Dragonflies at Gonzales Independence Park
On my way to Port Aransas yesterday I stopped at Gonzales Independence Park hoping to find one of the Blue-faced Ringtail dragonflies that has been recently seen there. (See the fascinating story told by @greglasley here.) After almost 3 hours of searching in 103 degree weather, I found 4 ringtail dragonflies, but none of them had blue faces! (They were all Eastern Ringtails.) A very nice consolation prize was this beautiful female Swift River Cruiser. I have never seen any Cruiser before, so I greatly enjoyed finding and photographing this one.
Here's an eBird list I recorded during the first part of my search.
And see my other observations attached.
Update: On my way back from the coast on 8/16 I spent about an hour at the park to try and find the Blue-faced Ringtails again. I was not successful but I enjoyed much cooler temperatures (less than 80 degrees!). Other highlights were 17 Wood Storks flying overhead, a Mississippi Kite, and a Hanging Thief robber fly.
Here's my 8/16 eBird list. And I attached two new observations.
Observations
Photos / Sounds
What
Eastern Ringtail (Erpetogomphus designatus)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken at Gonzales Independence Park. I was looking for one of the Blue-faced Ringtail dragonflies that have been observed here recently. I did not find one but enjoyed seeing and photographing some others.
This is one of the Eastern Ringtails that I was hoping would have a blue face!
Photos / Sounds
What
Eastern Ringtail (Erpetogomphus designatus)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken at Gonzales Independence Park. I was looking for one of the Blue-faced Ringtail dragonflies that have been observed here recently. I did not find one but enjoyed seeing and photographing some others.
This is one of the Eastern Ringtails that I was hoping would have a blue face!
Photos / Sounds
What
Eastern Ringtail (Erpetogomphus designatus)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken at Gonzales Independence Park. I was looking for one of the Blue-faced Ringtail dragonflies that have been observed here recently. I did not find one but enjoyed seeing and photographing some others.
This is one of the Eastern Ringtails that I was hoping would have a blue face!
Photos / Sounds
What
Eastern Ringtail (Erpetogomphus designatus)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken at Gonzales Independence Park. I was looking for one of the Blue-faced Ringtail dragonflies that have been observed here recently. I did not find one but enjoyed seeing and photographing some others.
This is one of the Eastern Ringtails that I was hoping would have a blue face!
Photos / Sounds
What
Russet-tipped Clubtail (Stylurus plagiatus)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken at Gonzales Independence Park. I was looking for one of the Blue-faced Ringtail dragonflies that have been observed here recently. I did not find one but enjoyed seeing and photographing some others.
Russet-tipped Clubtail Male
Photos / Sounds
What
Hanging-Thieves (Genus Diogmites)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken at Gonzales Independence Park. I was looking for one of the Blue-faced Ringtail dragonflies that have been observed here recently. I did not find one but enjoyed seeing and photographing some others.
Photos / Sounds
What
Five-striped Leaftail (Phyllogomphoides albrighti)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken at Gonzales Independence Park. I was looking for one of the Blue-faced Ringtail dragonflies that have been observed here recently. I did not find one but enjoyed seeing and photographing some others.
Five-striped Leaftail Female
Photos / Sounds
What
Swift River Cruiser (Macromia illinoiensis)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken at Gonzales Independence Park. I was looking for one of the Blue-faced Ringtail dragonflies that have been observed here recently. I did not find one but enjoyed seeing and photographing some others.
This female Swift River Cruiser was a great consolation prize for missing the Ringtail. I've never seen any of the Cruisers before. It was exciting to see this one fly in and then land near enough for photos.
Photos / Sounds
What
Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken at Gonzales Independence Park. I was looking for one of the Blue-faced Ringtail dragonflies that have been observed here recently. I did not find one but enjoyed seeing and photographing some others.
Photos / Sounds
What
Russet-tipped Clubtail (Stylurus plagiatus)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken at Gonzales Independence Park. I was looking for one of the Blue-faced Ringtail dragonflies that have been observed here recently. I did not find one but enjoyed seeing and photographing some others.
Russet-tipped Clubtail Male
Photos / Sounds
What
Powdered Dancer (Argia moesta)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken at Gonzales Independence Park. I was looking for one of the Blue-faced Ringtail dragonflies that have been observed here recently. I did not find one but enjoyed seeing and photographing some others.
Blue-fronted Dancers were by far the most common odonate at the park.
Comments
Sorry you missed the Blue-faced Ringtail, Mikael. For what it is worth, it seems as if I have had better luck early in the morning between 8-10 AM lately, but it is certainly not an easy bug to find. I'll try to get with you in the next week or so (the species should be flying though September into mid October) and try to join up with you to look for it. Very nice shots of the critters you did find! BF Ringtail is noticeably smalller that E. Ringtail, about 2/3 the size.
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