May 31/June 1 and June 4, 2022
A brief update, I visited Highland County and Augusta County, VA on May 31st and June 1. It is still “early” season at upper elevations but some odes were showing at the lower elevations.
On June 4, I visited Sussex County and “touched” on Prince George County, VA. The highlight of the day was a Ornate Pennant in Sussex County. It was a lone male. Gray-green Clubtails were found in two location in Sussex County one which is new this year.
May 18, 2022
I spur of the moment this morning decided to travel to Fluvanna County for emerging clubtails. I can say it turned out very satisfactorily, as several new species for the year had emerged. Still, the challenge with finding new or different species and in particular clubtails this time of year is due to the presence of so many Cobra Clubtails. Cobra Clubtails did not fail to impress as more than 300 were observed during the period of my presence. New for the year were Dragonhunter, Splendid Clubtail and Black-shouldered Spinyleg. Lastly, still being brave in amongst the “big” guys was one Rapid Clubtail.
The biggest surprise of the day though was Cinnamon Shadowdragons! Notice I said that in the plural. While it is not unusual for me to encounter one during a season, today I observed and photographed three (3) males. The last male flushed and instead of heading into the heavier growth flew into some foliage in the field and perched in broad daylight, a first for me.
| Odonates | |
| Cobra Clubtail | 300+ |
| Rapids Clubtail | 1 |
| Splendid Clubtail | 6 |
| Dragonhunter | 2 |
| Black-shouldered Spinyleg | 2 |
| Cinnamon Shadowdragon | 3 |
| Common Whitetail | 4 |
| Blue Dasher | 1 |
| American Rubyspot | 1 |
| Stream Bluet | 1 |
| Powdered Dancer | X |
| Blue-fronted Dancer | X |
| Blue-tipped Dancer | x |
Butterflies were in low numbers with the following noted: Silvery Checkerspot (11), Zabulon Skipper (6), Spicebush Swallowtail (1), Pearl Crescent (2).
May 17, 2022
I visited both Southampton and Sussex Counties today. The weather finally turned nice with warming temperatures and clear skies.
The day proved leisurely with a mixture of plants, odes and butterflies with a few reptiles mixed in.
The ode highlight of the day proved to be two Taper-tailed Darners. From a butterfly perspective, American Snout presented itself well.
| Odonates | Southampton | Sussex |
| Fragile Forktail | 16 | |
| Turquoise Bluet | 8 | |
| Orange Bluet | 2 | |
| Blue-tipped Dancer | 4 | 9 |
| Eastern Pondhawk | 35+ | 12 |
| Blue Dasher | 4 | 2 |
| Baskettail species | 1 | |
| Common Whitetail | 2 | |
| Painted Skimmer | 9 | |
| Spangled Skimmer | 2 | |
| Great Blue Skimmer | 1 | 3 |
| Common Green Darner | 1 | |
| Swamp Darner | 6 | |
| Cyrano Darner | 2 | |
| Taper-tailed Darner | 2 | |
| Ashy Clubtail | 1 |
May 10, 2022
I traveled to Fluvanna County this morning to look for clubtails. I was successful in a way in finding clubtails they unfortunately were almost 100% Cobra Clubtails (235+ conservative count). I did however find a solitary Rapids Clubtail in amongst them.
The Cobra’s, about 5%, were feeding as usual on Crane Flies which appear to be there primary prey at this time of year.
Also, for about my 4 or so year running I encountered multiple (2) Canada Warblers as I searched through the odes.
Blustery wind definitely was not doing me any favors today in my search.
May 5, 2022
I birded in Goochland County this morning and enjoyed 20 warbler species. The highlight was a hybrid Golden-winged/Blue-winged Warbler. The bird was giving the Golden-winged Warbler song but it obviously had some Blue-winged ancestry with a slight yellow wash noted on the upper chest/abdomen. It appeared that Swainson’s Thrush, Black-throated Blue Warblers and Scarlet Tanagers were moving in good numbers.
May 3, 2022
I traveled down to Lunenburg County this morning to visit the Nottoway Falls Park area. The area is or can be a beautiful area if maintained so that trash accrual and vandalism are better prevented or discouraged.
The visit was personally rewarding in that I observed a minimum of four (4) adult Spine-crowned Clubtail.
I also got the opportunity to observe a female Northern Watersnake being courted by two (2) male Northern Watesnake.
| Odonates | |
| Spine-crowned Clubtail | 4+ |
| Lancet Clubtail | 9 |
| Ashy Clubtail | 2 |
| Stream Cruiser | 10 |
| Eastern Pondhawk | 7 |
| Spangled Skimmer | 1 |
| Fragile Forktail | 4 |
| Common Baskettail | 12 |
| Blue Corporal | 6 |
| Common Whitetail | 8 |
May 2, 2022– They’re Back!
I visited in both Goochland and Fluvanna Counties today. The big event is the emergence of the Cobra Clubtails along the James River. Over the next 7-10 hundreds should be able to be seen in long open stretches with exposed ground and nearby perching leaves.
My FOS Hayhurst Scallopwing and Black-billed Cuckoo were made today. I also had Aurora Damsels in Goochland County for my personal first sighting in that county.
| Odonates | Fluvanna County | Goochland County |
| Cobra Clubtail | 22 | |
| Green-faced Clubtail | 2 | |
| Ashy Clubtail | 1 | 1 |
| Appalachian Jewelwing | 1 | |
| Aurora Damsel | 6 | |
| Fragile Forktail | 3 | |
| Common Baskettail | 3 | 3 |
| Common whitetail | 4 | |
| Stream Cruiser | 9 | 3 |
| Springtime Darner | 7 |
| Butterflies | Fluvanna County | Goochland County |
| Spicebush Swallowtail | 28 | |
| Zebra Swallowtail | 26 | |
| Eastern Tiger Swallowtail | 4 | 2 |
| Common Sootywing | 4 | |
| Pearl Crescent | 8 | |
| American Lady | 3 | |
| Carolina Satyr | 5 | |
| Eastern Comma | 1 | |
| Eastern-tailed Blue | 2 | |
| Hayhurst Scallopwing | 1 | |
| Zebulon Skipper | 8 | |
| Summer Azure | 1 |
May 1, 2022
I got out this morning to Goochland County with a slight detour into Buckingham County for one stop. Bird migration appeared average for this time of year with no severe weather to down the birds. The highlight was two (2) Blue-winged Warblers but many species presented well.
