getting biometrics and analyzing small details of the anatomy it would not have been possible to be certain that these were in fact A. concolor rather than A. longipes. This brings me to cause and effect. I guess I probably precipitated this situation by naively posting to TEXODES about unusual odes I�d seen. I did this to give fellow oders knowledge that certain things were flying and that it might be worthwhile to go and try to find them. In posting these �heads up� messages I had mentioned which ones had been collected because many subscribers to TEXODES understand the importance of specimens and are actually glad to know that such a significant find for Texas and/or the U.S. has been documented by specimen. I have to say that I am saddened to realize that in my openness I may have provided fuel for a handful of people to make poorly thought-out complaints. These complaints could lead to more restrictions being placed on the tiny number of persons allowed to collect under permit. I don�t know any details, but this might have already happened to one such person. I�ll have to think twice about posting to TEXODES about my discoveries if such posts - meant to be helpful to the oding community � instead lead to negative impacts. It is ironic that a consequence of this situation might be that those complainers actually end up missing MORE cool odes because some of the key finders of such odes feel that a few TEXODERS cannot be trusted to use the information in a positive manner. I�ll borrow from Ronald Reagan and resist the temptation to label it hypocrisy to absorb all the knowledge and skills to identify odes from the hard work of collectors (= 90% of the detail in those field guides) � only to betray them out of frustration; no, I won�t do that� I hope that those who complained will reconsider their position � I�d be happy to have a private dialog with any of them! Cheers, and Good Oding, Martin --- Martin Reid www.martinreid.com ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TexOdes/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TexOdes/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:TexOdes-digest AT yahoogroups.com mailto:TexOdes-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: TexOdes-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Subject: M. pseudimitans photo per Martin's request
From: "Troy, Marla, & Cheyenne Hibbitts" <alterna2627 AT swtexas.net>
Date: Wed, 5 Nov 2008 18:51:48 -0600

Martin asked for photos of Macrothemis pseudimitans for comparison purposes. This photo was taken in Queretaro in the Jalpan valley near Ayutla this past summer. http://www.thehibbitts.net/troy/photo/odonata/white-tailed_sylph.htm Troy [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Santa Ana NWR, 11/5/2008, incl. CARIBBEAN DARNER
From: "Nicholas Block" <nlb.birder AT gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 5 Nov 2008 16:11:56 -0600

Hello all, While leading a trip for the birding festival, Bob Behrstock and I observed a few goodies at Santa Ana today. I don't have time to write up a full report, but here are the highlights: Blue-striped Spreadwing (Lestes tenuatus) - 1 female seen in woods along Chachalaca Trail and 1 male seen at same location as below Caribbean Darner (Triacanthagyna caribbea) - 1 male seen extremely well perched next to the trail between the Willow Lakes by the old manager's residence (I can't remember which Willow Lake # this is) Three-striped Dasher (Micrathyria didyma) - 1 male seen along edge of water at the same Willow Lake as above (this is the same area as many Leptobasis sightings in the past, if that helps clarify for some) Nick Block currently in Harlingen, TX
Subject: Re: Macrothemis pseudimitans at Santa Ana NWR last week
From: Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson AT comcast.net>
Date: Wed, 5 Nov 2008 09:11:45 -0800

Hi, Martin. I can't say anything about the Macrothemis pseudimitans except that you have certainly presented a persuasive case based on two blurry photos! Vis-a-vis the Micrathyria, I think it's at least worth considering hybridization whenever someone finds a really weird individual outside the known range of variation of any species. I think we can be fairly sure there is no Micrathyria in northern Mexico that has gone undetected until now, and I would say your "unknown" is either an odd variant of hagenii or, probably a lot less likely, a hybrid. It does not appear to be dissocians or ocellata, the other two possibilities that occur in northern Mexico. I know you would have loved dearly to catch both of those critters, and I'm sorry you were unable to. With a specimen, the sylph ID would be a slam dunk, and at least we could examine all the details of the dasher to see what we could make of it. Your photos of the dasher are great and would certainly suffice to distinguish any of the known Texas species, but with all the potential for tropical species coming across the border, it's looking more and more as if photos may not always be adequate. No photo shows all the characters, never a limitation when you have a specimen. The hamules of male Micrathyria are mostly distinctive at the species level, as are the fine details of the appendages. Hybrids, especially males, are usually fairly easily recognizable by the intermediacy of a number of characters. The fact that you were unable to find either individual again is good evidence for catching such interesting dragonflies the minute you see them. I know I don't have to tell you that, but I hope everyone reading TexOdes understands that continued collecting in the LRGV is imperative if we want to keep track of what's down there. I should also like to point out that the collection of a specimen has almost no bearing on the likelihood of finding that species again at the same place. Almost every "vagrant" species in south Texas has been found again and again after the original discovery. Dennis On Nov 4, 2008, at 6:29 PM, Martin Reid wrote: > Dear all, > I've decided to broadcast this event in order that anyone oding in the > Valley will keep their eyes open for this bug: > Last Thursday I spotted a spatulate-tailed Macrothemis Sylph feeding > at Santa Ana at treetop height just north of the irrigation channel > along the main road. I managed to get two useable pics before it > moved off, not to be seen again. > I feel that there is enough detail in my pics to call it M. > pseudimitans, a taxon known from Tamaulipas southwards but not from > the United States. Here's the pics, with some analysis of the details: > http://www.martinreid.com/Odonata%20website/odonate188.html > - You can form your own opinion, however samples in the Public Domain > of pseudimitans and hemichlora are thin on the ground - I ask anyone > with images of these taxa to share them (live or specimens) - thanks! > Note that just a few yards from this spot, a few days earlier, I > photographed a most unusual Micrathyria Dasher: > http://www.martinreid.com/Odonata%20website/odonate188.html > - it too may be something not known from Texas, but without more data > we'll probably never know... > Finally I managed to photograph at dawn Friday a male Regal Darner > near Santa Ana (bottom images): > http://www.martinreid.com/Odonata%20website/odonate11.html > Also I have photos from Frank Davis of two T. caribbeas from Santa Ana > last week, and an Evening Skimmer from Goose island State Park last > weekend. > I have also heard that Blue-striped Spreadwing and T. Septima are > still on the wing at Santa Ana. > > The bottom line is that there are still many rare and unusual species > of odes flying in the Valley - keep looking! > > Cheers, > Martin > > --- > Martin Reid > www.martinreid.com > > > __._ > . > ----- Dennis Paulson 1724 NE 98 St. Seattle, WA 98115 206-528-1382 dennispaulson AT comcast.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: RE: Blue-eyed Darner Confirmed in SE OK
From: "T Donnelly" <tdonelly AT binghamton.edu>
Date: Wed, 5 Nov 2008 09:32:25 -0500

The ranges of the blue-eyed darner (multicolor) and spatterdock darner (mutata) very nearly meet in western Missouri. The late season indicates that the OK occurrence is probably multicolor. But beware that mutata and multicolor in the hand are not easy to distinguish. At the margins of their ranges it is important to find out which one you have. The profile view of the male appendages are distinctive, but surprisingly close to each other. _____ From: TexOdes AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:TexOdes AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of David Arbour Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2008 10:42 PM To: TexOdes AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [TexOdes] Blue-eyed Darner Confirmed in SE OK Berlin Heck and I returned to Lotus Lake at Red Slough WMA and attempted to find and catch the probable Blue-eyed Darner seen yesterday. To our amazement we found 3 or 4 males working beats along the levee shoreline. They would occasionally interact and chase each other. Berlin was able to get some good photos that showed the forked cerci. Attempts to catch the beasts were futile. Berlin will be submitting the photos to OC soon. Other Odes we found today were: Fragile Forktail Rambur's Forktail Lilypad Forktail - (Berlin photographed one at unit 21) Familiar Bluet Orange Bluet Common Green Darner Blue Dasher Eastern Amberwing Variegated Meadowhawk Blue-faced Meadowhawk Wandering Glider Saddlebags species - (red & smallish) Black Saddlebags We have already had a light freeze with a heavy frost up here, but the Ode variety is good though numbers are low. David Arbour De Queen, AR Visit the Red Slough Website: http://www.fs. fed.us/r8/ouachita/natural-resources/redslough/index.shtml Personal Photo Galleries: http://www.pbase. com/sloughbirder ----- Original Message ----- From: David Arbour To: TexOdes AT yahoogroups .com Sent: Monday, November 03, 2008 7:44 PM Subject: Blue-eyed Darner(?) in SE OK While working at Red Slough WMA today in extreme SE Oklahoma, I watched through binoculars at close range, a mosaic type darner as it cruised back and forth along the shoreline of Lotus Lake (100+ acre lake in open floodplain of the Red River). It had the blue mosaic pattern on the abdomen, a brown thorax with blue thoracic stripes, all blue eyes, and was about the same size as a Common Green Darner. It cruised about 4 feet above the water in bright sunshine. I spotted him around 11:30 a.m. When I returned at 4:30 p.m. I saw him again. Tried to catch him but he was a little too far from shore. The only thing I can figure it could be is a Blue-eyed Darner. The most likely mosaic in our area would be the Shadow Darner but it would not have been flying around in bright sunshine. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? This is pretty late for a Blue-eyed Darner according to Abbott's book. I will try again tomorrow to catch him. David Arbour De Queen, AR Visit the Red Slough Website: http://www.fs. fed.us/r8/ouachita/natural-resources/redslough/index.shtml Personal Photo Galleries: http://www.pbase. com/sloughbirder [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Blue-eyed Darner Confirmed in SE OK
From: "David Arbour" <arbour AT windstream.net>
Date: Tue, 4 Nov 2008 21:42:11 -0600

Berlin Heck and I returned to Lotus Lake at Red Slough WMA and attempted to find and catch the probable Blue-eyed Darner seen yesterday. To our amazement we found 3 or 4 males working beats along the levee shoreline. They would occasionally interact and chase each other. Berlin was able to get some good photos that showed the forked cerci. Attempts to catch the beasts were futile. Berlin will be submitting the photos to OC soon. Other Odes we found today were: Fragile Forktail Rambur's Forktail Lilypad Forktail - (Berlin photographed one at unit 21) Familiar Bluet Orange Bluet Common Green Darner Blue Dasher Eastern Amberwing Variegated Meadowhawk Blue-faced Meadowhawk Wandering Glider Saddlebags species - (red & smallish) Black Saddlebags We have already had a light freeze with a heavy frost up here, but the Ode variety is good though numbers are low. David Arbour De Queen, AR Visit the Red Slough Website: http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/ouachita/natural-resources/redslough/index.shtml Personal Photo Galleries: http://www.pbase.com/sloughbirder ----- Original Message ----- From: David Arbour To: TexOdes AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, November 03, 2008 7:44 PM Subject: Blue-eyed Darner(?) in SE OK While working at Red Slough WMA today in extreme SE Oklahoma, I watched through binoculars at close range, a mosaic type darner as it cruised back and forth along the shoreline of Lotus Lake (100+ acre lake in open floodplain of the Red River). It had the blue mosaic pattern on the abdomen, a brown thorax with blue thoracic stripes, all blue eyes, and was about the same size as a Common Green Darner. It cruised about 4 feet above the water in bright sunshine. I spotted him around 11:30 a.m. When I returned at 4:30 p.m. I saw him again. Tried to catch him but he was a little too far from shore. The only thing I can figure it could be is a Blue-eyed Darner. The most likely mosaic in our area would be the Shadow Darner but it would not have been flying around in bright sunshine. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? This is pretty late for a Blue-eyed Darner according to Abbott's book. I will try again tomorrow to catch him. David Arbour De Queen, AR Visit the Red Slough Website: http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/ouachita/natural-resources/redslough/index.shtml Personal Photo Galleries: http://www.pbase.com/sloughbirder [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Macrothemis pseudimitans at Santa Ana NWR last week
From: Martin Reid <upupa AT airmail.net>
Date: Tue, 4 Nov 2008 20:29:06 -0600

Dear all, I've decided to broadcast this event in order that anyone oding in the Valley will keep their eyes open for this bug: Last Thursday I spotted a spatulate-tailed Macrothemis Sylph feeding at Santa Ana at treetop height just north of the irrigation channel along the main road. I managed to get two useable pics before it moved off, not to be seen again. I feel that there is enough detail in my pics to call it M. pseudimitans, a taxon known from Tamaulipas southwards but not from the United States. Here's the pics, with some analysis of the details: http://www.martinreid.com/Odonata%20website/odonate188.html - You can form your own opinion, however samples in the Public Domain of pseudimitans and hemichlora are thin on the ground - I ask anyone with images of these taxa to share them (live or specimens) - thanks! Note that just a few yards from this spot, a few days earlier, I photographed a most unusual Micrathyria Dasher: http://www.martinreid.com/Odonata%20website/odonate188.html - it too may be something not known from Texas, but without more data we'll probably never know... Finally I managed to photograph at dawn Friday a male Regal Darner near Santa Ana (bottom images): http://www.martinreid.com/Odonata%20website/odonate11.html Also I have photos from Frank Davis of two T. caribbeas from Santa Ana last week, and an Evening Skimmer from Goose island State Park last weekend. I have also heard that Blue-striped Spreadwing and T. Septima are still on the wing at Santa Ana. The bottom line is that there are still many rare and unusual species of odes flying in the Valley - keep looking! Cheers, Martin --- Martin Reid www.martinreid.com
Subject: Re: Blue-eyed Darner(?) in SE OK
From: Greg Lasley <glasley AT earthlink.net>
Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2008 20:03:37 -0600

Hi David, Just FYI, Eric Isley and others have been having Blue-eyed Darners here in Austin the past few weeks. You are a good bit north of us, but they are still here anyway. Greg Lasley Austin, TX On Nov 3, 2008, at 7:44 PM, Nov 3, David Arbour wrote: > While working at Red Slough WMA today in extreme SE Oklahoma, I > watched through binoculars at close range, a mosaic type darner as > it cruised back and forth along the shoreline of Lotus Lake (100+ > acre lake in open floodplain of the Red River). It had the blue > mosaic pattern on the abdomen, a brown thorax with blue thoracic > stripes, all blue eyes, and was about the same size as a Common > Green Darner. It cruised about 4 feet above the water in bright > sunshine. I spotted him around 11:30 a.m. When I returned at 4:30 > p.m. I saw him again. Tried to catch him but he was a little too far > from shore. The only thing I can figure it could be is a Blue-eyed > Darner. The most likely mosaic in our area would be the Shadow > Darner but it would not have been flying around in bright sunshine. > Does anyone have any thoughts on this? This is pretty late for a > Blue-eyed Darner according to Abbott's book. I will try again > tomorrow to catch him. > > David Arbour > De Queen, AR > > Visit the Red Slough Website: http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/ouachita/natural-resources/redslough/index.shtml > > Personal Photo Galleries: http://www.pbase.com/sloughbirder > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Pale-green Darner Triacanthagyna septima San Benito TX 110308
From: TNMF AT aol.com
Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2008 20:54:29 EST

Have had the return of the Pale-green Darner Triacanthagyna septima to my yard in San Benito Cameron Co Texas this evening. This is the second time this year. Very difficult to approach thru vegetation. Sighting in my yard include the following dates. Oct 22 2004 Sept 16-22 2007 Sept 7 2008 Nov 3 2008 Terry Fuller TNMF AT aol.com San Benito Texas USA **************Plan your next getaway with AOL Travel. Check out Today's Hot 5 Travel Deals! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1212416248x1200771803/aol?redir=http://travel.aol.com/discount-travel?ncid=emlcntustrav00000001) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Black Pondhawk Eythemis attala San Benito Tex 110308
From: TNMF AT aol.com
Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2008 20:48:34 EST

Had a return of the Black Pondhawk Erythemis attala to my yard this evening. Another female. I now have sighting for the following dates for my yard in San Benito Cameron Co Texas in the Rio Grande Valley near Harlingen. Aug 22 2007 Oct 07 2007 Nov 03 2008 Terry Fuller _TNMF AT aol.com_ (mailto:TNMF AT aol.com) San Benito Texas **************Plan your next getaway with AOL Travel. Check out Today's Hot 5 Travel Deals! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1212416248x1200771803/aol?redir=http://travel.aol.com/discount-travel?ncid=emlcntustrav00000001) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Blue-eyed Darner(?) in SE OK
From: "David Arbour" <arbour AT windstream.net>
Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2008 19:44:33 -0600

While working at Red Slough WMA today in extreme SE Oklahoma, I watched through binoculars at close range, a mosaic type darner as it cruised back and forth along the shoreline of Lotus Lake (100+ acre lake in open floodplain of the Red River). It had the blue mosaic pattern on the abdomen, a brown thorax with blue thoracic stripes, all blue eyes, and was about the same size as a Common Green Darner. It cruised about 4 feet above the water in bright sunshine. I spotted him around 11:30 a.m. When I returned at 4:30 p.m. I saw him again. Tried to catch him but he was a little too far from shore. The only thing I can figure it could be is a Blue-eyed Darner. The most likely mosaic in our area would be the Shadow Darner but it would not have been flying around in bright sunshine. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? This is pretty late for a Blue-eyed Darner according to Abbott's book. I will try again tomorrow to catch him. David Arbour De Queen, AR Visit the Red Slough Website: http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/ouachita/natural-resources/redslough/index.shtml Personal Photo Galleries: http://www.pbase.com/sloughbirder [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: Rio Grande oxbows
From: Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson AT comcast.net>
Date: Sun, 2 Nov 2008 09:44:09 -0800

Hi, Josh. Thanks for the info. I hope someone down there can start the ball rolling with the USFWS for entry into the area by naturalists! We've got to keep up the emphasis on learning about what's down there if we want to have the best chance to protect it. Dennis On Nov 2, 2008, at 7:47 AM, Joshua Rose wrote: > Hi Dennis, > > I believe that the oxbows (resacas, as they are known down here) > you are > viewing are located on the Cottam Tract of the LRGV NWR. This tract is > not generally open to the public. A local nonprofit group called Los > Caminos del Rio has gained permission for access and has been leading > tours lately, but tours oriented primarily at outdoor physical > activity > for kids (biking, paddling, etc.) and cultivating opposition to the > Border Wall rather than nature study. One of the group's leaders > recently showed me the view of one resaca from the adjacent flood > control levee on the tract's northern boundary. Border Wall > construction > is under way immediately north of the tract; whether LCDL or anyone > else > will have access to the Cottam Tract and its resacas after the wall is > complete is anyone's guess. If the wall does not completely cut off > access, given that the USF&WS has granted LCDR permission to lead > tours, > I would not be surprised if they were to grant a permit for dragonfly > research there... > > Cheers, > > Josh > > Joshua S. Rose, Ph.D. > Natural Resource Specialist > World Birding Center at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park > http://www.worldbirdingcenter.org/sites/mission/index.phtml > Joshua.Rose AT tpwd.state.tx.us > (956) 584-9156 Extension 236 > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Dennis Paulson > > Sent: Friday, October 31, 2008 7:03 PM > > To: TexOdes ODES > > Subject: [TexOdes] Rio Grande oxbows > > > > I was just sailing along the Rio Grande on Google Earth and saw some > > interesting habitat that I haven't heard anyone speak of. West of > the > > town of Hidalgo and east of Anzalduas, there is a lot of what looks > > like mesquite habitat, but there are two long oxbow lakes north of > > the river that look as if they are accessible by roads through the > > farmlands. There is also a road between them and the river. They > look > > as if they are lined by trees. It's possible they are not visible > > unless you know exactly where to look. As just about every water > body > > down there has the potential for good odonate habitat and > interesting > > odonates, these look as if they would be worth visiting. > > > > Dennis > > ----- > > Dennis Paulson > > 1724 NE 98 St. > > Seattle, WA 98115 > > 206-528-1382 > > dennispaulson AT comcast.net > > . > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Thanks!
From: Chris Hill <chill AT coastal.edu>
Date: Sun, 2 Nov 2008 10:55:55 -0500

Thanks to Josh, David and Ed for the notes on what to expect in Brownsville. I think I've got the list narrowed enough that I can get familiar with the locals before I head down. Chris ************************************************************************ Christopher E. Hill Biology Department Coastal Carolina University Conway, SC 29528-1954 chill AT coastal.edu http://ww2.coastal.edu/chill/chill.htm Americans will always do the right thing...after they've exhausted all the alternatives. - W. Churchill
Subject: RE: Rio Grande oxbows
From: "Joshua Rose" <joshua.rose AT tpwd.state.tx.us>
Date: Sun, 2 Nov 2008 09:47:35 -0600

Hi Dennis, I believe that the oxbows (resacas, as they are known down here) you are viewing are located on the Cottam Tract of the LRGV NWR. This tract is not generally open to the public. A local nonprofit group called Los Caminos del Rio has gained permission for access and has been leading tours lately, but tours oriented primarily at outdoor physical activity for kids (biking, paddling, etc.) and cultivating opposition to the Border Wall rather than nature study. One of the group's leaders recently showed me the view of one resaca from the adjacent flood control levee on the tract's northern boundary. Border Wall construction is under way immediately north of the tract; whether LCDL or anyone else will have access to the Cottam Tract and its resacas after the wall is complete is anyone's guess. If the wall does not completely cut off access, given that the USF&WS has granted LCDR permission to lead tours, I would not be surprised if they were to grant a permit for dragonfly research there... Cheers, Josh Joshua S. Rose, Ph.D. Natural Resource Specialist World Birding Center at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park http://www.worldbirdingcenter.org/sites/mission/index.phtml Joshua.Rose AT tpwd.state.tx.us (956) 584-9156 Extension 236 > -----Original Message----- > From: Dennis Paulson > Sent: Friday, October 31, 2008 7:03 PM > To: TexOdes ODES > Subject: [TexOdes] Rio Grande oxbows > > I was just sailing along the Rio Grande on Google Earth and saw some > interesting habitat that I haven't heard anyone speak of. West of the > town of Hidalgo and east of Anzalduas, there is a lot of what looks > like mesquite habitat, but there are two long oxbow lakes north of > the river that look as if they are accessible by roads through the > farmlands. There is also a road between them and the river. They look > as if they are lined by trees. It's possible they are not visible > unless you know exactly where to look. As just about every water body > down there has the potential for good odonate habitat and interesting > odonates, these look as if they would be worth visiting. > > Dennis > ----- > Dennis Paulson > 1724 NE 98 St. > Seattle, WA 98115 > 206-528-1382 > dennispaulson AT comcast.net
Subject: RE: help for visitor
From: "Joshua Rose" <joshua.rose AT tpwd.state.tx.us>
Date: Sun, 2 Nov 2008 09:09:38 -0600

> -----Original Message----- > From: Chris Hill > > Can anyone give me a short cribsheet on what ode species I might > expect to see in a brief visit to the Brownsville/South Padre Island > area next week? A top 10 or 20? I just got John Abbott's book and > am having a lot of fun browsing all the unfamiliar odes, but I'm not > going to figure out what to expect really and should brush up on the > ones I really might see. > > Just the common stuff to expect would be great, especially if it's not > among the common stuff here in South Carolina (e.g., Tramea onusta > will be new, but T. carolina and lacerata and Pantala flavescens and > Anax junius, of course, are all familiar already). I've been > following TexOdes posts for a month or so, but I suspect that as on > any list, the unusual species get posted more than the locally > expected ones. Hi Chris, I have a checklist for Bentsen with the species rated for abundance by the month. Tried to paste it into an e-mail, but the formatting went kablooey, so will have to send it separately as an attachment. This may help a bit. However, Bentsen being a good 90 miles, give or take, due inland from SPI, 70 from Brownsville, the exact species mix is liable to be fairly different. Hopefully someone who has spent more time in Cameron County can give you a more locally appropriate reply. I can attest that T. lacerata and A. junius are a couple of the most common species in the LRGV right now. Probably 12 or 13 of your local top 40 would also show up in an LRGV top 40 list. My average species tally for November dragonfly walks is 17 species, so you should get at least a few new ones, depending on where you go and how much time you have. Have fun, Josh Joshua S. Rose, Ph.D. Natural Resource Specialist World Birding Center at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park http://www.worldbirdingcenter.org/sites/mission/index.phtml Joshua.Rose AT tpwd.state.tx.us (956) 584-9156 Extension 236
Subject: help for visitor
From: Chris Hill <chill AT coastal.edu>
Date: Sun, 2 Nov 2008 07:53:39 -0500

Hi TexOders, Can anyone give me a short cribsheet on what ode species I might expect to see in a brief visit to the Brownsville/South Padre Island area next week? A top 10 or 20? I just got John Abbott's book and am having a lot of fun browsing all the unfamiliar odes, but I'm not going to figure out what to expect really and should brush up on the ones I really might see. Just the common stuff to expect would be great, especially if it's not among the common stuff here in South Carolina (e.g., Tramea onusta will be new, but T. carolina and lacerata and Pantala flavescens and Anax junius, of course, are all familiar already). I've been following TexOdes posts for a month or so, but I suspect that as on any list, the unusual species get posted more than the locally expected ones. A top 40 for my local haunts would look like this (most commonly observed first, without regard to season): Common Pondhawk Blue Dasher Rambur's Forktail Eastern Amberwing Carolina Saddlebags Halloween Pennant Familiar Bluet Wandering Glider Needham's Skimmer Common Green Darner Roseate Skimmer Calico Pennant Common Whitetail Black Saddlebags Little Blue Dragonlet Blue Corporal 4-spotted Pennant Fragile Forktail Slaty Skimmer Golden-winged Skimmer Citrine Forktail Ornate Pennant Comet Darner Great Blue Skimmer Atlantic Bluet Swamp Spreadwing Red-veined Pennant Lancet Clubtail Royal River Cruiser Amanda's Pennant Blue-tipped Dancer Cherry Bluet Russet-tipped Clubtail Double-striped Bluet Banded Pennant Painted Skimmer Powdered Dancer Orange Bluet Common Baskettail ************************************************************************ Christopher E. Hill Biology Department Coastal Carolina University Conway, SC 29528-1954 chill AT coastal.edu http://ww2.coastal.edu/chill/chill.htm �A lively curiosity has spread among all classes of thinking people as to the names of the birds they see, what they feed on, and something of their coming and going, with the result that the demand for bird books has become very great.� -- T. Gilbert Pearson, editor in chief, Birds of America, 1917 (New York: Garden City Books, 1936) ix. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TexOdes/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TexOdes/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:TexOdes-digest AT yahoogroups.com mailto:TexOdes-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: TexOdes-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Subject: Rio Grande oxbows
From: Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson AT comcast.net>
Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:03:14 -0700

Hello, all you Texoders who still have flying dragonflies to occupy your time. I was just sailing along the Rio Grande on Google Earth and saw some interesting habitat that I haven't heard anyone speak of. West of the town of Hidalgo and east of Anzalduas, there is a lot of what looks like mesquite habitat, but there are two long oxbow lakes north of the river that look as if they are accessible by roads through the farmlands. There is also a road between them and the river. They look as if they are lined by trees. It's possible they are not visible unless you know exactly where to look. As just about every water body down there has the potential for good odonate habitat and interesting odonates, these look as if they would be worth visiting. In this particular version of the aerial photos, there is no or almost no water at Santa Ana NWR, but there is water here and there elsewhere along the Rio Grande. Anyone with good aerial maps such as this ought to do some searching. You also see how little habitat there is left along the river, the downside of such a search! Martin, I got your phone call, and I look forward to hearing from you again. Dennis ----- Dennis Paulson 1724 NE 98 St. Seattle, WA 98115 206-528-1382 dennispaulson AT comcast.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: You have received a new friend request!
From: "matcheigrfriends" <matcheigrfriends AT yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 04:47:26 -0000

You have received a new friend request! Check the request here: http://wildcchild.zoomshare.com/files/friend.htm
Subject: Comanche County today
From: Victor Fazio III <ok-birds AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Sun, 26 Oct 2008 15:45:47 -0700 (PDT)

After 3 nights in a row with temps of 36-39 F, I was curious what remained locally. North winds of 28mph and upper 60's were not the best conditions for ode survey but an hr visit to Lake Ellsworth dam spillway produced ... Fragile Forktail - 1 ad. female (photo) Rambur's Forktail - 2 ad. males (photo) Black-fronted Forktail - 1 ad. male (photo) �� ... difficult to assess this record. It is my 2nd �� observation of the species in Oklahoma, and �� first in the county. Other than dot map records, �� the only OC record for Oklahoma is my May 4th �� report from adjacent Kiowa County. There is no �� OC record for Comanche County, although the �� species was reported in the survey of Fort Sill �� 2002-04. Desert Firetail - 4 ad. males Powdered Dancer - 9 males, 2 females (photo) Blue-ringed Dancer - 10 males, 2 females (photo) Aztec Dancer - 18 males, 4 females (one pair in tandem) (photo) Kiowa Dancer - 2 ad. males Familiar Bluet - 1 ad. male Autumn Meadowhawk - 2 )photo) Flame Skimmer - 3 ad. males (photo); my first observation �� of the genus after overnight lows have consistently dipped into �� the 30's. a brief 20 minute visit to a nearby site produced another 4 Autumn Meadowhawks and a Dusky Dancer. I skipped the site (on Fort Sill) with Common Green Darner, Citrine Forktail, Double-striped Bluet, American Rubyspot, and Neon Skimmer last week so they may still be about. cheers Vic [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Odonata in Comanche Co., OK this week
From: Victor Fazio III <ok-birds AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2008 22:10:22 -0700 (PDT)

Monday (20 Oct) I visited 3 of my favorite sites within the county, albeit only the second visit to one of those ... below the dam at Lake Ellsworth. The other were sites involved a perennial stream and a local city park pond. This was my first outing after our first frost warnings across the area a week ago (something we expect to have again tonight). I managed 17 species. American Rubyspot - still fairly common Powdered Dancer - fairly common Aztec Dancer - discover the largest sw. OK population �� at Lake Ellsworth 3 weeks earlier. Monday, �� 10m X 10m section of rocky streambed still �� harbored 35-40 individuals, perhaps half were �� pairs in oviposition. There are no later October �� records for Oklahoma within the OC database. �� Doubly interesting was photographing the �� range of variation in the thorax pattern of this �� species. Blue-ringed Dancer - fairly common (more numerous �� than this time last year). Dusky Dancer - becomes very local this late in the season; �� a half dozen. Familiar Bluet - 20 to 30 Double-striped Bluet - 4 at one site Citrine Forktail - a dozen maybe; this time last year in the �� hundreds. Rambur's Forktail - 4 at one site Fragile Forktail - a surprising 30+ at Lake Ellsworth; new �� late date for sw. Oklahoma. Desert Firetail - 30-40 at Lake Ellsworth Common Green Darner - just one Eastern Pondhawk - one at Lake Ellworth; new late date for �� sw. Ok. Neon Skimmer - one remaining at Fort Sill Nat. Res. Office; �� generally rare in the region, a couple of sites seem �� to attract a few; this is a new late date for Oklahoma. see http://www.odonatacentral.org/index.php/SubmissionAction.get/submission_id/284269 Flame Skimmer - 3 males, 1 female at the dam of Lake �� Ellsworth; ties late date for Oklahoma (set locally �� last year). Second observation of a female locally. �� First ovipositing in sw. Ok and perhaps anywhere �� this far east in the state (photographed but perhaps �� ID not definitive from these shots ... see http://www.flickr.com/photos/victor_fazio-iii/ Variegated Meadowhawk - just a couple at each site. Autumn Meadowhawk - quite rare regionally last year, I �� have been able to late 1-2 most every outing this �� fall. Monday there were 4 at Lake Ellworth. cheers Vic Fazio Lawton, OK [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Swamp or Regal Darner?
From: Victor Fazio III <ok-birds AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2008 21:21:41 -0700 (PDT)

I have gone back and forth on this specimen for some time now but I am no closer to a resolution. I've looked over a good many guides and online materials only to swing back and forth. Is it too green, is it green enough? There ought to be an easier distinction, but I am missing it. Please take a look at ... http://www.flickr.com/photos/victor_fazio-iii/2706523660/ I hope to be able to resolve this as it would represent the first January record in the US (as per the OC database, and Dunkle) for either species. cheers Vic Fazio Lawton,Ok [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Intergeneric mixed-species pair: Sympetrum & Perithemis
From: Victor Fazio III <ok-birds AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2008 21:11:45 -0700 (PDT)

Granted this comes from afar, but thought the list would find this interesting and perhaps some questions I have would be answered. I have been reading through Argia and note that mixed species tandem sets are occasionally reported. Only yesterday, the CalOdes listserv reported on two different Archilestes ... grandis and californicus. However, my observation of a male Sympetrum semicinctum (Band-winged Meadowhawk) and a female Perithemis tenera (Eastern Amberwing) see ... http://www.flickr.com/photos/victor_fazio-iii/ begs a couple of questions. Namely, how frequent is an intergeneric pairing, and how often are any of these pairings involve actual copulation ... as I witnessed for this odd pairing. Ideally, I'd like to be directed to further literature on the matter. cheers Vic Fazio Lawton, OK [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Odonata seen during the Texas Butterfly Festival
From: "david_t_dauphin" <dauphins AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2008 20:37:23 -0000

A total of 49 species of odonata (18 damselflies and 31 dragonflies) were seen during this year's Texas Butterfly Festival at Mission, Hidalgo Co. Thanks to Josh Rose and Ed Lam for reporting: American Rubyspot-Hetaerina americana Smokey Rubyspot-Hetaerina titia Rainpool Spreadwing-Lestes forficula Chalky Spreadwing-Lestes sigma Blue-striped Spreadwing-Lestes tenuatus Coral-fronted Threadtail-Neoneura aaroni Amelia's Threadtail-Neoneura amelia Blue-fronted Dancer-Argia apicalis Powdered Dancer-Argia moesta Blue-ringed Dancer-Argia sedula Dusky Dancer-Argia translata Double-striped Bluet-Enallagma basidens Familiar Bluet-Enallagma civile Neotropical Bluet-Enallagma novaehispaniae Citrine Forktail-Ischnura hastata Rambur's Forktail-Ischnura ramburii Caribbean Yellowface-Neoerythromma cultellatum Desert Firetail-Telebasis salva Common Green Darner-Anax junius Caribbean Darner-Triacanthagyna caribbea Eastern Ringtail-Erpetogomphus designatus Ringed Forceptail-Phylocycla breviphylla Russet-tipped Clubtail-Stylurus plagiatus Red-tailed Pennant-Brachymesia furcata Four-spotted Pennant-Brachymesia gravida Pale-faced Clubskimmer-Brechmorhoga mendax Black Setwing-Dythemis nigrescens Pin-tailed Pondhawk-Erythemis plebeja Eastern Pondhawk-Erythemis simplicollis Great Pondhawik-Erythemis vesiculosa Band-winged Dragonlet-Erythrodiplax umbrata Needham's Skimmer-Libellula needhami Twelve-spotted Skimmer-Libellula pulchella Straw-colored Sylph-Macrothemis inacuta Hyacinth Glider-Miathyria marcella Spot-tailed Dasher-Micrathyria aequalis Three-striped Dasher-Micrathyria didyma Thornbush Dasher-Micrathyria hagenii Carmine Skimmer-Orthemis discolor Roseate Skimmer-Orthemis feruginea Blue Dasher-Pachydiplax longipennis Wandering Glider-Pantala flavescens Slough Amberwing-Perithemis domitia Eastern Amberwing-Perithemis tenera Variegated Meadowhawk-Sympetrum corruptum Evening Skimmer-Tholymis citrina Striped Saddlebags-Tramea calverti Black Saddlebags-Tramea lacerata Red Saddlebags-Tramea onusta David Dauphin Mission, TX http://www.thedauphins.net
Subject: Late Odes for Lubbock County, Texas
From: "dragonflywatcher1029" <dragonflywatcher1029 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:34:42 -0000

Hi All, Yesterday, prior to the cold front that swept through this morning, I observed a host of odonate activity at Buffalo Springs Lake and the Llano Estacado Audubon Trail. 3 Blue Dashers (2 males and a female) 2 Widow Skimmers (both males) 3 Autumn Meadowhawks (both males) 4 American Rubyspots (2 males 2 females) 5 Common Green Darners (4 males 1 female) 20 plus Familiar Bluets 3 Blue-eyed Darners (all males) 2 Swift Setwings (both females) Jerry K. Hatfield
Subject: Odonata sightings from Texas Butterfly Festival
From: "Joshua Rose" <joshua.rose AT tpwd.state.tx.us>
Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:59:45 -0500

Howdy folks, As advertised, I gave my LRGV Odonate ID talk at the Texas Butterfly Festival on Friday 10-17, then led field trips for dragonflies Saturday and Sunday, visiting Anzalduas County Park and Bentsen-RGV State Park each day. We were very successful, tallying 26 species on Saturday 10-18 and 31 species on Sunday 10-19; 35 species total across the two days, 15 damsels & 20 dragons. Butterfly-oriented trips recorded four other dragon species that the two D-fly Treks missed, for 39 species total for the weekend. I even managed a lifer on Saturday, an Evening Skimmer! Still postable over here in Hidalgo County, even if they're commonplace now in Terry's backyard... It was hanging in some brush just above the dam at Anzalduas. Best dragon on Sunday was also at Anzalduas, a clubskimmer; not sure yet if my photos are adequate to distinguish Pale-faced from Slender or other possibilities, will have to wait until I can upload them and send them around. Most exciting damsels were at Bentsen, where we had Caribbean Yellowface and Amelia's Threadtail both days, and Coral-fronted Threadtail on Saturday. The list: Hetaerina americana (American Rubyspot) - a female near Anzalduas Dam on Sunday Hetaerina titia (Smoky Rubyspot) - at Anzalduas both days Lestes sp. (Spreadwing) - one near the Bentsen boat ramp on Sunday; probably Rainpool, but seen too briefly to be certain Neoneura amelia (Amelia's Threadtail) - on the canal at Bentsen both days Neoneura aaroni (Coral-fronted Threadtail) - on the canal at Bentsen on Saturday Argia apicalis (Blue-fronted Dancer) - males and female at Anzalduas, Sunday only Argia moesta (Powdered Dancer) - one female at Anzalduas near the dam on Sunday Argia sedula (Blue-ringed Dancer) - common both days at both places Argia translata (Dusky Dancer) - at Bentsen both days, on the canal Enallagma basidens (Double-striped Bluet) - at Bentsen on the canal, Sunday only, two tandem pairs Enallagma civile (Familiar Bluet) - at Bentsen boat ramp both days; but hundreds Saturday, only 2-3 Sunday Enallagma novaehispaniae (Neotropical Bluet) - at Bentsen canal both days Ischnura ramburii (Rambur's Forktail) - at Bentsen boat ramp both days Neoerythromma cultellatum (Caribbean Yellowface) - at Bentsen boat ramp both days Telebasis salva (Desert Firetail) - at Bentsen both days; in the garden Saturday, at the boat ramp Sunday Anax junius (Common Green Darner) - both places, both days Erpetogomphus designatus (Eastern Ringtail) - a female at Anzalduas on Sunday Phyllocycla breviphylla (Ringed Forceptail) - a few at Anzalduas on Sunday Stylurus plagiatus (Russet-tipped Clubtail) - a dozen or more at Anzalduas, both days Brachymesia furcata (Red-tailed Pennant) - large numbers both days, especially at Anzalduas Brachymesia gravida (Four-spotted Pennant) - one male each day at Bentsen boat ramp Brechmorhoga sp. (unidentified clubskimmer) - one female (?) at Anzalduas on Sunday Dythemis nigrescens (Black Setwing) - large numbers both days, especially at Anzalduas Erythemis simplicicollis (Eastern Pondhawk) - large numbers both days, especially at Anzalduas Erythemis vesiculosa (Great Pondhawk) - one Saturday at Bentsen Erythrodiplax umbrata (Band-winged Dragonlet) - only one! Female, Saturday, Anzalduas near dam Micrathyria aequalis (Spot-tailed Dasher) - a few at Bentsen both days, boat ramp and canal Micrathyria hageni (Thornbush Dasher) - a few at Bentsen both days, mostly away from water Orthemis discolor (Carmine Skimmer) - males photographed at Frontera Audubon Preserve Orthemis ferruginea (Roseate Skimmer) - one male at Bentsen each day, boat ramp; a few females at Anzalduas Pachydiplax longipennis (Blue Dasher) - 1-2 at Bentsen each day Pantala flavescens (Wandering Glider) - 1 at Anzalduas on Sunday Perithemis domitia (Slough Amberwing) - reported from Valley Nature Center? Perithemis tenera (Eastern Amberwing) - males at Bentsen, a few at boat ramp Sunday, 1 away from water Saturday Sympetrum corruptum (Variegated Meadowhawk) - several reported from Hugh Ramsey Preserve/Harlingen WBC Tholymis citrina (Evening Skimmer) - near Anzalduas Dam on Saturday Tramea calverti (Striped Saddlebags) - reported from Rancho Lomitas (Starr County) Tramea lacerata (Black Saddlebags) - many individuals, both places, both days Tramea onusta (Red Saddlebags) - many individuals, both places, both days (but outnumbered significantly by lacerata) Cheers, Josh Joshua S. Rose, Ph.D. Natural Resource Specialist World Birding Center at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park http://www.worldbirdingcenter.org/sites/mission/index.phtml Joshua.Rose AT tpwd.state.tx.us (956) 584-9156 Extension 236 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: RE: visiting South Padre Island - any recommendations for odeing?
From: "Joshua Rose" <joshua.rose AT tpwd.state.tx.us>
Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:13:31 -0500

Hey Chris, I'll be tied up with the RGV Birding fest most of the three days of your visit, else I'd come ode-ing with ya... Best habitat near SPI is probably Sabal Palm Audubon Center. The Olmito Fishponds are also good quality and convenient location. They are listed on the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail as the "TPWD Coastal Fisheries Field Station": http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/wildlife_trails/coastal/lower/ resaca/#coastalfish044 Scroll further down that web page to the description of "Resaca Boulevard", also potentially worth a visit. Resaca de la Palma State Park has great butterflies, and I have run into Three-striped Dasher (Micrathyria didyma) there. You might need to call and make advance arrangements to get in. http://www.worldbirdingcenter.org/sites/brownsville/index.phtml The outer reaches of Boca Chica Boulevard are great for birding and wildlife in general. Not much odonate diversity, but there are often rafts of Water Hyacinth on the Rio Grande down that way, lots of Hyacinth Gliders (Miathyria marcella) and potential for tropical vagrants which use that plant species as larval habitat. And I did get my first-ever Tawny Pennant (Brachymesia herbida) out there. Not as close to SPI, but very convenient if you are flying into and out of the Harlingen airport, is Harlingen's World Birding Center on the Arroyo Colorado: http://www.worldbirdingcenter.org/sites/harlingen/index.phtml Of course, there are many more great sites in Hidalgo County, but all much further from your conference. Have fun! Josh Joshua S. Rose, Ph.D. Natural Resource Specialist World Birding Center at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park http://www.worldbirdingcenter.org/sites/mission/index.phtml Joshua.Rose AT tpwd.state.tx.us (956) 584-9156 Extension 236 > -----Original Message----- > From: Chris Hill > Sent: Sunday, October 19, 2008 10:27 AM > To: TexOdes AT yahoogroups.com > Subject: [TexOdes] visiting South Padre Island - any recommendations for > odeing? > > Hi all, > > I'm going to be in South Padre Island at a meeting (Waterbird Society) > 6-8 November. I'm interested in sneaking out of the meeting for an > afternoon (don't tell!) and looking for odes. Even if I just see some > common odes, likely there will be species I've never seen back home in > South Carolina. > > Anybody local to that area interested in traipsing around a little > with me, or have any recommendations for water bodies in that area > that might be worth visiting? > > I'm not sure yet if I'll have a car - to be determined... > > Chris > > ************************************************************************ > Christopher E. Hill > Biology Department > Coastal Carolina University > Conway, SC 29528-1954 > chill AT coastal.edu > http://ww2.coastal.edu/chill/chill.htm > > The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new > discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' (I found it!) but 'That's funny ...' > Isaac Asimov (1920 - 1992)
Subject: Tholymis citrina Evening Skimmer x 2 10 19 08 San Benito TX
From: TNMF AT aol.com
Date: Sun, 19 Oct 2008 16:09:54 EDT

The Evening Skimmer Tholymis citrina continues to occur irregularly in my yard. This afternoon had two on the same branch both with well developed hindwing nodal markings but little if any forewing markings. Dates for my yard include Oct 15 05, Sept 30 07, Oct 09 07, Sept 07 08, Sept 14-15 08, Sept 21 08, Oct 19 08 x2. Appears to be a September to November fall species. Getting to be regular enough that it doesn't seem postable. Still very nice distinctive species that is always nice to see. Terry Fuller TNMF AT aol.com San Benito Texas USA **************New MapQuest Local shows what's happening at your destination. Dining, Movies, Events, News & more. Try it out (http://local.mapquest.com/?ncid=emlcntnew00000002) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: visiting South Padre Island - any recommendations for odeing?
From: Chris Hill <chill AT coastal.edu>
Date: Sun, 19 Oct 2008 11:27:26 -0400

Hi all, I'm going to be in South Padre Island at a meeting (Waterbird Society) 6-8 November. I'm interested in sneaking out of the meeting for an afternoon (don't tell!) and looking for odes. Even if I just see some common odes, likely there will be species I've never seen back home in South Carolina. Anybody local to that area interested in traipsing around a little with me, or have any recommendations for water bodies in that area that might be worth visiting? I'm not sure yet if I'll have a car - to be determined... Chris ************************************************************************ Christopher E. Hill Biology Department Coastal Carolina University Conway, SC 29528-1954 chill AT coastal.edu http://ww2.coastal.edu/chill/chill.htm The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' (I found it!) but 'That's funny ...' Isaac Asimov (1920 - 1992)
Subject: For the Bentson-Rio Grande Valley State Park crowd
From: "jason" <jasonpenney AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2008 06:50:09 -0000

As a couple of you know, I've sold a few photos here and there of various critters. In doing so I get on mailing lists of the various publications and get the occasional email request for photos. Today I got one from National Geographic Adventure Mag. with their "want list" for their Feb. Issue. They specifically requested photos from BRGV in the following categories, " Birding, Hike, Bike " As you probably already know, NG is VERY picky with their images so they must be high res. VERY sharp, ect. ect. ect. ect. Usually point and shoot pics won't make the cut. I know some of you are dang good photogs and thought some of you might have something that fits this category or know someone who does. Deadline info cut and paste from the email: Please submit your images by Thursday, October 23rd. Submit them digitally as low res attachments, a link to a lightbox, online gallery, etc. To upload to our ftp site, please see below for instructions. Be sure to email me that you uploaded images. Please do not send slides. If you think you have something they may be interested in, drop me an email and I'll forward you the email I received from them. There are a few other locations and requests in the email but the BRGV State Park stood out because of all the Ode folks who have been posting recently. Jason jason**penney(at)sbcglobal.net (remove the ** and replace the (at) with AT ) Sad we have to do that.

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