Trip to Virginia: May 28 to June 10
I headed east for an annual speleology research trip, and was determined to make some more above-ground observations this year than in the past. I was especially determined to see some new Dragonflies and Damselflies.
The trip started off less than inspiring, with flooding rains for the first 500 of 1250 miles, and rain at our forest campsite for the first week causing huge mud issues. But my work was in caves, so we really didn't care too much.
I kept an eye out for dragonflies during the first week or so, and only got a photos of a Common Whitetail. I did briefly see what I believe was a large Cruiser of some sort, patrolling a woodland road, but it flew away and never returned.
At the end of the trip, I had a couple days when I had some spare time, and I visited some local US Forest Service lakes and a large beaverdam complex in a fairly isolated headwaters stream. These sites were much more satisfying, and I saw many, many Odonates, only 50% or so of which I was able to photograph. One group that I never managed to photograph a single individual in were the Darners; I saw a number of them, but they refused to perch for me, and every time I scared one up in a meadow or along a trail, it didn't land again in sight.
The observations linked with this entry also include plants, flowers, herps, a few birds, a few fungi, and terrestrial snails. Sorting and ID'ing will still take me a few days, so it is not yet a complete set of observations for the trip.
Observations
Photos / Sounds
What
Eastern Black Bear (Ursus americanus ssp. americanus)Observer
beschwarDescription
While camping, a bear dog chased a medium to large bear past our camping area. No photo of the bear, but there was plenty of bear poo around, so I can provide a photo of that. Despite what the location says, it is not on National Forest but is on private property.
Photos / Sounds
What
Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)Observer
beschwarDescription
Found at a rest stop on I-59
Photos / Sounds
What
Fire Pink (Silene virginica)Observer
beschwarDescription
This flower is missing one of the five petals that the flower should have.
Photos / Sounds
What
Southeastern Whitelip (Neohelix major)Observer
beschwarDescription
Found in leaves on the ground in a wooded sinkhole. Only one seen at this site, despite a lot of searching.
Photos / Sounds
What
Four-leaved Milkweed (Asclepias quadrifolia)Observer
beschwarDescription
Fairly common in the woods in this region
Photos / Sounds
What
Violet Woodsorrel (Oxalis violacea)Observer
beschwarDescription
Less common than the yellow sorrel species in this area.
Photos / Sounds
What
Northern Slimy Salamander (Plethodon glutinosus)Observer
beschwarDescription
I can't really figure out how to tell all the Slimy Salamanders apart, and it appears that there are several which live in this region. This one was well back in a narrow fissure in a limestone cliff near a cave entrance, and I was unable to get a better photo of it.
Photos / Sounds
What
Cumberland Plateau Salamander (Plethodon kentucki)Observer
beschwarDescription
Perhaps Plethodon cylindraceus is the correct ID on this one? Again, I'm really not sure how to tell the species apart.
Found on a large slab of bark leaning against a limestone cliff near a cave entrance.
Photos / Sounds
What
American Giant Millipede Complex (Complex Narceus americanus)Observer
beschwarDescription
These are quite common in the forest in this region.
Photos / Sounds
What
Red-spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens ssp. viridescens)Observer
beschwarDescription
Many were seen in this area.
Photos / Sounds
What
Common Cinquefoil (Potentilla simplex)Observer
beschwarDescription
I'm not sure on the species for this.
Photos / Sounds
What
Panicled Ticktrefoil (Desmodium paniculatum)Observer
beschwarDescription
I've seen this frequently in the woods in this region, and I assume it must be a flowering plant, but I have no idea what it is.
Photos / Sounds
What
Appalachian Mimic Millipedes (Genus Brachoria)Observer
beschwarDescription
I think this could be Brachoria virginia, based on the range and coloration, but I'm definitely not knowledgeable about these guys. Many of them in moist leaf litter all over the region.
Photos / Sounds
What
Pink Fringed Faery Cup (Microstoma floccosum)Observer
beschwarDescription
These were pretty common under the edges of rotting logs and leaf-covered logs. Large cup is ~1cm in diameter.
Photos / Sounds
What
Common Eastern Bumble Bee (Bombus impatiens)Observer
beschwarDescription
Based on information I found here, I think this is the correct ID.
Photos / Sounds
What
Ravine Salamander (Plethodon richmondi)Observer
beschwarDescription
Found in wet leaf litter near a cave entrance.
Photos / Sounds
What
Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)Observer
beschwarDescription
Found in a small swampy clearing
Photos / Sounds
What
Needle-tipped Blue-Eyed-Grass (Sisyrinchium mucronatum)Observer
beschwarDescription
On the edge of a small swampy clearing.
Photos / Sounds
What
Azure Bluet (Enallagma aspersum)Observer
beschwarDescription
Male and female - I did not see them in copula, but the patterns match this species and they were flying near each other.
Photos / Sounds
What
Bluejacket (Tradescantia ohiensis)Observer
beschwarDescription
I think this is correct, but the leaves below the flowers were longer than I remember seeing them before.
Photos / Sounds
What
Twelve-spotted Skimmer (Libellula pulchella)Observer
beschwarDescription
Male and female seen in this general area.
Photos / Sounds
What
Spangled Skimmer (Libellula cyanea)Observer
beschwarDescription
I saw a number of these today.
Photos / Sounds
What
Amber-winged Spreadwing (Lestes eurinus)Observer
beschwarDescription
Because I don't know Lestes sp in this region, I may be posting duplicate observations for the same species. If so, I will combine into a single observation later.
Photos / Sounds
What
Brown Spiketail (Cordulegaster bilineata)Observer
beschwarDescription
I saw a few of these at different times during the day. They seemed to be relatively common.
Photos / Sounds
What
American Emerald (Cordulia shurtleffii)Observer
beschwarDescription
Although the single dragonfly was not one of the ones pictured mating (it was nearby), I believe they are all the same species.
Photos / Sounds
What
Slaty Skimmer (Libellula incesta)Observer
beschwarDescription
These were relatively common.
Photos / Sounds
What
Arrowhead Spiketail (Cordulegaster obliqua)Observer
beschwarDescription
I think this ID is correct. This was the only one of this species that I saw today, and it was larger than the other Spiketails by 1-2 cm. Perching in shaded bushes at the edge of a clearing in the woods, about 1m off the ground. Wary.
Photos / Sounds
What
Little Blue Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax minuscula)Observer
beschwarDescription
First time seeing this species, so I'm not very confident on the ID. Seems to match though.
Photos / Sounds
What
Dot-tailed Whiteface (Leucorrhinia intacta)Observer
beschwarDescription
I'm sure this must not be a correct ID, based on the range for Spot-Tailed Dasher, but it is the only thing I have found in keys and photos that looks similar. It's probably just a common dragonfly that I don't yet know. Unfortunately, I only got a single shot from a distance before it flew away.
@greglasley Do you have any ID suggestions?
Photos / Sounds
What
Blue Corporal (Ladona deplanata)Observer
beschwarDescription
Two seen perching on sunny rocks
Photos / Sounds
What
Lancet Clubtail (Phanogomphus exilis)Observer
beschwarDescription
This was a small Clubtail that I'm unfamiliar with so far. There were a number of what appeared to be the same species flying around (see a second observation of a different individual from the same day), but I couldn't be certain that they were.
Unfortunately, getting good photos of them was difficult with the wind and due to the fact that they didn't want to hang around for very long to let me get close.
Photos / Sounds
What
Stream Cruiser (Didymops transversa)Observer
beschwarDescription
A single and a pair were seen in the edges of brushy clearings.
Photos / Sounds
What
Eastern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix)Observer
beschwarDescription
Probably about 16-18" long. It was a nice surprise to find this sharing an 'apartment' with a Timber Rattlesnake! See the photo of both.
Photos / Sounds
What
Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)Observer
beschwarDescription
Probably about 24-30" long. It was a nice surprise to find this sharing an 'apartment' with a Northern Copperhead! See the photo of both.
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