This was decidedly not a targeted odonata trip but mainly a tourist trip to catch up with an old friend not seen in many years. I was located permanently in Richmond, Virginia making mostly local forays as and when I could. It was also very late in the flight season so expectations were not high (fortunately). I was blessed with wonderful weather enjoying two weeks of sunshine, which was considered unseasonably good for the area by the locals – temperatures were in the 20-25°C range, generally.
I found just six species but, being my first attempt at odonata in the USA, they were all new to me so there’s no point highlighting new ones in bold type. Probably as surprising as my finds, however, were my lack of finds at three locations with apparently excellent habitat. In a break from my usual format, I note these below as well.
The map:
Deep Run Park, 28 Oct [#1]
My first attempt at a promising looking park near my host’s address. I’d checked on iNaturalist and there are sightings here so, with the weather set fair I was hopeful for more than a single passing darner (mosaic hawker) which did not pose for pictures.
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 29 Oct [#2]
Another site with observations on iNaturalist but, alas, for me another blank despite the fair weather. One of the two ponds in particular looked like very good habitat.
I was beginning to think that I was simply too late in the season. As a consolation prize I had fun with a whole bunch of other insects swarming on some asters.
Wilkes Ridge Parkway Ponds, 31 Oct & 2 Nov [#3]
Our host’s residence is at the bottom end of Wilkes Ridge Parkway. At the top end were two accessible ponds beside a medical facility. At long last we found four species still flying. So I was NOT too late.
I would love to have seen the spectacular female of Erythemis simplicicollis (Eastern Pondhawk) but sadly it was not to be.
- Enallagma civile (Familiar Bluet)
- Ischnura posita (Fragile Forktail)
- Pachydiplax Longipennis (Blue Dasher)
- Erythemis simplicicollis (Eastern Pondhawk)
Lake Anna, 1 Nov [#4]
Lake Anna is a huge rambling dammed reservoir with many very convoluted side arms. We had gone out solo to find lunch in an interesting rural town and called in here on the return trip. It added a new Ischnura verticalis (Eastern Forktail) to my meagre collection. This was also our first meeting with Ischnura posita (Fragile Forktail).
- Ischnura posita (Fragile Forktail)
- Ischnura verticalis (Eastern Forktail)
- Pachydiplax Longipennis (Blue Dasher)
Wyndham Lake, 1 Nov [#5]
A lake that we were somewhat familiar with from our host’s previous location before moving. It’s big water, looking largely deserted at first, so I was not surprised eventually to see Enallagma civile (Familiar Bluet) here, being painfully similar to our own Enallagma cyathigerum (Common Blue Damselfly).
- Enallagma civile (Familiar Bluet)
Tuckahoe Creek Park, 3 Nov [#6]
Tuckahoe creek ran around our host’s residence but was inaccessible. Tuckahoe Creek Park was a modest distance away and I had high hopes which were, alas, dashed when we found nothing in beautiful looking habitat. They are there, though, according to iNaturalist.
James River Park Pony Pasture, 6 Nov [#6]
Once again, iNaturalist led me here. There were sightings of this delightful Hetaerina titia (Smoky Rubyspot), which I was very happy to find.
It also had sightings of a so-called meadowhawk (darter) which I would love to have seen but failed to find. The water in the relevant pond was very low, there having been little rain recently, which may have been responsible.
- Hetaerina titia (Smoky Rubyspot)
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