Near bird blind at old beaverpond in central part of Gus Engeling WMA

female

@greglasley @briangooding @jcabbott

A new species for the WMA, and a significant range extension to the NW of this rare Clubtail species. This is my first time seeing the species. It flew in to perch on a grass clump in tall reeds and grasses in an area with lots of feral hog trails. Unfortunately, all my photos are from a similar angle because I was trying to photograph through grass clumps without disturbing it.

This is definitely one of the larger TX clubtails! I first thought it was a Black-shouldered Spinyleg when it flew in, but quickly realized it was something I'd never seen before.

As a side note, I suspect that a large male clubtail that I saw flying low and briefly perching on sunny sticks just above the water and in a deeply shaded portion of Catfish Creek on the north end of the WMA may have been this species. I assumed it was a Black-shouldered Spinyleg at the time, but noticed that the thorax seemed very 'bright' for that species. Unfortunately, I was unable to photograph that individual.

The 'Beaver Ponds' in the Angelina National Forest.

Lifer!

One of two females seen flying in this area today. Both were hunting with brief flights away from tree trunks and then returning; much the same way that a Gray Petaltail does, but more frequently.

I had no idea this Darner would be so small. It seems that the body outline in Dragonflies of Texas (Abbott) is scaled incorrectly. This is a very small Darner!

Update: Following an email conversation with Mike Moore @mike_moore and John Abbott @jcabbott, both have confirmed that this is now the first record of G. antilope in TX. A second record came only a week later (link below), and confirms that this species does actually occur in TX. Previously, the closest observations to TX were in western Louisiana.

To summarize from the several sources John and Mike have provided, here are the primary differences for distinguishing between G. furcillata (Harlequin Darner) and G. antilope (Taper-tailed Darner), with the very informative links included at the bottom:

G. furcillata vs. G. antilope

• Females only: no sideways '7' on S2 vs. sideways '7' on S2 (clearly visible on this individual).
• Females only: amber beyond/distal to nodus rather than at or near nodus.
• Distal cells between veins M2 and Rs at end of hind wing form double cells for ~10 cells vs. ~2-3 cells.
• Usually 2-3 bridge veins in hindwing triangle vs. single bridge vein in hindwing triangle.
• No mid-dorsal orange spots on S2-3 vs. mid-dorsal orange spots on S2-3 and sometimes S4.
• Males only: downward curved appendages vs. straight appendages.

This just goes to show that you never know what you will find when you least expect it! :-)

Thanks very much, Mike and John, for all your help and patience. I really appreciate it!

@greglasley @briangooding @tdavenport @williamedwards @zvkemp @ericisley @gnat79 I'm guessing you all will find this interesting.

https://mcmoore.smugmug.com/Odonates/DelmarvaOdonates/Dragons/Darners/Tapertailed-Darner/i-MZgGjSw/A
https://mcmoore.smugmug.com/Odonates/DelmarvaOdonates/Dragons/Darners/Harlequin-Darner/i-9swnVLS/A
http://www.dpr.ncparks.gov/odes/a/accounts.php?id=56

The second TX record observed one week later on April 3, 2020:

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/41299234

Crested Caracara
Caracara cheriway
adult - preening
Las Colmenas Ranch
near McCook,
Hidalgo Co., Texas
11 June 2006

This is the same bird on the same perch as the observation at:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/41171728
but this was a week later. This bird showed up many mornings on this perch to preen and allowed me to sit in my vehicle and take photos.

Walking up the hill Eric Isley spotted our friend trying to warm up on the rocks of the pond overflow. At 57 F the 3 1/2 ft serpent's impressive tail piece remained unrattled despite Eric's effort to get to get a glamour headshot. It didn't even flick it's tongue.

Female Argia translata

This damselfly scared the hell out of me despite its relatively tiny size. I spotted it while I was stepping away from the creek and expected it to fly away as I approached. After it didn't, even from my towering height of 5' 7" I could tell something was amiss.

As I leaned in I could make it out through the viewfinder I could see it moving somewhat mechanically, very reflexively. I looked at the end of the abdomen first because I suspected this species and wanted to confirm. Moving forward it was clearly a recently emerged damsel with some wing damage on the opposite side.

Reaching the head I almost felt a chill run through me as I could see a deflated-looking, crushed in head that twitched and wobbled occasionally, with reflexive movement in the hindlegs occurring after.

The natural-looking upright position and was probably the most disturbing part and I wondered what animal rendered this damselfly in such a position and left it rather than consuming it. Or was the damage merely a result of complications emerging and damsel crawled just that far away from the exuviae eight inches away instinctively but could not (understandably) do more.

I've seen many insects in this chicken with their head cut off situation before but this one seemed much more alive even though it was clearly dead.

Unfortunately, numerous times I've had decapitated dragonflies on my finger and watched their legs move, no globular control center protruding from their prothorax...but even though you could elicit wing flapping response they seemed distinctly robotic.

Anyway...kind of an odd sighting.

Common Poorwills are still calling just after dark and just before dawn on the ranch I am currently staying on. I went out about 9 pm and drove some of the ranch roads slowly to see if I might find some on the roads. This species often loafs on roads at night in my experience. I saw 4 in about 20 minutes time but only one let me get any shots. First image shows the bird on the road as it appeared in the vehicle headlights. Image 2 was when I worked my way a little closer on foot.

This male Checkered Setwing is carrying a huge load of water mites on its thorax. For some reason, among dragonflies, I have noted that the genus Dythemis seems to have visible water mites more often than most other dragon genera, but this individual is certainly among the 10 most mite-loaded dragons I've ever seen. Several images here to show this mite concentration.

Toxomerus marginatus mating in flight

Annika and I agreed that we had both seen this species mating numerous times but never mating in flight.

Only the male's wings were moving and he seemed to be generally steering them in the shade. We watched them for a few minutes during which they never landed or exited a perimeter more than 18"² or so.

Anax junius exuviae

Masses of A. junius (and less probably, a few A. longipes) exuviae.

I estimated there must have been at least 500 easily visible Anax sp. exuviae on the route I walked.

There were more in adjacent vegetation that was out of/farther away from the ponds' edges but I did not search for or count them.

Very cool to see. Obviously they didn't all come out on one day but I would like to go one morning and see, even if just a handful were emerging at once/readily visible.

I'm extremely curious how many/what general percentages are predated. The site chosen for ecdysis ranged from dense brush to dead twigs directly in the open, as seen here.

This Gray Fox showed up in the late afternoon today. This is not my "regular" Gray Fox which has a damaged right ear:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/24469123

I have seen as many as three on my property at the same time and I presume this is one of them. Beautiful animal!