Dragon Season Begins

I’ve been seeing Common Green Darners for weeks - migrants, back from the south.

And lots of Eastern Forktails emerging all over the place - locals, all…  travelling not far from their birth ponds. Perhaps other forktail species, too. I haven’t looked that closely, yet.

 

It surprised me, though, to see this teneral on the bark of a tree on a cool day quite far from water.

I think it is a Beaverpond Baskettail.  I’ve asked my dragonfly-expert friend Jeremy for confirmation.  He agrees with the Baskettail part, but is unwilling to commit to what kind.  I should have taken a shot of the terminal appendage for positive ID.  Oh well.  I’m sticking with Beaverpond, just because my field guide shows them just a tiny bit earlier in May than Common.

If it is a Beaverpond Baskettail, the eyes will slowly get blue as the newly emerged dragon ages. Once I get confirmation, I guess I’ll start posting to my Odes blog, too. A Nature Nerd’s job is never done…