Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center: Allen Pond

We can drive to most lakes and ponds at the Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center. However, a few ponds are closed to fishing and traffic but still open to hiking and picnicing. Allen Pond is one of these. We decided to walk to this pond on a recent visit to the center.

The trail to the pond is just down the road from the road into Whitetail Lake.

We parked at the entrance by the road. The trail starts out level and then…

Winds down a gentle slope road to the pond. The road reaches the pond at one end of the dam.

We walked out across the dam. The area to the right is a picnic area. The scenery looks cool but it was more than 90 F. At first it was sunny but then the clouds moved in.

There were a few Maryland Meadowbeauty (Rhexia mariana) plants were still blooming.

Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera) - Female

Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera) - Male

Both male and female Eastern Amberwings (Perithemis tenera) were sunning themselves along the dam.

Some Hoary Mountainmint (Pycnanthemum incanum) plants below the dam were .

This Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) was also enjoying the afternoon sun and wasn’t about to move. It let me get the lens of my camera within an inch or so.

Looking back along the dam towards the picnic area.

I decided to walk further to see if there was a trail around the pond.

Along the shore at the northwest edge of the pond. The shade was welcome.

Looking through the trees at the northwest corned of the pond

A small creek drains into the pond at the northwest corner. New decking has been placed over the drainage beds to allow passage. Looking back after I had crossed.

Looking back towards the northwest corner of the pond where a marshy area is developing.

It started to rain a little so I didn’t take more photos until I reached the picnic area. At the northeast corner of the pond a crossed another drainage into the pond.

Looking back to then north shore of the pond from the picnic area.
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Identification resources:
Westcentral Georgia Butterflies by Michael Beohm:
- Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera)
- Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis)