California's Year 2007 Dragonfly Sighting
 
 
 
 






 
 
 
Sightings are listed in order from MOST recently to LEAST recently seen! 
Please send your sightings, with date, county and location as displayed below to Kathy Biggs.
date (month/day/year) 
County (name of county where seen) 
your name 
place, etc. 
species common name &/or scientific name - #s & other data, comments 
species common name &/or scientific name- #s & other data, comments 
etc. 
See examples below 
THANKS!
 
 
 






 
 
Key:
Species will be posted using either the Common Name or the Scientific Name, whichever the sender uses (inc. using both), 
but all first and last sightings of the year, county records, and new flight data will be posted using both names. 
To contact the person making the sighting, email Kathy Biggs.
COUNTY RECORDS are underlined and in red text 
OC=Odonata Central: http://odonatacentral.bfl.utexas.edu/records/US_new_records.asp report new county records here
*= first/last sighting of species of year in CA 
**= new flight data for species in CA
#= possibly a migratory event
 
 
 






 
 
 
As of the most recent date below,
26 species (out of 111 known species) have been reported to this site as flying in CA in 2007.
0 new county records &/or upgrades to county records have been made this year
(this # includes upgrades of previous 'sighting only' records, newly accessed museum collections and new reports of prior year's data).
`Sighting only' records need further documentation, but please report them so we can try to get substantiation.
There may be upgrades of previous `sighting only' records and new specimen records from recently examined museum/private collections listed. 
If you find such a record, please email it to Kathy Biggs <bigsnest@sonic.net>
County records should be substantiated with specimen (preferable) or photo and notes.
Report new county records to Odonata Central: http://odonatacentral.bfl.utexas.edu/records/US_new_records.asp for verification 
 
 
 






 
 
 
March 2007

 

 

March 30

Marin County

Matthew DiFilippis

Cascade Canyon Open Space

Blue-eyed/Calif. darner sighted by a 3rd grade student

…….

Alameda County
John Hall, David Edwards
Quarry Lakes Recreation Area
Tule Bluet  20 (1 in hand)
Familiar Bluet  4                     
Bluet,sp  1                           
Common Green Darner  6                
California Darner   1                 
Blue-eyed Darner   3                  
Variegated Meadowhawk  6              
*Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata)   4              
Fremont Central Park
Stiver's Lagoon area
Vivid Dancer  1                       
Pacific Forktail  20                   
Western Forktail   1                  
California Darner  10                  
Variegated Meadowhawk   1             
Cardinal Meadowhawk   2   
…….
San Diego County 
Douglas Aguillard

Greenwood Cemetery in San Diego.

1 Flame Skimmer

, 1* Western Pondhawk (Erythemis collocata),

 many Pacific Forktails and

several Black-fronted Forktails.

 

March 29, 2007

Sonoma County

Kathy & Dave Biggs
Bigsnest Pond, our Sebastopol backyard
*Exclamation Damsels Zoniagrion exclamationis - found 3 matures in our back yard, 2 females and a male, which confirms the suspected teneral one 
I thought I saw yesterday afternoon. They breed in Azalea Creek behind our property, and to a lesser extent, in our pond. These are from the creek.
Also have a Pacific Forktail on the pond already this morning.
By the end of the day, we could report 5 species on the pond:
Pacific Forktail - ~8, including one ovipositing female
Western Forktail~ 3, including one ovipositing female
Exclamation Damsel 3 males
Blue-eyed/Calif. Darner – 1 quick flyby
Cardinal Meadowhawk - +/> 3, including ovipositing pairs
…….
Marin County
John Hall, David Edwards
Lake Lagunitas
Boreal Bluet  1 ( in hand)                       
Tule Bluet  4                         
Pacific Forktail  150                   
Exclamation Damsel  15                 
California Darner  3                  
Alpine Lake, Marin 
Tule Bluet  2 ( 1 in hand)                         
Bluet ,sp  3                           
Pacific Forktail  15                   
Western Forktail  15                   
California Darner  1
 

 

March 26, 2007

Riverside County

Peter Siminski

Whitewater River channel from Lincoln Street to its mouth at the Salton Sea;  8 - 11am, 75- 85 degrees, hazy, light winds.

Rambur's Forktail, Ischnura ramburii, 35+, one wheel, some tenerals, some of the orangish gynomorphic females, mostly males seen

Variegated Meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum, 4

Wandering Glider, Pantala flavescens, 1

Spot-winged Glider, Pantala hymenaea, 8

Thousand Palms Oasis at the Coachella Valley Preserve; 12:30 - 13:00pm, 82 degrees, light winds.

Vivid Dancer, Argia vivida, 15+, one tandem

Paiute Dancer, Argia alberta, 2, one examined in hand.

 
March 24, 2007 
Shasta County 
Ray Bruun
Anderson River Park 
*Beaverpond Baskettail - a teneral male
…….
Sonoma County 
Dave and Kathy Biggs 
Our Sebastopol back yard pond:
Pacific Forktail, 1 m. mature
Cardinal Meadowhawk, 1 m, young, claiming a territory
 
March 23, 2007
Yolo County

John Sterling

Davis

Spot-winged Glider

……..

Mendocino County 
Matthew McMullen 
Comptche
Pacific Forktail – 1 imm female
…….
Solano County
Steve Abbott
American Canyon (Vallejo)
Pacific Spiketail – one, teneral [this would be a new early fight data by over a month if it can be confirmed!! – kb]
…….
Santa Clara County
John Hall, David Edwards
Monte Bello OSP seep area
This was our third visit to the area this year and the first time we recorded any ode activity. 
Previous visits were on Feb 5 and March 10. 
Vivid Dancer  1                       
Pacific Forktail  1                   
* Swift Forktail Ischnura erratica   12                    
Monte Bello OSP pond
Pacific Forktail  25                   
Western Forktail  10                   
Common Green Darner  1                
California Darner  1                  
*Blue-eyed Darner  1                   
….
San Mateo County
Skyline Ridge OSP  Alpine Pond
Pacific Forktail 1
Skyline Ridge OSP  Horseshoe Lake
Pacific Forktail  7                   
Western Forktail  14                   
Common Green Darner  2                
California Darner   2                 
Variegated Meadowhawk  1              
 
March 22, 2007 
Sonoma County 
Dave and Kathy Biggs 
Our Sebastopol back yard pond:
Pacific Forktail, 1 m 
*Western Forktail (Ischnura perparva) 1 m
Also had a young Cardinal Meadowhawk circle the pond twice before flying off. 
Realizing that tomorrow was the earliest date we had for Exclamation Damsels, we went over to the Sonoma Horticultural Gardens where they have been so prevalent in years past, but we couldn't find even one yet. Yesterday while in Cloverdale, we looked along the Russian River for Rubyspots, but found none.
…….
Alameda County
John Hall, David Edwards 
Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area
*Tule Bluet Enallagma carunculatum   5                        
Familiar Bluet  2                     
Bluet,sp     4                        
Pacific Forktail  400                   
Western Forktail   2                  
Common Green Darner  4                
Variegated Meadowhawk  1   
 
March 19, 2007 
Sonoma County 
Dave and Kathy Biggs
Their Sebastopol backyard
California Darner Rhionaeschna californica  1M – eating insects stirred up by the lawn mower!
 
March 18, 2007 
Sonoma County 
Gloria and Harry Conley
Their Sebastopol backyard pond
*Cardinal Meadowhawk Sympetrum illotum – at least 8 exuviae on their pond; several seen on maiden flight
 
March 17, 2007 
Inyo County 
Ron and Barbara Oriti
Farmer's Pond, Bishop area

Variegated Meadowhawk

…….

Riverside County
Peter Siminski

Coachella Valley Preserve, Thousand Palms Oasis:  102F in early afternoon

**Paiute Dancer, Argia alberta,  2,  ?Not looked at in hand – [new early flight data by  2 wks if confirmed – kb]

Blue-ringed Dancer, Argia sedula,  2

Vivid Dancer, Argia vivida,  30+,  Several in tandem

 

March 16, 2007

Imperial County

Peter Siminski

Fig Lagoon Wildlife Area:    90s, calm and clear morning

Familiar Bluet,  Enallagma civile,  15+ 

Rambur's Forktail, Ischnura ramburii,  1

Common Green Darner, Anax junius,  1

Variegated Meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum, 4

Wandering Glider, Pantala flavescens, 1

Spot-winged Glider, Pantala hymenaea, 1

…….

San Mateo County
John Hall, David Edwards
San Bruno Mountain State Park
* California Darner Rhionaeschna californica  6                 
Variegated Meadowhawk  2   

 

March 15, 2007

Alameda County

John Hall, David Edwards

Sunol Regional Wilderness

Vivid Dancer  2                     

Pacific Forktail  1    

 

March 10-15, 2007
San Diego County
Tim Manolis

… along the San Diego River behind our hotel (Town and Country, in Hotel Circle) were good numbers of

Pacific Forktails and 1-2 fly-by darners (Common Green?  not seen well enough to ID for sure).

…….

Santa Clara County

John Hall

a couple of hilltop parks not far from us. I was pleasantly surprised to see a Wandering Glider fly over.

…….

Monterey County

Don Roberson

Laguna Grande, 10 Mar 2007

Pacific Forktail - 8

Laguna Grande, 12 Mar 2007

Pacific Forktail - 1

Black-fronted Forktail – 2

Frog Pond Natural Area,15 Mar 2007
 Vivid Dancer (2 tenerals) 
…….
Shasta County
Bruce Deuel 
Redding Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant – March 14
I saw 4 Variegated Meadowhawks, including an ovipositing pair

…….

Sacramento County

Tom Roach

Ferrari Pond

Pacific Forktails – 2 males photographed

…….

Alameda County

Douglas Vaughan

I made a brief foray for odes on Monday (when it reached 83 in Berkeley) and found only a single lavender

Argia vivida in the Lake Anza parking lot!

…….

Sonoma County

Dave and Kathy Biggs

Shiloh Regional Park east of .Windsor (north of Santa Rosa) (~4:00pm):

We hiked into the ponds and were rewarded by our first Odes of the year:

Pacific Forktail - 8 (1 pair in cop; 2 adult males; 2 adult females; 2 tenerals on maiden flight)

 

March 10, 2007
Riverside County
Peter Siminski
Dos Palmas Preserve Odes are emerging.  Most looked pretty fresh, except for some of the S. corruptum.  It was into the 90s
Blue-ringed Dancer, Argia sedula, ~12
Vivid Dancer, Argia vivida,  8,  Two pairs in tandem oviposition
Familiar Bluet, Enallagma civile, 6
Desert Forktail, Ischnura barberi, 1
Rambur's Forktail, Ischnura ramburii,  30+
Common Green Darner, Anax junius,  8, One pair flying in tandem
*Flame Skimmer, Libellula saturata,  5

*Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis, 1
Spot-winged Glider, Pantala hymenaea, 1

Variegated Meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum,  ~12

*Red Saddlebags, Tramea onusta, 1

March 9, 2007

Imperial County

Peter Siminski

CDFG Imperial Wildlife Area, Finney Lake

*Familiar Bluet, Enallagma civile,  1 male

Enallagma sp., 1 female

Rambur's Forktail, Ischnura ramburii,  6

**Desert Forktail, Ischnura barberi,  2  [new early flight data by 4 days –kb]

The damselflies were along the grassy (Disticlis) ditch leading from the SW end of the lake to the Alamo River.

*Common Green Darner, Anax junius, 1male

Variegated Meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum, 2

Spot-winged Glider, Pantala hymenaea, 1

……

David Blue
West Pond and McKinley Road
Familiar Bluet Enallagma civile  2 (ph.)
Blue-ringed Dancer Argia sedula  1
Black-fronted Forktail Ischnura denticollis  3 (ph.)
*Citrine Forktail Ischnura hastata  2 (ph.) – New early date for CA – [by 17 days!! – kb]
Rambur's Forktail Ischnura ramburii  4 (ph.)
Spot-winged Glider Pantala hymenaea  1
UFOs  ~6

 

March 3, 2007

San Francisco County

Sulka (from Finland)

Lincoln Street irrigation ditch, Mecca CA Golden Gate Park in San Francisco and spotted two 
*Ischnura cervula Pacific Forktail on the eastern part of Lake Stow. 
(Assuming my identification is correct, of course.
 Never seen the species before, just two Ischnura species that can be found in Finland.) [yes! –kb]
Here's two shots of the specimens:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sulka/410011635/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sulka/410011637/
Unfortunately I scared the female away and it flew to a position I couldn't get more shots 
…….

Imperial County

Peter Siminski

CDFG Imperial Wildlife Area, Wister Unit, Ruddy Road pond

**Spot-winged Glider Pantala hymenaea  1 [new early flight data by 6 days)

 
 
 
February 2007
 
 

February 18, 2007

Riverside County

Peter Siminski

Lincoln Street irrigation ditch, Mecca CA

Wandering Glider  Pantala flavescens  1

Variegated Meadowhawk  Sympetrum corruptum  1 

 

February 17, 2007

Riverside Country

Matt Heindel

Anza-Borrego SP - pathetically dry -

*Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens) at the Visitor's Center, which David Blue reminds me is an early (or late or lingering?) date. [I think this makes the species a year round flier! – kb]

Up the Palm Canyon trail, where there is a little water, I had a pair of ovipositing

 Vivid Dancers (Argia vivida), and a teneral male up near the big stand of palms.

I had a male Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum) at the lower San Felipe creek crossing.

The highlight: Bighorn sheep! We had 4 at the main arroyo crossing on our way up the Palm trail. Then, at the water we had different small groups, including 2 little gray things. We ended up with >15 on the day and some very nice pictures. Some were within 30 feet. I am not sure if this was just the luck of the day, or if the water and dry mountains brought them down.

 

February 10, 2007

Riverside Country

Peter Siminski

Dos Palmas Preserve

*Rambur's Forktail Ischnura ramburii 2

*Vivid Dancer Argia vivida 3 

*Blue-ringed Dancer Argia sedula 1
 

February 3, 2007

Riverside Country

Bob Miller and Paul Jorgensen

Dos Palmas Preserve
Caught a glimpse of a larger sized Dragonfly and it's shadow but it promptly disappeared.  No clue...  A bit later we went by small pool of water
with an area about 50 by 20 feet and only about eight inches deep in a very open habitat.  I caught sight of a smaller dragon face on.   
Paul Jorgensen and I hoped out of the vehicle and got on it right away.  Male Variegated Meadowhawk.  Lost it.  Spotted it again and it was in 
tandem with a female and ovipositing in the pond!  They separated after about two minutes and the male came back to the perch where we 
originally saw it.  I would call that an official start for my ode season!
 
 

January 2007

 

January 8, 2007

Marin County

Rich Stallcup

Point Reyes Station

* Wandering Glider Pantala flavescens (a fine, high-flying dragonfly) – ‘last sighting’ from the 2006 flight season?

 

January 1, 2007

San Diego County

David Blue

Torrey Pines State Reserve

Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum)  1

…

Shasta County

Ray Bruun

My wife, Mary, and I took a walk in the Shingletown hills. It was sunny and relatively warm.  We saw two *Variegated Meadowhawks.  
Got a great look at one, a surprisingly fresh looking male.
 

 

 


Thanks for your interest.

Kathy Biggs