May 31, 2021
I visited Fluvanna County for a short while this morning. It was a nice morning after the rain of the weekend and very mild for the time of year with temperatures ranging from 53 to 62 degrees.
Several species of butterfly were making themselves noted as the morning progressed with the following being observed: American Snout, Great Spangled Fritillary, Cabbage White, Silvery Checkerspot, Least Skipper, Crossline Skipper, Spicebush Swallowtail and Eastern Comma.
Dragonflies were represented well with several clubtail species noted. Cobra Clubtails the highest density clubtail on the James River this time of year has gone from preying predominately on Crane Flies to Golden-backed Snipe Flies which are now the most common prey species flying.
May 28, 2021
I got out for a short time this morning to Charles City County. On traveling through eastern Henrico County, I noted a Raccoon actively feeding in a small stream. In Charles City County, I found Widow Skimmers emerging in good numbers. While I did not have much dragonfly/damselfy diversity this morning it was nice to see many of the common species in good numbers and continuing to spread their genetic material (mating). The highlight of the morning was a couple of Comet Darners. Also found were a couple of butterfly species engaged in mating.
May 20 & 21, 2021
I visited Highland County for a couple of days in which I was rewarded with some good weather but getting to be dry conditions for the county. It was enjoyable with a variety of both plants and animals observed.
The birding highlights, for me, were a territorial male Mourning Warbler, a female Common Merganser, both Blue-winged (1) and Golden-winged Warblers (3) and a Ruffed Grouse death scene. The Ruffed Grouse appeared to have been preyed upon by a large bird since no blood or carcass was noted at the site. I would like to believe it was a very large accipiter but it was more than likely a Great Horned Owl. The Common Merganser was flying up the south branch of the Potomac and was not observed again.
Odonates were just beginning to emerge at upper elevations but a few more species were noted at lower altitudes. It is still early there and the season is young.
| Lancet Clubtail | 3 |
| Ashy Clubtail | 2 |
| Aurora Damsel | 8 |
| Common Whitetail | 4 |
| Twelve-spotted Skimmer | 3 |
| Fragile Forktail | 10 |
Some photographs from the visit are as follows:
May 11, 2021
I visited Nelson County in hopes of some odonates but was only successful with some birding. The weather was overcast and cool for the morning period to at least 10:45 a.m. After departing Nelson County, I stopped briefly in Fluvanna County on the way home.
In Nelson County, I ended the morning with 13 warbler species and a Black-billed Cuckoo. I walked the Rockfish River Trail off and on for most of the morning.
In Fluvanna County, I spent about an hour walking an area adjacent to the James River and had a conservative 200-300+ Cobra Clubtails. About 5% of the Cobra Clubtails were predating on Crane Flies. I observed two other Cobras attempt to “harvest” some of their own membership. The only other odes observed were Ebony Jewelwing, Common Whitetails and my first of year Swift River Cruiser.
May 9, 2021
I got out to western Goochland County this morning in an attempt to catch some migrant birds. The weather conditions were conducive with mostly overcast skies, lower temperatures 45 to 54 degrees and light winds. I ended up with 20 warbler species highlighted, at least to me, by Blue-winged Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler and Chestnut-sided Warbler. Scarlet Tanagers appeared to be on the move with several male groupings of 2 to 4 birds noted. I was also fortunate in that I observed two owl species with the highlight being a red morph Eastern Screech-Owl.
May 3-7, 2021
I was fortunate in that a friend invited me to western North Carolina/eastern Tennessee near Max Patch. While the weather wasn’t always cooperative, we did enjoy the week, experience had and periods of time in the field.
I have included photographs of many of the plants that we enjoyed with a few complementary photographs of some birds, “bugs” and things.
May 1, 2021
I got up this morning and decided to travel to Fluvanna County. The weather was cool with temperatures moderating at mid-day. The temperature range for the morning was 42-61 degrees with sunny conditions.
It ended up being a great day for clubtails! The day started slowly with only a few Spine-crowned Clubtails being noted but then the following occurred:
| Spine-crowned Clubtail | 8 |
| Green-faced Clubtail | 2 |
| Rapids Clubtail | 2 |
| Cobra Clubtail | 14 |
| Cocoa Clubtail | 2 |
| Ashy Clubtail | 1 |
| Lancet Clubtail | 2 |
| St. Croix Snaketail | 1 |
| Appalachian Jewelwing | 1 |
| Blue Corporal | 10 |
| Springtime Darner | 2 |
| Blue Dasher | 8 |
| Eastern Pondhawk | 10 |
| Citrine Forktail | 6 |
| Fragile Forktail | 4 |
I have rarely had as many clubtail species in one day as today. With the addition of Cocoa Clubtail over the last several years, this additional species appears expected along the James River during the April/early May season. Larry Lynch recently located a Banner Clubtail at Powhatan State Park, it will be interesting to see over the next several years whether we will have yet an additional species to expect(?).
