Long Island Odonate Site Survey - July 18, 20012

Calverton Ponds, Calverton, New York

Water was low on this day and sky overcaste but there was still much Odonate activity. Along with the following odonates seen there were also the Green Darner (Anax junius) and the Comet Darner (Anax longipes). Azure bluets (Enallagma aspersum) were most abundant with approximate 5o seen. This year I found a blue form female Citrine Forktail (Ischnura hastata) for the first time with several males.

Calico Pennant ( Celithemis elisa)

Azure Bluet (Enallagma aspersum)

Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) female

Atlantic Bluet (Enallagma doubledayi)

Atlantic Bluet (Enallagma doubledayi)

Citrine Forktail  (Ischnura hastata)

Citrine Forktail  (Ischnura hastata) Blue form female

Site Photo

Site Photo

North Fork Audubon's 5th Annual Family Dragonfly Day in Greenport

Common Green Darner (Anax junius)

On Saturday, August 13, The North Fork Audubon Society had its 5th Annual Family Dragonfly Day at Skipper Horton Wentworth Park in Greenport. Adults and children of all ages spent a wonderful afternoon learning all about Dragonflies. Sonomi helped children create origami dragonflies and Sarah Williams taught “All About Dragonflies”. Expert Annette DeGiovine Oliveria was on hand to help identify local dragonflies and damselflies.

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Connie Gillies (of Constant Wonder www.conniegillies.com) and GP Lane performed "edu-tainment' for the children!  Through theater games and interactive music children acted out the life cycle of the magnificent dragonfly and other OVIPAROUS creatures on the North Fork, Connie performed her award winning interactive original songs, laugh and learn!

 

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Needham's Skimmer (Libellula needhami)

Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata)

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"Children of all ages, armed with nets and cameras, marvelled at the wonder of nature at the North Fork Audubon Society Dragonfly Day. Each year the local chapter of the Audubon Society uses the day to teach young and old about the amazing dragonflies and damselflies found in our local ponds. Expert Annette Oliveira was on hand to tell the children how to catch the bugs and what particular species of "odonates" was caught. Some lucky children even had dragonflies land on their hands and heads."

By Andrea Pickerell of North Fork Patch

 

Start of Dragonfly and Damselfly Season on Long Island

Some Dragonflies like the Common Green Darner have migrated back into our area. Other Dragonflies and Damselflies have begun to emerge from our ponds, streams and rivers. The Common Green Darner (Anax junius) is one of our earliest migrants and the Eastern Forktail (Ischnura verticalis) is one of our early emergers. 

This Eastern Forktail male was found on DEC property in Manorville

There are other species seen in this area which has a sandy-bottomed fishless pond. Other species that have been seen here are the Tiger Salamanders, Spoonleaf Sundews, Tiger Beetles, Cicada Killers, Red Velvet Ants, Sweetflag Spreadwings and other dragonflies and damselflies. More species will be added as they are identified.

Also on the same DEC property was this Juvenal's Duskywing and the Lanceleaf Violet below.

 

Common Green Darner - Anax junius

Common Green Darner (Anax junius)

Kismet (Fire Island), NY