NeilyWorld      Birding Ottawa - Dragonflies & Damselflies


PHOTOS OF SOME ODONATES FOUND IN THE OTTAWA CHECKLIST CIRCLE:
38 DRAGONFLIES AND 12 DAMSELFLIES SPECIES

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Most birder's find themselves "distracted" on occasion by Dragonflies. Until recently it was very frustrating, since no field guide existed for these magnificent but harmless creatures. Now we have Dragonflies through Binoculars by Sidney W. Dunkle and Stokes Beginner's Guide to Dragonflies by Blair Nikula and Jackie Sones to aid us. It is still difficult, if not impossible, to visually separate some species. But hunting these handsome fliers can be great fun, especially in the heat of the day when most birds are quiet.
Ottawa-based information on the Odonata is now better represented than that of most areas. New in 2008 is the Field Guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Algonquin Provincial Park and the Surrounding Area written by Colin Jones and Matt Holder and illustrated by Andrea Kingsley and Peter Burke. While Algonquin is somewhat to the west, the guide does cover Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec to just east of Ottawa. It also illustrates all the species found on the 1998 Ottawa checklist mentioned below. This book is produced by The Friends of Algonquin Park, and is available online from The Friends of Algonquin Bookstore.
For the Ottawa 50-km circle, allowing viewers to narrow the field to local dragonflies, their habitats and likelihood of occurance, Robert Bracken and Christina Lewis have produced a definitive Checklist of the Damselflies and Dragonflies of the Ottawa-Hull District. This marvellous tool was first published in the July-Sept. 1998 issue (Vol. 32, No. 3) of Trail and Landscape, the OFNC's quarterly. An update (A Checklist of the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Ottawa-Gatineau) was published in the July-Sept. 2008 (Vol. 42, No. 3) issue. The list of Ottawa Odonata stands at 120 species. See or download this list at the OFNC Website
Another source of local information, this one conveniently on-line, is John Sankey's marvellous website, Guide to the Adult Damselflies and Dragonflies of the Ottawa District. His site is packed with useful information, including an identification key, and has a local checklist complete with habitat preferences. Here is a link to an excellent web resource for adjacent New York. For broader North American coverage, including photos, indentication tips and distribution maps, see OdonataCentral. Somewhat further south, but still useful in our area is the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Northeast Ohio, an excellent 2002 guide published by the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. A downloadable pdf of the briefer Dragonflies and Damselflies of Ohio is available through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
For a fine local dragonfly photo site check out Gillian Mastromatteo's PBase Galleries. See also former Ottawa resident Tim Allison's Page of Odonates.
On the page below, rare, local and accidental species are marked R, L and A respectively. (Photos below by Larry Neily, some taken outside the Ottawa area, but of species found here.) Damselfly photos follow here.
Click on any picture to display a larger image.

DRAGONFLIES

Canada Darner
Canada Darner m
(Aeshna canadensis)
Parkway Park, Ottawa
August 8, 2009
Canada Darner
Canada Darner m
(Aeshna canadensis)
Parkway Park, Ottawa
August 8, 2009
Canada Darner f
Canada Darner f
(Aeshna canadensis)
Bertrand & Martel Roads, Larose Forest
August 17, 2008
Variable Darner f
Variable Darner f
(Aeshna interrupta)
Bertrand & Martel Roads, Larose Forest
August 17, 2008

Shadow Darner
Shadow Darner
(Aeshna umbrosa)
Ottawa West
July 23, 2004
Green-striped Darner m (R)
Green-striped Darner m (R)
(Aeshna verticalis)
Dead Creek NWA, VT
Sep. 3, 2006
Common Green Darner wheel
Common Green Darner wheel
(Anax junius)
Huntley Meadows Park, VA
April 2, 2007
Springtime Darner
Springtime Darner
(Basiaeschna janata)
Indian Creek Road N, Larose Forest
June 12, 2008

Horned Clubtail m (L)
Horned Clubtail m (L)
(Arigomphus cornutus)
Indian Creek Road N, Larose Forest
June 12, 2008
Lilypad Clubtail f (R,L)
Lilypad Clubtail f (R,L)
(Arigomphus furcifer)
Indian Creek Road N, Larose Forest
June 12, 2008
Black-shouldered Spinyleg
Black-shouldered Spinyleg
(Dromogomphus spinosus)
Blakeney Rapids Park
August 2, 2010
Lancet Clubtail m
Lancet Clubtail m
(Gomphus exilis)
Constance Bay (off Whistler Road)
June 13, 2010

Midland Clubtail m (L)
Midland Clubtail m (L)
(Gomphus fraternus)
Luskville Falls Trail
June 18, 2011
Midland Clubtail m (L)
Midland Clubtail m (L)
(Gomphus fraternus)
Constance Bay (off Whistler Road)
June 13, 2010
Delta-spotted Spiketail m
Delta-spotted Spiketail m
(Cordulegaster diastatops)
Indian Creek Road N, Larose Forest
June 12, 2008
Stream Cruiser
Stream Cruiser
(Didymops transversa)
Constance Bay (off Whistler Road)
June 4, 2011

American Emerald
American Emerald
(Cordulia shurtleffi)
Champlain Lookout Trails, Gatineau Park
June 11, 2011
Racket-tailed Emerald m (L)
Racket-tailed Emerald m (L)
(Dorocordulia libera)
Indian Creek Road N, Larose Forest
June 12, 2008
Racket-tailed Emerald f (L)
Racket-tailed Emerald f (L)
(Dorocordulia libera)
Champlain Lookout Trails, Gatineau Park
June 11, 2011
Beaverpond Baskettail m
Beaverpond Baskettail m
(Epitheca canis)
Nine Mile Road
May 18, 2009

Common Baskettail
Common Baskettail
(Epitheca cynosura)
Just South of Remic Rapids
June 18, 2008
Prince Baskettail
Prince Baskettail
(Epitheca princeps)
Just South of Remic Rapids
July 14, 2011
Calico Pennant m
Calico Pennant m
(Celithemis elisa)
Monaghan Forest
September 1, 2003
Halloween Pennant m (R)
Halloween Pennant m (R)
(Celithemis eponina)
Meadowwood Estate, Woodbridge, VA
July 4, 2007

Halloween Pennant f or imm (R)
Halloween Pennant f or imm (R)
(Celithemis eponina)
Meadowwood Estate, Woodbridge, VA
July 4, 2007
Common Pondhawk m
Common Pondhawk m
(Erythemis simplicicollis)
Petrie Islands
July 9, 2011
Common Pondhawk m
Common Pondhawk m
(Erythemis simplicicollis)
Petrie Islands
July 9, 2011
Common Pondhawk f
Common Pondhawk f
(Erythemis simplicicollis)
Petrie Islands
July 9, 2011

Blue Dasher m (L)
Blue Dasher m (L)
(Pachydipax longipennis)
Petrie Islands
July 9, 2011
Blue Dasher f (L)
Blue Dasher f (L)
(Pachydipax longipennis)
Petrie Islands
July 9, 2011
Frosted Whiteface m (L)
Frosted Whiteface m (L)
(Leucorrhinia frigida)
Mer Bleue Boardwalk
July 9, 2011
Frosted Whiteface m (L)
Frosted Whiteface m (L)
(Leucorrhinia frigida)
Carp Ridge on Thomas Dolan Parkway
June 5, 2011

Frosted Whiteface m (L)
Frosted Whiteface m (L)
(Leucorrhinia frigida)
Carp Ridge on Thomas Dolan Parkway
June 5, 2011
Crimson-ringed Whiteface m (L)
Crimson-ringed Whiteface m (L)
(Leucorrhinia glacialis)
Luskville Falls Trail
June 18, 2011
Hudsonian Whiteface m (L)
Hudsonian Whiteface m (L)
(Leucorrhinia hudsonica)
Monty's Bog, W of Masham,QC
June 18, 2011
Hudsonian Whiteface f (L)
Hudsonian Whiteface f (L)
(Leucorrhinia hudsonica)
Golden Line Road, E of Almonte,ON
May 2, 2010

Hudsonian Whiteface f (L)
Hudsonian Whiteface f (L)
(Leucorrhinia hudsonica)
Champlain Lookout Trails, Gatineau Park
June 11, 2011
Dot-tailed Whiteface m
Dot-tailed Whiteface m
(Leucorrhinia intacta)
Jack Pine Trail
June 3, 2007
Dot-tailed Whiteface f
Dot-tailed Whiteface f
(Leucorrhinia intacta)
Indian Creek Road N, Larose Forest
June 12, 2008
Dot-tailed Whiteface wheel
Dot-tailed Whiteface wheel
(Leucorrhinia intacta)
Jack Pine Trail
June 3, 2007

Chalk-fronted Corporal m
Chalk-fronted Corporal m
(Ladona julia)
Church Hill Picnic Area, Ramsey Lake Road, QC
June 24, 2007
Chalk-fronted Corporal f
Chalk-fronted Corporal f
(Ladona julia)
Constance Bay (off Whistler Road)
June 4, 2011
Slaty Skimmer m
Slaty Skimmer m
(Libellula incesta)
Petrie Islands
July 9, 2011
Widow Skimmer m
Widow Skimmer m
(Libellula luctuosa)
Petrie Islands
July 9, 2011

Widow Skimmer f
Widow Skimmer f
(Libellula luctuosa)
Parkway Park, Ottawa
July 9, 2011
Twelve-spotted Skimmer yng m
Twelve-spotted Skimmer yng m
(Libellula pulchella)
O'Neil Road
August 1, 2003
Twelve-spotted Skimmer m
Twelve-spotted Skimmer m
(Libellula pulchella)
Church Hill Picnic Area, Ramsey Lake Road, QC
June 24, 2007
Twelve-spotted Skimmer f
Twelve-spotted Skimmer f
(Libellula pulchella)
Clarence-Cambridge Boundary Road, Larose Forest
July 10, 2011

Four-spotted Skimmer
Four-spotted Skimmer
(Libellula quadrimaculata)
Indian Creek Road N, Larose Forest
June 12, 2008
Four-spotted Skimmer
Four-spotted Skimmer
(Libellula quadrimaculata)
Carp Ridge on Thomas Dolan Parkway
June 5, 2011
Elfin Skimmer m (R,L)
Elfin Skimmer m (R,L)
(Nannothemis bella)
Monty's Bog, W of Masham,QC
June 18, 2011
Elfin Skimmer f (R,L)
Elfin Skimmer f (R,L)
(Nannothemis bella)
Monty's Bog, W of Masham,QC
June 18, 2011

Common Whitetail m
Common Whitetail m
(Plathemis lydia)
Jack Pine Trail
June 3, 2007
Common Whitetail f
Common Whitetail f
(Plathemis lydia)
Jack Pine Trail
June 3, 2007
Common Whitetail m
Common Whitetail yng m
(Plathemis lydia)
Jack Pine Trail
June 3, 2007
Cherry-faced Meadowhawk m
Cherry-faced Meadowhawk m
(Sympetrum internum)
Monaghan Forest
August 18, 2003

White-faced Meadowhawk m
White-faced Meadowhawk m
(Sympetrum obtrusum)
Clarence-Cambridge Boundary Road, Larose Forest
July 10, 2011
White-faced Meadowhawk f
White-faced Meadowhawk f
(Sympetrum obtrusum)
Pine Trail on Dwyer Hill Road
August 1, 2003
White-faced Meadowhawk f
White-faced Meadowhawk f
(Sympetrum obtrusum)
Klondike Road West
July 22, 2003
Band-winged Meadowhawk
Band-winged Meadowhawk
(Sympetrum semicinctum)
Munster and Kettles Roads
August 18, 2003

Autumn Meadowhawk m
Autumn Meadowhawk m
(Sympetrum vicinum)
Carp Ridge on Thomas Dolan Parkway
October 19, 2008
Autumn Meadowhawk f
Autumn Meadowhawk f
(Sympetrum vicinum)
Carp Ridge on Thomas Dolan Parkway
October 19, 2008
Black Saddlebags
Black Saddlebags
(Tramea lacerata)
Carling Avenue Trail
August 18, 2012



Click on any picture to display a larger image.

DAMSELFLIES

River Jewelwing m
River Jewelwing m
(Calopteryx aequabilis)
Luskville Falls Trail
June 18, 2011
River Jewelwing m
River Jewelwing m
(Calopteryx aequabilis)
Luskville Falls Trail
June 18, 2011
Ebony Jewelwing m
Ebony Jewelwing m
(Calopteryx maculata)
Indian Creek Road N, Larose Forest
June 12, 2008
Ebony Jewelwing f
Ebony Jewelwing f
(Calopteryx maculata)
Indian Creek Road N, Larose Forest
June 12, 2008

Northern Spreadwing m
Northern Spreadwing m
(Lestes disjunctus)
Petrie Islands
July 9, 2011
Northern Spreadwing f
Northern Spreadwing f
(Lestes disjunctus)
Petrie Islands
July 9, 2011
Amber-winged Spreadwing m (L)
Amber-winged Spreadwing m (L)
(Lestes eurinus)
Champlain Lookout Trails, Gatineau Park
June 11, 2011
Lyre-tipped Spreadwing m (L)
Lyre-tipped Spreadwing m (L)
(Lestes unguiculatus)
Carling Avenue Trail
July 19, 2009

Variable (Violet) Dancer
Variable (Violet) Dancer
(Argia fumipennis)
Blakeney Rapids Park
August 2, 2010
Powdered Dancer m
Powdered Dancer m
(Argia moesta)
Nicholls Island
July 31, 2010
Powdered Dancer m
Powdered Dancer mature m
(Argia moesta)
Just South of Remic Rapids
July 14, 2011
Powdered Dancer intermediate f
Powdered Dancer intermediate f
(Argia moesta)
Nicholls Island
July 31, 2010

Powdered Dancer yng f
Powdered Dancer yng f
(Argia moesta)
Nicholls Island
July 31, 2010
Boreal Bluet m
Boreal Bluet m
(Enallagma boreale)
Britannia Conservation Area
June 14, 2008
Tule Bluet m
Tule Bluet m
(Enallagma carunculatum)
Petrie Islands
July 9, 2011
Tule Bluet f blue and brown forms
Tule Bluet f blue and brown forms
(Enallagma carunculatum)
Just South of Remic Rapids
June 26, 2008

Stream Bluet m
Stream Bluet m
(Enallagma exsulans)
South of Remic Rapids
June 26, 2008
Stream Bluet f
Stream Bluet f
(Enallagma exsulans)
South of Remic Rapids
June 27, 2008
Eastern Forktail m
Eastern Forktail m
(Ischnura verticalis)
Just South of Remic Rapids
June 26, 2008
Eastern Forktail f orange form
Eastern Forktail f orange form
(Ischnura verticalis)
Just South of Remic Rapids
June 26, 2008

Eastern Forktail f transitional form
Eastern Forktail f transitional form
(Ischnura verticalis)
Just South of Remic Rapids
June 27, 2008
Eastern Forktail mature f bluish form
Eastern Forktail mature f bluish form
(Ischnura verticalis)
Just South of Remic Rapids
July 14, 2011
Sedge Sprite
Sedge Sprite
(Nehalennia gracilis)
Monty's Bog, W of Masham,QC
June 18, 2011



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Copyright © 2000 - 2012    Larry E. Neily
Last update:  August 18, 2012