We arrived to the park late in the morning on August 27, 2011 and almost immediately flushed a spinyleg from the rip rap bordering the millpond next to the community center. We obtained several photographs at a distance, but they were very skittish.
Some through binoculars:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckWuFmOL2B0V7PV9-d_UGlioDrcvaUsQxNgaV62RKR720-yUgcnVm9SYhA-BG2Tni1CU0L153YFojoXXHAWX_WDF1hnacEcLfvJizFR3iprKpBeBC1JeRSKANi1DzfgLFdFSUtw/s320/6090698151_9746e186fd.jpg)
and others with Julie's macro lens:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7JFbOo36a3vZBYmHB836-R8Q_rZSit3CIpF7pj8Eq2OzSWnZW0k2uH6dxLml4IMCD4WQBCVMhMAiIGRJsGHATASjyVLEoh1V8NLnqsBB0U6Og295RW_Lk9zrMMAJQQerVE9qfw/s320/6087088521_becba80622.jpg)
Now the challenge was to net one. We worked the edge of the dam repeatedly, trying to get in a position to approach the individuals without casting a shadow and having room for a swing of the net. After 45 minutes or so, I was able to trap one on a flat piece of concrete with Julie helping to herd it. This male (D. spoliatus) confirms the record for Lenawee county and was one of ~10 individuals present:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEick86NJ6jybtJ_dsr4ZulvQPrtNpDSQWebFWUOrVuCPvTtKRm6lL1kg2RsklpRyzzz0dDIcdGBsfBIfYndUy0P6Gh3W11N3rolsPJQKUtoZbS4n3DVLec_jDsnln4K6NEUtFC5Lg/s320/6091247544_ed59fbc26b.jpg)
...and this photo shows its spiny legs and the flag tail:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEJZ6BApmt49Vi0XkF-FaScKEiPGBnFRq-gIwlEHK0fXUB8tqIBA8XFqSND-55z1Konwa6FJ5-F8Yg2SsdMwfbUxH82wY4mL-ntH9aLMvuhIFiEheEcyO3lzjlHokXWEaqKkPDg/s320/6091247172_0efd6c8c71.jpg)
While chasing the target species, we found several other great dragonflies. A couple Black-shouldered Spinyleg (Dromogomphus spinosus), such as this male:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoLz6_cbOHrpFqw32xHeddOt7GAhgrvjjp5hdk2sDnj2jSaXL_gOs9YcxgJOlMtKNCVV6FYudCweIdmSXcc3cy4v4lZRY9O-J6twalgMJpqwVwCDjg6D8CRc1FEBJ2-T3eEIN32w/s320/6091243660_22f8c8569e.jpg)
A few Royal River Cruisers (Macromia taeniolata), with this male possibly representing the first record for Lenawee County:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOjh4pvN-PKU49d6_wwtxm7xeNUEpEjPVAH0UmYo3rsLtc_vCSxpnxtx0O1MhZYxOBfQ-5js2aiZbSSBXiW45C8MTA8WX-UCWJDxj-qv8cAboQSpc-iRtM-KzPUNPSjLGduUs5Vw/s320/6090698817_fa8716f59c.jpg)
Many Smoky Rubyspots (Hetaerina titia), which seem to be everywhere this year:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0LGXWCzI6dSY3ELw3DxPwTtuytrpAUImFR9n4oTrMtaz4SI9GAWPiShgLQ3nXMmYwdvPB20J1a6cQ1vpwEjkE87xvbsmjRc4RPo6qjERlqXaPUVL4qXnUv70AKcxShuuSviuH4A/s320/6090700715_ab95b7bd6a.jpg)
A few Eastern Amberwings (Perithemis tenera), such as this female:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthWLif1C6LfxLNmRvG-73rXkrEc77-8HmQxI2CT2LYAJaesgWLMQlGk489cPoBiEl7XOCO4P3mhEdveKCC1DRGrsprl66jN9-Ce5grWNoPcCmNl7yfWTgSfGnUpHs4-W9HFQF-Q/s320/6090698377_aa6e778dc2.jpg)
We also had heard that a Dragonhunter (Hagenius brevistylus) or two had been observed recently, but no luck this day. We had observed a male a few years ago, but couldn't obtain any photos. Indian Crossing Trails Park is a must for a return visit in the future.
4 comments:
Fabulous find! Great photos!
thanks, hopefully we'll find some more in the remaining weeks of the season
Nice close pictures of that insects
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non voice projects
thanks, we only have a few more weeks to find the final flying adults of the season here in MI
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