I’ve been expecting to see a Wandering Glider for some time now.
On the 23rd of July one appeared at the Sailboat Pond in Catch
the Wind. As their name implies, Wandering Gliders can show up
just about anywhere. These nonstop dragonflies are widespread in
their distribution – cosmopolitan. They’re migratory. They lay
eggs in just about any temporary body of water including ditches
and rain puddles. Wandering Gliders prefer open spaces like
fields, mud flats, and ponds where they constantly patrol back
and forth. I often see these yellow-gold dragonflies zipping
about parking lots. It’s not uncommon to see them trying to lay
eggs on the hoods of cars. Apparently, they mistake the shiny
surface of the car’s hood as a pool of water! Another dragonfly
that I discovered during this period was a Mocha Emerald —
they’re brown overall and have green eyes. Unfortunately it was
DOR (Dead on Road). These dragonflies are usually found at
small, shaded, forested streams. This one was in Catch the Wind
on the paved path ne