Tarrant County 2011 Sightings
March 02, 2011 - First damselflies, including Ischnura posita (fragile forktail), spotted at Colleyville Nature Center (hereafter referred to as CNC). Also an Epithecan exuvia was found in the water.
March 10, 2011 - First Aeshnid specimen seen flying high in the air at CNC.
March 12, 2011 - Sympetrum sp. spotted high above the Trinity River's banks at River Legacy.
March 18, 2011 - Anax junius (green darner) has made appearances. A male Tramea onusta (red saddlebags) was spotted patrolling a pond at River Legacy. Surprising, I don't remember seeing this species so early in the year. Male Ischnura hastata (citrine forktail) also spotted same location.
March 21, 2011 - Collected well over 30 Anisopteran (most likely Epithecan) exuviae while along the edge of a pond at CNC.
March 22, 2011 - Explosion!! Over a dozen Epithecans flying all over near ponds at CNC.
March 24, 2011 - A juvenile male Plathemis lydia (common whitetail) spotted flying near pond at CNC.
March 26, 2011 - Had a dream I saw Orthemis ferruginea (roseate skimmer)...but did not see species IRL.
April 02, 2011 - Saw Pachydiplax longipennis (blue dasher) and Tramea lacerata (black saddlebags) at CNC.
April 04, 2011 - Saw juvenile male Erythemis simplicicollis (eastern pondhawk) at CNC. Mature Tramea lacerata (black saddlebags) seen hovering over ponds at same location.
April 08, 2011 - Though Sympetrum corruptum is listed as a year-round species in some places and I may have already seen it here, today I made the first positive identification for spring's flight season at River Legacy.
April 14, 2011 - Wow...Erythemis vesiculosa (great pondhawk) seen at CNC. I have only seen this species a handful of times. We have none of the great pondhawk in the museum. I took a swipe at it today and only grazed a wing. Maybe next time.
April 16, 2011 - Saw first Epitheca princeps (prince baskettail) at River Legacy. Also spotted and captured first species of Gomphidae (clubtail).
April 23, 2011 - Found exuviae of Perithemis tenera (eastern amberwing) at at CNC. Later saw some mature amberwings flying, so they had at least been emerging for a couple of days. I hadn't been out much due to rain and the removal of my wisdom teeth. Also saw Telebasis salva (desert firetail), a vibrant red damselfly, the only all-red damselfly in Tarrant County.
April 30, 2011 - Saw male Brachymesia gravida (four-spotted pennant) flying around a swampy pond at River Legacy. I had a dream last week that I had seen some of these dragonflies but at that time it was only a dream whereas now it has become a reality.
May 26, 2011 - Male Dythemis velox (swift setwing) seen perching over water at CNC. Juvenile Libellula luctuosa (widow skimmer) were seen earlier that week.
June 09, 2011 - Saw Celithemis eponina (halloween pennant), Libellula vibrans (great blue skimmer) and Pantala flavescens (wandering glider) at CNC. Admittedly, I have been absent from my duties for a while, either out of town or under duress and too mentally unstable to be held accountable to accurately identify dragonflies in the field. So, these species might have appeared somewhat sooner than the date I have listed--however, this is the best information I have to report.
June 10, 2011 - Libellula croceipennis (neon skimmer) seen at Parr Park. Also, saw (and captured) Progomphus obscurus (common sanddragon)--not sure if this species has been out before because I had not previously identified it.
June 11, 2011 - A beautiful male Dythemis fugax (checkered setwing) spotted patrolling around a pond at CNC.
June 12, 2011 - Pantala hymenaea (spot-winged glider) seen relaxing in brush at CNC.
June 17, 2011 - Male Libellula incesta (slaty skimmer) perching and flying along slow stream at CNC.
June 21, 2011 - Male Brian confusedwing (me) seen flying over the Atlantic Ocean to the People's Republic of China.
--end transmission of first sighting 2011 data--
