1st Dragonfly...err Damselfly for the Year

Much to my surprise a small damselfly flushed out of the Pollinator Garden at Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge today. Was able to relocate and get a photo. Tweeted the accomplishment:

1st Odonate of the Year, a Pacific Forktail (Ishnura cervula), on Yucca at Visitor Center Pollinator Garden. pic.twitter.com/hfvLyKmfCX
— USFWSLeeMetcalf (@USFWSLeeMetcalf) April 25, 2015

This post isn't supposed to be about me boasting of an early date or discovery, instead it is a template for your success. Know, that if you apply yourself...well you get better in ways you cannot guess. Being aware of wildlife/nature is a well of possibility for "combinatorial creativity". I am no Maria Popova, but I embrace her writing and hope to develop this blog in such a way :-)

Damselfly & Dragonfly Season Heats Up in Western Montana

The odonate season has been slow; June conditions in western Montana were cool and cloudy, yes a bit rainy too. Today ode watching improved significantly. Found the first meadowhawks for the year, Cherry-faced Meadowhawk (Sympetrum internum). Good numbers were found along a Clark Fork River oxbow (Frenchtown, Montana) hanging out in Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus). Located an immature male Boreal Bluet (Enallagma boreale) in another patch of snowberry resulting in my best diagnostic photo of this species cerci shape. Another great photo opportunity cropped up in nearby wet meadow habitat; a pruinose Northern Spreadwing (Lestes disjunctus) cooperatively perched. Exiting to more drier habitat detected the only Western Red Damsel (Amphiagrion abbreviatum), a female, for the day. It was fun discovering these colorful animals! Find something good in your own neighborhood.

Cherry-faced Meadowhawk

Boreal Bluet

Northern Spreadwing

Western Red Damsel

 

1st 2012 Odonate Field Trip

Visited Florence Bridge Fishing Access Site for first dedicated 2012 effort to find odonates here in western Montana. Wasn't disappointed as I observed a spreadwing, several American Emerald, several "Nobo" Bluets (abdomenal tip out of focus for identification purposes), two unidentified darners, and a couple of Pacific Forktail. Had great fun in searching and photographing. This fishing access site has an asphalt path for easy wetland access and is small in extant for thorough coverage. Good birding can be had here also. Here a couple of photos:


American Emerald (Cordulia shurtleffii)



Pacific Forktail (Ischnura cervula)



Northern or Boreal Bluet (Enallagma sp.)