Another Dragonfly Afternoon At Whitetail Lake

And yet another trip to Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center at Clybel Wildlife Management Area in Jasper County, Georgia. We weren’t checking on Clasping Milkweed (Asclepias amplexicaulis) seed pods this time. Since we’d seen a Two-striped Forceptail (Aphylla williamsoni) here last week, we thought we’d go by Whitetail Lake again and see if we could spot another one.

Again, there didn’t seem to be much activity when first drove down to the lake. Even when I walked down to the water’s edge, I didn’t see as many dragonflies as we saw last time. They were there, but in the heat of the afternoon – we measured the temperature in the shade at 94F a little later – they weren’t very active, possibly because their dinner, insects, weren’t flying either.

The first dragonfly I spotted was a Banded Pennant (Celithemis fasciata). Just one. A female. We saw Banded Pennants for the first time at the Piedmont NWR a few weeks ago. This one was perched on a twig over the water. A nice surprise.

A male Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis). We’ve seen a number of females this year, but these were the first males we’ve seen.

A male Slaty Skimmer (Libellula incesta). They’ve been around the pond for months. They’re not colorful but they always seem to have a nice disposition.

Widow Skimmers (Libellula luctuosa). This one’s a male. The Banded Pennant, Eastern Pondhawk and Slaty Skimmers appear to be ‘shy’ and ‘well-behaved’ – keeping to themselves and not making waves. On the other hand, the Widow Skimmers – deliberately or inadvertently – act like the bullies of the pond. They fly purposefully and, on occasion, seem to dive at other dragonflies along their route. The large dark patches on their wings make them appear larger than they actually are, and may simply intimidate other dragonflies on the pond.

Then there are the ‘cutie pies’, the Amberwings (Perithemis tenera). They’re about one-half the size of the other dragonflies. Several males, including these, were flying unobtrusively ‘below the radar’ seeming not to want to be seen.

And then there were the ‘stars’ of the day. The dragonflies we had specifically come to see. At least two Two-striped Forceptails (Aphylla williamsoni) were on the pond. For their size, they were also well-behaved, even shy dragonflies. They flew a ‘low-profile’ path, staying out of the way of the other dragonflies. This dragon was repeatedly displaced from its perch by Widow Skimmers so it sought out a perch out of the way along the shore. it alighted on a twig close to the shore and posed prettily for quite a long time. But more of it soon.

So, despite the heat, we were rewarded with quite a procession of dragonflies again. Well worth sitting out in the hot sun to photograph.
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Related posts:
- Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center: Whitehall Lake
- Dragonfly Afternoon At Whitetail Lake
- Dragonfly: Banded Pennant (Celithemis fasciata)
- Dragonfly: Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis)
- Dragonfly: Slaty Skimmer (Libellula incesta)
- Dragonfly: Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa)
- Dragonfly, Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera)
- Dragonfly: Two-striped Forceptail (Aphylla williamsoni)

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)

Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii)

Buddleja davidii is known by the common names Butterfly Bush and Orange Eye Butterflybush. It’s planted widely in gardens and is available in many colors including white, pinks and purples. Although it is probably considered a garden plant, it will be found in abandoned gardens in rural areas. It begins to bloom in late May and provides nectar, pollen, for many insects and prey for spiders, and the occasional anole and frog.

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It begins to bloom in late May. Blooming may discontinue during the heat of Summer to resume in the Fall.

The Butterfly Bush attracts many insects and spiders. Just a few of its visitors:

Among butterflies, the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) and

Gulf Fritillaries (Agraulis vanillae)

Among spiders, the Yellow Garden Spider (Argiope aurantia).

Whitebanded Crab Spider (Misumenoides formosipes) with its prey, and

Green Lynx Spider (Peucetia viridans) with its egg case.

Unusual visitors have included a juvenile Cope’s Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis), This little frog was only about an inch long.

A Carolina Anole (Anolis carolinensis), and an

Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera). This young female took charge of the bush for several days, perching on the highest flower head.

At the end of the season, when its leaves have fallen and all of the visitors have let, you can spot seed pods that have opened and shed their seeds.

Buddleja davidii (Butterfly Bush) is native to northwestern China and Japan. In the United States, it grows in many eastern states and the Pacific states.
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Distribution Map:
- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database: Buddleja davidii (Orange Eye Butterflybush)

Identification resources:
- Southeastern Flora: Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii)

Related posts:
- 2010: Year Of The Wildflower – Wildflower Index

Dragonfly, Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera)

Several young, small female Eastern Amberwing dragonflies were testing their wings in a wildflower patch in the field. They were landing on these Virginia Plantain (Plantago virginica) seedheads and testing their wings. A few days latter they were gone.

Identification resources:
- Dragonflies of Georgia: Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera)
- BugGuide: Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera) [Male] [Female]
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