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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.