First Dragonflies of 2009/ Newt Explosion

Yesterday it was windy yet rather warm. I walked up the driveway to the warm spot where I always find the first dragonflies of the year. Sure enough I found a Springtime Darner, tried to chase it with the camera and then found a Stream Cruiser. Later I came back and photographed a Stream Cruiser and a Sely's Sundragon!

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.

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.

Spring Arrrives in Durham Today, Leaves Tomorrow

Today Meg called me from our deck to tell me spring had arrived. Yes it has arrived in Durham, NC. She had seen a male Falcate Orangetip flying by the deck, the orange wing tips of the male we very visible to the naked eye. Our first harbinger of Spring from our porch. She also saw a Mourning Cloak and a anglewing. Anglewing is what we call either a Question Mark or an Eastern Comma these are difficult to tell apart, please check out the links on them to learn more about them.Above the male flies past the female and with her abdomen raised up she is signalling she is not interested in breeding at this time. I've seen this with many kinds of butterflies and wondered what was the deal with her raising up like that.

Many of you might wonder if this little butterfly would visit your garden? Well if you live in the city or in the middle of a subdivision probably not. But if you live near moist woodlands, woodland openings or riparian habitats you just might see this one. There are several species of orangetips in the US even out west they have them.
Here the male easy to tell by the orange tipped wings is on a very common weed Dandelion one of the few flowers in early spring it can find to nectar on.
Above the female is nectaring on Spring Beauties.