Above and below
Stream Cruiser, Ditymops transversa known by the single diagonal stripe on the side of the thorax, most spring dragonflies with stripes have two stripes.
All photos below are Sely's Sundragon, Helocordulia selysi this is a somewhat rare spring dragonfly, yet we find good numbers of them here every year. The Uhler's Sundragon is here also, it would have an amber spot in the wing at the base of the hindwing.
Those dark spots at the base of the hindwing would have a tiny bit of amber in them if it was an Uhler's Sundragon.
Sely's Sundragon, Helocordulia selysi
All photos taken on March 29th 2009 in Orange County, NC
A mated pair of Falcate Orangetips found here yesterday. I also saw a mated pair of azures but could not get on them with the camera.
Yesterday must have been the day of newts as there must have been hundreds of them in the pond, with breeding in mind. I don't recall ever seeing more than 10 or 12 in a given day before. The newt below is likely a gravid female, note the swollen belly.
A mated pair of Falcate Orangetips found here yesterday. I also saw a mated pair of azures but could not get on them with the camera.
Yesterday must have been the day of newts as there must have been hundreds of them in the pond, with breeding in mind. I don't recall ever seeing more than 10 or 12 in a given day before. The newt below is likely a gravid female, note the swollen belly.
Eastern Newt, Notophthalmus viridescens also called Red-spotted Newt
These newts were either mating or fighting over a female, there was a lot of tumbling underwater then a rise to the top, where I got this photo. My guess is they are both males.
Other news on the pond. Meg spotted the Snapping Turtle in the pond yesterday! In the past week we have twice spotted a pair of Wood Ducks on the pond and enjoyed them quietly from the screened in porch.
