Hunting for Dragons with Greg Lasley, Eric Isley, and Robert Salinas.

After a long semester, I decided to take a day off and spend an entire day looking for critters and other interesting things. Greg graciously offered to show me around Southwest Metro Park, and later Hornsby Bend.

As soon as I got out of my vehicle at SW Metro Park, I met Eric and Robert for the first time, and was treated to several new and exciting dragonflies, for me at least. Banded, Halloween, and Marl Pennants, Eastern Ringtails, and Widow Skimmers were all found and photographed in the first 30 minutes.

Another real treat was to see a Four-striped Leaftail, another first for me, and many Sulpur-tipped Clubtails (I had only ever seen a single female before this).

The odonate diversity was probably the highest I've ever seen in a single site so far in my early 'career' hunting for odonates: I documented 21 species at SW Metro today (6 new species for me), and 12 at Hornsby Bend (one new species for me) later in the afternoon (the weather wasn't very good for odonate hunting later in the afternoon), with only a couple species found at Hornsby that were not at SW Metro. Another new dragonfly for me was the Thornbush Dasher in an old sand pit near Hornsby Bend. Thornbush and Blue Dashers were everywhere in the pit, and I only saw two other dragonflies there: a Roseate Skimmer and a Widow Skimmer.

Overall, this was a wonderful day of nature fun. Thanks very much Greg, Eric and Robert for sharing your knowledge and this site with me!

Publicado el mayo 14, 2016 09:42 TARDE por beschwar beschwar

Observaciones

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Rayadora de Halloween (Celithemis eponina)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Descripción

Several seen in this field, and a mating pair was seen at the northernmost pond.

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Rayadora Ceñida (Macrodiplax balteata)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Rayadora Abigarrada (Sympetrum corruptum)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Caballito Pigmeo Amarillo (Ischnura hastata)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Descripción

Several were seen in this field, and a few others were seen along the trails.

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Libélula Serpiente del Este (Erpetogomphus designatus)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Descripción

Many of these were seen throughout the park.

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Rayadora Ambarina Pigmea (Perithemis tenera)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Mariposa Azul del Mezquite (Echinargus isola)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Rayadora Espinosa del Este (Erythemis simplicicollis)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Descripción

Somewhat common around the park today, but widely scattered.

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Rayadora Vigilante de Estanque (Dythemis fugax)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Descripción

These were very common around the park today.

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Tordo Cabeza Café (Molothrus ater)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Rayadora Luctuosa (Libellula luctuosa)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Descripción

These were one of the most common and widespread dragonflies today.

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Rayadora de Bandas Negras (Erythrodiplax umbrata)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Descripción

female

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Mariposa Sedosa de Lunas Naranjas (Calycopis isobeon)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Rayadora Azul (Pachydiplax longipennis)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Mariposa Sedosa Verde de Coahuila (Callophrys gryneus)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Descripción

Quite common around the park today.

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Mariposas Marca de Metal (Género Calephelis)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Libélula Cola de Mazo Azufrada (Phanogomphus militaris)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Descripción

Many of these were seen throughout the park.

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Rayadora Vigilante Negra (Dythemis nigrescens)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Descripción

~6 were seen in the park today.

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Descripción

Only one seen today.

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Araña Tejedora Espinosa (Gasteracantha cancriformis)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Descripción

Many of these were seen around the park today.

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Mariposa Alas de Ángel Interrogación (Polygonia interrogationis)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Libélula Cola de Hoja de Cuatro Bandas (Phyllogomphoides stigmatus)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Descripción

Two females were seen today.

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Descripción

Two snakes seen in the park. Both were 35-40" long and very glossy.

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Azulilla de Arroyo Empolvada (Argia moesta)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Saltarina Negrita (Phidippus audax)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 2016

Lugar

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Caracol Degollado Europeo (Rumina decollata)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Azulilla de Arroyo Anillada (Argia sedula)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Rayadora Rosácea (Orthemis ferruginea)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Caballito Pigmeo de Rambur (Ischnura ramburii)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Conejo Serrano (Sylvilagus floridanus)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Descripción

3 seen during the day.

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Duraznillo de Agua (Ludwigia peploides)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Descripción

This is probably Ludwigia peploides, but it could also be Ludwigia hexapetala

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Tabaquillo Sudamericano (Nicotiana glauca)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Rayadora Azul (Pachydiplax longipennis)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Descripción

Many flying around and perching in low weeds.

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Cenicilla de Hagen (Micrathyria hagenii)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Descripción

Many flying around and perching in low weeds.

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Huico Pinto del Noreste (Aspidoscelis gularis)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Rayadora Vigilante de Estanque (Dythemis fugax)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Planeadora de Alforjas Rojas (Tramea onusta)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Descripción

I'm actually not sure that this is a correct ID. Unfortunately, it only perched for a moment - just long enough for me to snap a single photo from too far away, but I think the rear wing pattern might be clear enough for an ID.

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Azulilla de Estanque de Franja Doble (Enallagma basidens)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Descripción

There were a lot of these foraging in low flowers in a sandy area. Lots of different stages of maturity, so I took plenty of photos. I think they are quite pretty both in juvenile and mature stages.

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Rayadora Ambarina Pigmea (Perithemis tenera)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Descripción

Several females seen in this area.

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Saltarín Fúnebre (Erynnis funeralis)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Campanilla Herida (Convolvulus equitans)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Descripción

A large area of ground was full of burrows of these wasps - perhaps 100. As I approached, they all came out to investigate and started clustering around me. I've never seen them do this before, and I didn't want to wait around too long to see what they might do if I continued trompling on the ground around their burrows. As far as I could tell, they appeared to all be the same species.

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Caballito Pigmeo de Rambur (Ischnura ramburii)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Descripción

This individual plus a mature female were seen.

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Mariposa Sedosa Gris (Strymon melinus)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Abeja Melífera Europea (Apis mellifera)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Descripción

I walked by a large swarm (about the size of a basketball) clustered on the ground and didn't realize it until they started to fly after I passed them under a large live oak. Within about one minute, the swarm had flown in a small column of bees up through the branches and were flying away.

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Descripción

I saw several of these areas in which a burrowing animal had created a large pile of dirt, and the areas in and around the burrows had been stripped of all leafy vegetation. I sat and watched one of these for a while, but never saw the animal. I assume it is a species of Geomys (Pocket Gopher).

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Chicalote Blanco (Argemone albiflora)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Copas de Vino (Género Callirhoe)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Mariposa Azufre Elegante (Nathalis iole)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Descripción

A tiny yellow butterfly that I can't seem to ID. It was ~1.5 cm.

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Chinche con Cinturón (Leptoglossus phyllopus)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Descripción

This is an educated guess on the ID.

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Mariposa Emperatriz Tejana (Asterocampa clyton)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Avispas-hormiga de Terciopelo (Género Dasymutilla)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Descripción

This was moving so fast I could only get one half-way useable photo of it.

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Rayadora Luctuosa (Libellula luctuosa)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Fotos / Sonidos

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Azulilla de Estanque Común (Enallagma civile)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Azulilla de Arroyo Anillada (Argia sedula)

Observ.

beschwar

Fecha

Mayo 13, 2016

Comentarios

Anytime, Ben. Fun to have you here with us. I know you are only ca. 30 miles away, but anytime you can break away from teaching you are most welcome!

Publicado por greglasley hace casi 8 años

Wonderful Ben! I'm so happy to read and see your experiences.

Publicado por stephenramirez hace casi 8 años

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