July 21, 2026 — Dane County
UW ARBORETUM DARGONFLY MONITORING PROJECT. GARDNER AREA. UW Arboretum East Entrance & Gardner Marsh. Includes channelized Wingra Creek either direction from the Arboretum Drive bridge over the creek and the Gardner Marsh trails/boardwalks. WINGRA CREEK 12:30-1:47PM, partly sunny, 78-79F, "windy" (per app) NW 16-17mph, gusts to 25 mph. (Sun was in and out of the clouds, but out enough that the E Amberwings were out in numbers - my TX experience is that this species' activity is highly sun dependent, so since they were out in numbers I figure that Ode activity in general was not inhibited. However, I observed very few damselflies (just a few identifiable, plus only 2 that I couldn't identify). GARDNER MARSH TRAIL/BOARDWALKS 1:50-2:30PM, partly sunny, 79F, "windy" NW 16-15mph, gusts to 24-23mph (wind blocked or reduced when among the trees).
UW ARBORETUM DARGONFLY MONITORING PROJECT. GARDNER AREA. UW Arboretum East Entrance & Gardner Marsh. Includes channelized Wingra Creek either direction from the Arboretum Drive bridge over the creek and the Gardner Marsh trails/boardwalks. WINGRA CREEK 12:30-1:47PM, partly sunny, 78-79F, "windy" (per app) NW 16-17mph, gusts to 25 mph. (Sun was in and out of the clouds, but out enough that the E Amberwings were out in numbers - my TX experience is that this species' activity is highly sun dependent, so since they were out in numbers I figure that Ode activity in general was not inhibited. However, I observed very few damselflies (just a few identifiable, plus only 2 that I couldn't identify). GARDNER MARSH TRAIL/BOARDWALKS 1:50-2:30PM, partly sunny, 79F, "windy" NW 16-15mph, gusts to 24-23mph (wind blocked or reduced when among the trees).
Eastern Forktail (Ischnura verticalis)
Observed
WINGRA CREEK: 1 male + 2 mature females
Observed
WINGRA CREEK: 1 male + 2 mature females
Skimming Bluet (Enallagma geminatum)
Photographed
Photographed
Slender Bluet (Enallagma traviatum westfalli)
Photographed
3 males + 1 tandem pair.
Photographed
3 males + 1 tandem pair.
Common Green Darner (Anax junius)
Photographed
WINGRA CREEK: 8 males cruising + 1 tandem pair flying and ovipositing + a second tandem pair flying. GARDNER MARSH: 2 males cruising over cattails at W and E observation decks.
Photographed
WINGRA CREEK: 8 males cruising + 1 tandem pair flying and ovipositing + a second tandem pair flying. GARDNER MARSH: 2 males cruising over cattails at W and E observation decks.
Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata)
Observed
WINGRA CREEK: 3 males cruising. GARDNER MARSH: 1 male cruising.
Observed
WINGRA CREEK: 3 males cruising. GARDNER MARSH: 1 male cruising.
Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis)
Observed
WINGRA CREEK: estimated 70 males + quite a few others at distance too far to ID but probably most/all this species. GARDNER MARSH: 5 males.
Observed
WINGRA CREEK: estimated 70 males + quite a few others at distance too far to ID but probably most/all this species. GARDNER MARSH: 5 males.
Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera)
Photographed
WINGRA CREEK: estimated 55 males
Photographed
WINGRA CREEK: estimated 55 males
Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis)
Observed
WINGRA CREEK: 7 males + 1 solo female ovipositing among water lilies. GARDNER MARSH: 1 (green, could not get an angle to ID M or F), probably a second that flew by me too fast to be certain.
Observed
WINGRA CREEK: 7 males + 1 solo female ovipositing among water lilies. GARDNER MARSH: 1 (green, could not get an angle to ID M or F), probably a second that flew by me too fast to be certain.
Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina)
Photographed
WINGRA CREEK: 1 male perched. GARDNER MARSH: 4 males + 2 females all perched on dead brances/stems sticking up over cattails.
Photographed
WINGRA CREEK: 1 male perched. GARDNER MARSH: 4 males + 2 females all perched on dead brances/stems sticking up over cattails.
Striped Saddlebags (Tramea darwini)
Photographed
GARDNER MARSH: 1 male. Observed looking East from the Gardner Marsh boardwalk observation deck at the following lat-long coordinates: 43.054572°, -89.405776°. I saw it perching on and sallying out from and back to the top of a dead/leafless tree guessing about 30 yards east of the observation deck. Too far to ID with binoculars. Too far to expect sharp photos - but overexposing by 2+ stops to deal with the severe backlighting resulted in identifiable images. The narrow, relatively straight-bordered saddle is recognizable, differentiating from Red and Carolina. Also you can make out the the black on S8 and S9 coming down to the midline suture. I also see a suggestion of a pale thoracic stripe. In only the first photo that I have uploaded, I enhanced the brightness significantly and contrast slightly to hopefully bring out a bit more useful detail. No post-processing in the remaining images (just cropping). I have a bunch more photos if needed.
Photographed
GARDNER MARSH: 1 male. Observed looking East from the Gardner Marsh boardwalk observation deck at the following lat-long coordinates: 43.054572°, -89.405776°. I saw it perching on and sallying out from and back to the top of a dead/leafless tree guessing about 30 yards east of the observation deck. Too far to ID with binoculars. Too far to expect sharp photos - but overexposing by 2+ stops to deal with the severe backlighting resulted in identifiable images. The narrow, relatively straight-bordered saddle is recognizable, differentiating from Red and Carolina. Also you can make out the the black on S8 and S9 coming down to the midline suture. I also see a suggestion of a pale thoracic stripe. In only the first photo that I have uploaded, I enhanced the brightness significantly and contrast slightly to hopefully bring out a bit more useful detail. No post-processing in the remaining images (just cropping). I have a bunch more photos if needed.