Cirque de la Mare

The athletic, acrobatic Unicorn Clubtail obelisks on water!

Appetites

1.
I returned to the small pond today, hoping to see the Unicorn Clubtail. I did, but it dodged me and my camera. I am ravenous for new odonates.

2.
One new sight I wish I hadn't seen was an emergent Comet Darner, whose abdomen never fully emerged from the exuvia. All of the mature color had already set it, indicating the darner had been there some time. I wonder if I will see it again tomorrow, or if, by then, someone will have eaten it.

3.
This Amber-winged Spreadwing snagged breakfast and ate it quickly as I filmed it. All gone within just a couple of minutes. He looks small and thin, but the fuel he requires for the hard work of flying and mating is large, as his appetite.

So Early in the Season

but in three hours today at Lake Cheston and the small Day Lake Road pond, I saw 24 species: Comet Darner, Common Green Darner, Carolina Saddlebags, Southern Sprite, Eastern Amberwing, Common Whitetail, Common Baskettail, Eastern Pondhawk, Widow Skimmer, Spangled Skimmer, Golden-winged Skimmer, Slaty Skimmer, Blue Corporal, Blue Dasher, Lancet Clubtail, Fragile Forktail, Violet Dancer, Powdered Dancer, Calico Pennant, Banded Pennant, Double-ringed Pennant, Azure Bluet, Amber-winged Spreadwing, and one county record -- the Unicorn Clubtail.

This is going to be a very good year indeed.