Urban Dragon Hunters

When a perched darner cooperates.

2009-11-03T19:19:00.009-05:00

During one of my few visits to Wetzel State Recreation Area in Macomb County on September 20th, I was fortunate to find a perched Mottled Darner (Aeshna clepsydra). This male allowed me to photograph it from both sides. Here are a few of the images:Now that I have some decent shots of a male, I'll need to find a female next year.

Happy Halloween

2009-10-31T11:37:00.003-04:00

It wasn't found today, but the name fits the day.Here's a male Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina) found at Robert H. Long Park, Oakland County, Michigan on July 6, 2007.

Smoky On The Water

2009-10-26T21:52:00.014-04:00

In 2008, I found a female Smoky Rubyspot (Hetaerina titia) at Humbug Marsh. That was a new species for Wayne County, Michigan, and we had wondered where a population occurred in the area. Then, on September 18, 2009, Burt Cebulski posted to the Great Lakes Odonata listserv that many individuals had been found along the Raisin River. Thus, I decided to check locations in Monroe and Wayne

paired Lance-tipped Darners

2009-10-24T14:16:00.010-04:00

Lance-tipped Darners (Aeshna constricta) are one of the most common Aeshnids in southeast Michigan. While visiting Lake Erie Metropark in Wayne County on September 7th, I happened upon this coupled pair which were most cooperative.The female is of the yellow-striped form. Also, note the differences between the thoracic stripes of the left and right sides of the female.

Wetzel State Recreation Area

2009-10-13T18:54:00.013-04:00

While searching for more ode habitat in Macomb County, Michigan, I ended up at Wetzel State Recreation Area (SRA). This state property includes a wooded creek, open fields, and mitigated wetlands. The Friends of Wetzel State Recreation Area website has some good information about the location including an aerial map.Unfortunately, I found this site in the latter half of the 2009 ode season, but

Fillin' in the holes.

2009-09-20T11:25:00.013-04:00

Since we didn't have any structured projects this summer, I decided to try and fill in some of the odonata "holes" of the counties surrounding Wayne County, Michigan.Macomb County's list is short so I've made a few visits to a couple locations that have potential. In this post, I'll highlight Chesterfield State Game Area (SGA).This SGA is located between a subdivision and some agricultural areas

Another year, another Comet Darner!

2009-09-19T18:25:00.002-04:00

On August 1, 2009, Nannothemis and I visited the south end of the Humbug Marsh unit of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge. Relatively few odes were found, but we were pleased to find a female Comet Darner (Anax longipes).

Feeling Blue

2009-09-19T18:17:00.005-04:00

On July 28, 2009, I visited the Novi Wetlands (off of West Rd, east of West Park Dr) over my lunch hour. I was surprised to find this fully blue Lance-tipped Darner (Aeshna constricta).

A Truly Tiny Urban Ode

2009-08-01T18:32:00.008-04:00

This year Nannothemis and I have been keeping an eye on a corner Ford Motor Company property in our city of Dearborn. During spring migration, a couple species of shorebirds utilized this small wet spot along an edge of "no mow" zone that was planted with wildflowers a couple years ago.I had observed Lyre-tipped Spreadwings (Lestes unguiculatus) at this location in early July. Returning on July

New Species for Humbug Marsh

2009-08-01T18:16:00.006-04:00

On July 5, 2009, Nannothemis and I made a visit to the Humbug Marsh Unit of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge in hopes of finding a Cobra Clubtail (Gomphus vastus) as we had last year.We searched the open areas near the Detroit River with no luck finding the target clubtail, but we did see the first Russet-tipped Clubtails (Stylurus plagiatus) of the year. In all there were at

Celebrating the 4th with a rarity.

2009-07-11T07:59:00.011-04:00

On July 4th, 2009, Nannothemis and I decided to search for odes in our home county (Wayne Co, Michigan). Two locations were in our minds.First, we decided to check a small wetland/retention basin behind a (ugh!) Walmart in Canton where we had found a Four-spotted Skimmer (Libellula quadricmaculata) previously. Upon arrival we were "greeted" with construction equipment and barriers. The entire

Another county, another first

2009-07-10T16:06:00.013-04:00

On July 2, 2009, I decided to search Onsted State Game Area in Lenawee County, Michigan. Another cool and cloudy day didn't bode well for ode hunting.Initially I checked the boat launch on Grassy Lake and found several Swamp Spreadwings (Lestes vigilax). The only vouchers are from 1933. Here are pictures of a male and its terminal appendages.Next I checked the upland area above the lake and

Just when we thought we were done...A new county record!

2009-07-01T19:19:00.014-04:00

A dull and dreary day (cloudy, windy, scattered showers, and cool) on June 30th didn't stop me from checking out a favorite dragonfly haunt.I went to Sherwood Park in Sumpter Township which is in southwestern Wayne County of Michigan. We've found many great species here in the past.One of the first dragonflies flushed along the edge of the pond was a teneral pennant. The dark spots of the wings

Some old odes...Refound

2009-07-01T18:56:00.013-04:00

It was another poor weather day for dragon hunting today (July 1, 2009). (cloudy, breezy, and cool with threatening showers)I decided to try for new county records at Proud Lake State Recreation Area in Oakland County near the Huron River.Strangely, I couldn't find many odes near the water of the Marsh Trail or the Huron River. However, I did find one Southern Spreadwing (Lestes disjunctus

German Dragon Hunter

2009-06-11T20:43:00.011-04:00

While looking for Kirtland's Warblers near Mio, Michigan on June 6th with a birding friend from Germany, I pulled out the net to snag a baskettail (Epitheca sp.) for ID while on a back road in Oscoda County.After a couple tries I caught a male Beaverpond Baskettail (Epitheca canis) which was a new dragonfly for me and now a species documented in the county.With this success, my friend asked to

Success! = Cordulegaster obliqua

2009-05-29T12:38:00.015-04:00

Friday, May 29 started out with some great weather (sunny and calm) so I headed to Lower Huron Metropark at 1000 to obtain physical evidence of the spiketails.Initially, I walked the forest edge in hopes of finding an adult Arrowhead Spiketail (Cordulegaster obliqua) to photograph. Unfortunately, I only saw one and it did a quick flyby at head height on the opposite side of the clearing and it

Early Gomphids and a life ode

2009-05-25T20:25:00.013-04:00

I continued the search for the early darner by visiting Lower Huron Metropark. I am somewhat at a loss where to find the Springtime Darner (Basiaeschna janata) in Wayne County, but I'll continue searching this location as you'll read at the end of the post.I started and ended at the Woods Creek Picnic Area. This is adjacent to the Huron River and has a small creek running through a wooded

First summer-like day in the field.

2009-05-24T17:15:00.007-04:00

I took advantage of the sunny afternoon to search for Springtime Darner (Basiaeschna janata), a species still needed for Wayne county, Michigan. My search involved a few locations in the northwest part of the county near Johnson Creek.Location #1: northeast of the Ridge Road and 5-Mile Road. Johnson Creek is bordered a large wetland (grass and cattail) to the south and a new, sprawling

1st multi-species day!

2009-05-21T18:26:00.003-04:00

While out at lunch on May 20, I was happy to find multiple species in one location in Oakland County, Michigan.During my lunch hour I was able to visit Lakeshore Park in Novi.For species #1, a baskettail species (Epitheca sp.) was found patrolling one of the sunny trail straightaways.Species #2 was a female Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia) sunning herself at a trail crossroads.The final and 3rd

Second species of the season

2009-05-20T18:13:00.004-04:00

While doing the North American Migration Count (NAMC) at UM-Dearborn on May 9, Nannothemis found a few Eastern Forktails (Ischnura verticalis). I didn't hear of it until later in the day so I returned on May 10 to find 13 individuals perched on the dewey grass.Here are three of them:

One in ten odes threatened with extinction

2009-05-18T20:46:00.002-04:00

An article from the BBC reports on the results of a survey of the population and distribution of 1500 Odonata species from all over the world. One in 10 species is threatened, or categorized as critically endangered, endangered, or vulnerable. Species most at risk tend to live in southeast Asia (full of islands that have endemic species) and Australia (being impacted by climate change).Too little

Let the season begin!

2009-04-25T12:37:00.004-04:00

The insect season is officially underway.While doing a bird survey at UM-Dearborn today (April 25, 2009), Nannothemis and I found our first dragonflies of the season for Michigan. We saw at least 3 male Common Green Darners (Anax junius) at/near Fairlane Lake at the Henry Ford Estate.Here is one of the males that cooperated.We also found a coupled pair at a wet spot about a mile from campus.What

Paulson guide is out!

2009-04-22T06:38:00.003-04:00

Dennis Paulson has forgotten more about Odonata than we will ever know. His new field guide, Dragonflies and Damselflies of the West is now available. From what I hear (and fully expected) is that this is a fantastic book full of information even if you've never crossed the Great Plains (he's completing an eastern guide as well). Pick up yours today!

Ode habitats at Domitila, a private reserve in Nicaragua

2009-03-25T20:11:00.021-04:00

The final portion of our Nicaraguan trip included time at Domitila in the department of Granada. We were at Domitila on March 12-14, 2009.DOMITILA -- private reserve of dry tropical forest near Nandaime, Granada dept.-- Main buildings: 11.708642, -85.953549. The road in front of the buildings was a great place to find the gliders.-- Rio Hacienda (southern stream; referred to as "Rio Dorado" by

Ode habitats in the Nicaraguan department of Matagalpa

2009-03-25T19:18:00.022-04:00

As a followup to the Nicaraguan ode shots in the previous post, I thought I'd include some habitat shots in the area of the Matagalpa department.FINCA ESPERANZA VERDE (FEV) -- shade coffee farm near San Ramon, Matagalpa dept.-- Main buildings: 12.93978, -85.78003, 1100 mWe were at FEV March 4-11, 2009.Our cabin on the hill, near the main buildings. The Red Rock Skimmer (Paltothemis lineatipes)