Sandpiper Pond Odonata

The dragonflies and damselflies were active today (Monday, Sept. 10, 2007) at Sandpiper Pond. The following species were out today:

Common Green Darner
Black Saddlebags
Eight-spotted Skimmer
Twelve-spotted Skimmer
Blue Dasher
Flame Skimmer
Common Whitetail
Variegated Meadowhawk
Cardinal Meadowhawk
Striped Meadowhawk
Tule Bluet
Western Forktail
California Spreadwing
Spotted Spreadwing
Lyre-tipped Spreadwing


Dragonfly Yoga

Well, not really. When it is very hot as it was today, perching dragonflies will obelisk pointing their abdomen at the sun to reduce exposure to sunlight in order to stay cool.

Summer isn't over yet!

So we had a great summer camp in the begining of the season we haven't blogged about yet. It was so much fun I couldn't let August go without letting everyone know about it. We partnered with our friends at Nearby Nature in holding a weeklong morning camp for Elementary School aged folks. We learned about wetlands, dragonflies, damselflies, and animal tracks. Our friend Rich Glauber led us in singing and dancing. One of my favorite memories of that camp is walking outside the yurt and hearing the children's voices as they sang about the wetlands. We even got to compose our very own song!

Every day we made a quilt square so by the end of camp all the campers had a beautiful wetland quilt of their own. Amazing artistry!

Thanks Wetland Campers!!!

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Sandpiper/Grimes Pond

Dragonflies and Damselflies flying today at the ponds in the wetlands:

Common Green Darner
Western Pondhawk
8-spotted Skimmer
12-spotted Skimmer
Widow Skimmer
Flame Skimmer
Common Whitetail
Variegated Meadowhawk
Cardinal Meadowhawk
Striped Meadowhawk
Black Saddlebags
California Spreadwing
Spotted Spreadwing
Tule Bluet
Western Forktail


Cardinal Meadowhawk

Common Whitetail

Widow Skimmer

Lets hear it for Grasshoppers!!