White-winged Scoter - Melanitta fusca

A male White-winged Scoter at the San Leandro Marina recently was too tempting to pass up. Patti and I went there this morning, following Marina Blvd to Mulford Point Drive, stopping at the last parking lot. Exiting the car we looked just over the rip-rap along the shoreline and the second duck we saw was the adult male White-winged Scoter, Melanitta fusca.

Along the coast we see the White-winged Scoter only occasionally, and usually not close to shore, so seeing it less than 50' away was a treat. If foraged for mussels in the shallow water, staying largely in a small area, visible even when underwater from the turbulence of its feet as it paddled furiously to stay under as it fed on the bottom. It swallows shellfish whole and rarely brings them to the surface.

The white comma, or "rocker" under the eye is distinctive, and the big multi-colored bill is rather striking. I didn't realize that the White-winged male has a fair amount of brown of the flanks, quite visible in certain light. Apparently the asian subspecies is darker. The subspecies seen in Europe is quite different, and goes by the name Velvet Scoter, considered by some to be a separate species.

Population data is seriously lacking. Numbers surely have declined over the past century. Dawson wrote in 1923, "Abundant migrant and winter resident along the entire seacoast." (Birds of California). He included a photo of a large raft of sea ducks, chiefly White-winged Scoters. They were hunted for 'sport', although not eaten because of the fishy taste. It's ironic that the serious invasion of the exotic Zebra Snail in the Great Lakes is likely to lead to a resurgence in the numbers of White-winged Scoters, whose diet is mainly mollusks. Main predators of the chicks are gulls.

First photo shows the distinctive bill, black on top at the base, then white, orange at the tip, and pink along the sides. The bill has a bulbous swelling proximally, and extensive black feathering (down to the nostril, especially along the sides of the bill). The pearl iris sits nicely in the white "comma".

Second photo was a surprise, as the bird looked mostly black while it swam, but in certain light it was clear that the flanks were quite brown, unlike the black seen on male Surf and Black Scoters. The second and third photos show the bulbous swelling on top of the bill pretty well.

No direct light on the flanks in the last shot.

Northern Shoveler - Anas clypeata

By November most of the male ducks are in "alternate" plumage, meaning they have largely completed the molt into the bright breeding costume worn most of the year. The Northern Shoveler is an exception, as Ralph Palmer writes (Handbook of NA Birds,  Vol. 2), "…in some individuals either the whole (molting) process is gradual and prolonged, or the major portion of it occurs late…". Thus, at times we see some interesting and at times puzzling male Northern Shovelers.

The first photo, 11/22/13, shows a typical female Northern Shoveler, with the cryptic feathering on back and flank common to most female dabbling ducks in the genus Anas. Her large spatulate bill always has some orange coloring, and her face has only a subtle post-ocular stripe.

The male in eclipse plumage looks a lot like the female, with cryptic coloring on the back and flank, but his yellow iris, black bill and darker head help with the ID. Some of the male shovelers that we seen in Nov-Dec. retain parts of the cryptic feathering on the back and flank, and shown in the second photo (Colusa NWF, 12/07/13). Part of the flank now shows the chestnut color and his head is well along to the black color of winter. It's fun to see one with a white crescent on the face near the bill, sort of like a Blue-winged Teal male.

The next photo shows a typical male in alternate plumage, with dark head and back, black bill, rich chestnut on the flanks, and bright white breast. 

Below we get a peek at the powder blue wing patch in this less typical back view. Note the bright orange legs.

Whimbrel - Numenius phaeopus

One can almost always spot 1-2 Whimbrels at Porto Bodega, the sportfishing boat launch area in the northeast sector of Bodega Bay. At high tide they are usually on the pilings near the boats. At low tide the Whimbrel is often seen foraging along the rocks on the east side of the parking lot. This is one of 2 Whimbrels we saw there, and predictably one took exception to the arrival of the other and drove it off. Photos show a bird with fresh-looking feathers, perhaps a juvenile. First shot is typical. 

Second shot chosen to show the head striping better, a helpful field mark when the bill is not visible.

Third shot captures the Whimbrel and many other shorebirds scan above for potential predators or rivals that might be approaching.

I thought to write something "new" about this attractive species, but when I re-read what I sent in 2010 I realized that I had forgotten more than half of it, so maybe worth repeating here (edited).

"The Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) is said to get its common name from one of its calls, which sound like "whim". They added "brel" as a diminutive, i.e. "little whim" (Terres, Ency. NA Birds).  Numenius, the Curlews, is a genus of large shorebirds with long down-curved bills. Numenius in fact comes from the Greek word 'noumenios', meaning 'of the new moon'. The curve of the bill in birds of this genus resembles the look of a new crescent moon.

There are (were) 8 species of Curlews in the world. The Whimbrel breeds in the all subartic regions (circumpolar) and migrates south to shores around the world. Other species like our Long-billed Curlew are less widely distributed. The remaining 6 Curlews are Eurasian, Far Eastern, Slender-billed, Bristle-thighed, Little, and Eskimo. The last Eskimo Curlew was seen is Texas in 1962 and now considered extinct, due to past heavy hunting to sell the birds for market. Whimbrel was said to be very shy then and thus harder for the hunters to shoot. Most of the curlew species have been seen in the ABA region, but infrequently. Bolinas Lagoon is a good spot if you want the Long-billed Curlew."

Rusty Blackbird - Euphagus carolinus

Patti and I went to Rodeo Lagoon this morning and were rewarded with long looks at a female Rusty Blackbird foraging in the shallow water and on the mud at the northeast corner of the lagoon. The bird was spotted yesterday by Dave Wiechers and William Legge. Hopefully it will abide awhile.

Here's a crop to show the eye color and incomplete white eye ring:

The Rusty Blackbird, Euphagus carolinus, was once very common in the U.S. Their numbers have declined an estimated 85-95+% over the last 40 years, confounding experts looking for the causes. Habit loss and intentional blackbird/cowbird poisoning efforts* no doubt play a role, but the decline is worse that expected solely on those factors, and the species in now listed as vulnerable. They breed across Canada, in forested tracts that are near water, and spend the winter in the eastern half of the U.S. Vagrants  to California are seen mostly in the fall (they are late migrants), and not very often any more. Their varied diet includes insects, seeds, and even small fish! The bird here foraged actively on the mud and in the shallow water.

The species is similar in size to Brewer's Blackbird. The males are similar in breeding plumage, but in fall the Rusty is indeed more reddish. No confusing the females, as the Rusty female has a yellow eye and rufous fringing on the inner wing flight feathers (tertials). A gray rump is also distinctive. The bird at Rodeo seems to have an incomplete whitish eye ring, as well as amber colored irides, suggesting it may be a juvenile. I'll let the experts ponder that one.

A few more photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lenblumin/sets/72157638022331836/

* Yes, it is legal to poison birds, usually because they are causing damage to crops. Most efforts are directed toward reducing Red-winged Blackbird numbers (as well as Common Grackles and Cowbirds), but Rusty Blackbird deaths are an example of unavoidable collateral damage.

Bonaparte's Gull - Larus philadelphia

Gulls can be difficult to identify, with many exhibiting similar patterns: gray above, white below and black wingtips. The small Bonaparte's Gull is a exception, easily standing out from the other local gulls. It flies and feeds more like a tern, diving suddenly to deftly pluck prey from the surface of the water, then resuming its back and forth flight about 20 feet above the water. Not easy to take a photo like this with a scope!

The black ear patch is present on both juvenile and adult birds, but not seen on other local gull species. The black tail band and striking dark carpal bars on the wings are hallmarks of a first winter bird. Note also the black trailing edge on the wing, another feature of a young bird.The dainty tern-like black bill and white eye ring complete the picture. A very pretty gull indeed!

Photos were taken this past week at Las Gallinas, where 2 juveniles birds have been foraging. As usual they were taken through a spotting scope, which takes a bit of luck, as the birds forage so actively and its hard to track them at 25X magnification. Here one of them rests briefly on the water.

Red-necked Grebe - Podiceps grisegena

A Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) has been present at the Las Gallinas water treatment ponds since November 5th, and we're hoping it will stay the winter. It seems to be successfully foraging, mostly in the east end of Pond #1 and usually in front of the "island" where the BC Night-Herons roost. Yesterday it got close enough for some photos, which although back-lit still provides a good study of head and bill shape. 

The large size (at 18" it's a little bigger than the Ring-necked Ducks seen there), yellow bill and dark brown iris make it easy to distinguish from other grebes. The relatively stout neck and head shape, along with the bill, might suggest a loon at first. The dingy gray of the neck and the way the gray extends back from the chin and then up behind the "ear" brings to mind the Eared Grebe, but in fact the Red-necked is more closely related to the Horned Grebe (and to the Great Crested Grebe, which is not seen here). This is probably an adult RN Grebe, as the juvenile often shows some brown or chestnut color on the foreneck, as well as a lighter-colored iris.

The Red-necked Grebe breeds at inland lakes and ponds in Alaska, across lower western Canada, and northern U.S. from Wisconsin to Washington. They also breed in northern Eurasia, and the global population is estimated at 200,000-300,000. In the fall the RN Grebe migrates south along the west coast, down to central California, and across the Great Lakes to the east coast, where they range down to North Carolina. Although the bird at Las Gallinas seemed content to ignore the many Ring-necked Ducks, Greater Scaups and Canvasbacks in the area, it is know to be an aggressive species, specializing it a sneak attack called the "Sinister Dive". It will approach another bird from underwater like a torpedo then stab at the victim. They have even been know to kill ducks as large as a Northern Pintail, although they are more likely to attack diving ducks. They eat a variety of prey, including fish, crustaceans and insects, all usually swallowed while still underwater. Taxonomy below.

Order: Podicipediformes -  Grebes. Only one family here.

Family: Podicipedidae - The Grebes. 20 species worldwide - 7 in U.S., 6 in California.

Genus: Podiceps - Largest grebe genus, with 8 species worldwide, of which one is threatened (P. taczanowskii, the Junin Grebe). We have 3 Podiceps in the U.S., including Red-necked, Eared and Horned Grebes. Non-U.S. Podiceps grebes besides the Junin are the Great, Great-Crested, Silvery, and Hooded Grebes.

Species: Podiceps grisegena (literally "Gray-cheeked Grebe"). Largest of the Podiceps, and distinctly larger than our Horned and Eared Grebes.

Subspecies: Podiceps grisegena holboellii, a.k.a. "Holboell's Grebe". Holboell is not featured in Mearns book, but I believe the name refers to C. Holboell, a Danish naturalist of the mid-19th century, who studied birds from Greenland, including Redpoll species.

American and Eurasian Wigeon Variations

The American Wigeon male in breeding plumage is a distinctive duck, with a light crown, wide dark stripe on the side of the head extending back from the eye, and a warm flank color.

A close-up front view shows the black line around the base of the bill:

The male Eurasian Wigeon is equally distinctive, with a striking uniform rufous color on the head and lighter gray on the flank, becoming more pink at the shoulder. A small area of green near the eye is sometimes seen and does not indicate a hybrid with the American. Note the absence of a black line where the bill joins the face on the Eurasian Wigeon.

We sometimes see male wigeons that show characteristics of both American and Eurasian Wigeons, likely representing natural hybrids of the 2 species. Sibley and others show that such hybrids are variable. They usually have a two-tone face like the American, but instead of a green iridescence we see a warm brown or rufous color, and variable coloration on the flank. The bill may show a black line at the face.

The male wigeon below shows a rufous brown stripe on the face. He lacks a strong black line where the bill joins the face, and has a mix of gray and rufous on the flank, all suggesting he may have some Eurasian Wigeon DNA:

Here's another shot of the above bird, with an American Wigeon close by for comparison. Alternatively, we may just be viewing an eclipse male American Wigeon that in well along in his pre-alternate molt:

Lastly, sometimes when the light strikes the face at just the right angle we can see a beautiful golden bronze color instead of green, a variation in iridescence and not the expression of brown pigment:

While there is no confusing the male Eurasian Wigeon from the male American Wigeon, the females of these species look quite similar. After consulting multiple sources I came up with this set of criteria that might help in picking out a female Eurasian from a flock of American Wigeons. Now I'd just like to find a female to photograph!

Hooded Merganser - Lophodytes cucullatus

The Hooded Merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus, is one of the last ducks to appear in the fall, and is always a welcome sight. They favor secluded ponds and streams, and are rather shy, so I was pleased to learn that a pair of Hooded Mergansers had returned to the pond just north of the Marin City shopping center, sharing the habitat with a score of American Wigeons. The "hood" refers to the crest, a rather spectacular oversized structure that can be quickly fanned in a startling display, as shown by this male trying perhaps to impress the American Wigeons that were crowding him in a channel off the pond. The female Hooded Merganser paid no attention to the activity.

Male Hooded Merganser swimming with crest retracted

In the next photo the male has started to erect his crest, either to impress the female Hooded Merganser or to intimidate the nearby American Wigeons.

Crest now fanned out to perhaps 60%. Doubt that the female has noticed.

The American Wigeons began to surround the Hooded Merganser, probably because there was simply not much room in this small channel. The birds showed no agonistic behavior, but it seemed that the closer the wigeons got the more the crest became erected.

Crest fully raised. Female merganser no longer close. Pictures are sequential.

Another shot of the male Hooded Merganser with his fanned crest. He's now surrounded by the wigeons, who essentially ignored him. Read more about mergansers below the photo.

The Hooded Merganser is 18" long, a bit smaller than the American Wigeons.

The Hooded Merganser winters here in a variety of freshwater habitats, such as quiet ponds, streams, rivers, and tidal creeks, avoiding marine areas and large open lakes and bays. It is our smallest merganser, and takes more crayfish and insects than it does fish. It's really not very closely related to the other mergansers, and shares an affinity to the Bucephala ducks (Goldeneyes and Bufflehead). In fact the Hooded Merganser and Common Goldeneye are unusual in that they both have the ability to change the shape of their lens (accommodation) to allow them to focus on close objects as they hunt for prey by sight when they dive, virtually always in clear water.

Lophodytes is a monotypic genus, and in fact the word means "crested diver" (Holloway, Dict. of Birds). The Hooded Merganser is the only merganser with a breeding range limited to North America, and there are no subspecies described. World-wide there are only 6 merganser species in all. 4 mergansers are in the genus Mergus (Common, Red-breasted, Scaly-sided, and Brazilian Mergansers), and the Smew, aka White Merganser, is in the monotypic genus of Mergellus.

California Towhee - Pipilo crissalis

Of the 6 Towhee species seen in the U.S. our California Towhee, Piplo cirssalis, is arguably the plainest, but those of us who have it in our backyards enjoy its confiding presence and cheerful if sometimes monotonous loud "pinks". This one was next to the parking lot of the Las Gallinas Ponds. The Cal Towhee is a near endemic species, barely ranging to Oregon and south to Baja.

The side view didn't quite get all of the long tail, mostly because the bird was too close. It was eating the seeds of weedy grass, as seen a closer photo, which shows some of the features that we often miss when viewing with binoculars. 

The last photo, below is simply a crop from the above, to zoom in a bit on the pretty eye and throat. The streaks of the throat are maybe not as prominent as those seen in the Canyon and Abert's Towhee.

Eared Grebe - Podiceps nigricollis

Lots of Eared Grebes right now at the Las Gallinas ponds right now, most of them busy feeding on insects at the water's surface, almost like phalaropes. This shot shows an eye that is more orange than red, perhaps indicating a sub-adult. 

Next shot is a crop to show eye and bill better. Juvenile Eared Grebes have a tan or brown-orange iris, and adults a brighter red. The BNA account (#433) has one photo of similar bird, with a similar eye.The grebe here is not in full basic plumage, as the neck still looks pretty dark, but the dingy neck appearance helps separate it from the similar Eared Grebe, which has a whiter neck in winter. Right now most of the birds are in transition, so it can be confusing. But note the steep forehead with the peak above the eye, definitely "eared". The bill looks more Eared than Horned, but it's not as flat on top as on the average Eared Grebe.

This shot of a juvenile Eared Grebe, taken a few years ago at Bodega Bay, shows the lighter iris and a wash of brown on the grays of the head and back.

Eared Grebes are said to be the most numerous of all grebe species in the world, with a North America population of something like 4 million. They love saline lakes, and stage in huge numbers at the Great Salt Lake and Mono Lake (September to Dec). When gorging on brine shrimp and brine flies at staging areas they are flightless (see below).

I found the account in Birds of North America Online, #433, by Cullen et. al. to be of particular interest in regard to the longs periods of flightlessness in this species, and the dramatic fluctuations in the birds weight and organ sizes, to whit:

"While at fall molting/staging lakes, adults more than double their arrival mass and allow the pectoral muscles to atrophy below a size that allows flight. Then, during a hyperphagic period, they greatly increase the size of the organs involved in digestion and food storage. These changes in size and proportions—the most extreme yet known for any bird—are then reversed during a brief predeparture period, when the birds catabolize much of their just-deposited fat, increase heart size, and reduce digestive organ mass to perhaps 25% of peak in preparation for a nonstop flight to wintering areas. The function of the predeparture events is to reduce wing-loading while maximizing flight range and performance. Migration occurs shortly after food supplies run out, typically in December–January. As a result, the Eared Grebe is the latest of the North American migrants to move to its winter stations. Because a similar atrophy/hypertrophy cycle is repeated 3–6 times each year, the Eared Grebe has the longest flightless period of any volant bird in the world, perhaps totaling 9–10 months over the course of a year. At fall staging areas alone, flightless periods average 3–4 months for adults and may reach 8 months or more in nonbreeders."     (volant = "flying", or capable of flying or gliding)

For an excellent article on sorting out confusing fall Podiceps grebes see:  

Kaufman, K. 1992. The practiced eye: Identifying monochrome Eared Grebes. Am. Birds 46:1187-1190.

Sora - Porzana carolina

Birders who visit fresh water marshes will often hear the strange descending whinny call of the Sora, a small secretive rail that is usually tough to spot. An adult and a juvenile Sora were reported recently at Ellis Creek, Petaluma, at a location where they could be easily found and observed. The adult gave a loud whistled call as it foraged on the west side of pond "D".

Check out those large toes!

First shot shows the large toes typical of many marsh denizens. The yellow bill, is distinctive for the adult Sora. In this case the yellow bill is a bit dusky, which along with the minimal black in the face near the bill suggests it may be a female.

 Second shot gives a better look at the bill, as well as the pretty brown eye. Note the cocked-up tail, a frequent posture. You can just about see the white undertail coverts

Third shot shows it in the grass along the bank of the pond, where is foraged actively for seeds the entire time we watched. Often it was too close for me to frame a shot! By far our best ever look at this shy species.

The Sora is said to be our mostly common and widely distributed member of the rail family (around here I would bet on the Coot to win that distinction). They breed all across Canada in fresh water marshes that have cattails and other emergent vegetation. Most are migratory, despite their not being strong fliers. The genus Porzana has 14 species world-wide, with the other 13 sharing the common name "Crake".

Cardinal Meadowhawk

As the fall birding season heats up the days are cooler and the dragonflies have mostly mated and laid eggs, while some are migrating south. Last week I watched a male Cardinal Meadowhawk at the pond in Tiburon, and got 2 shots of the same individual in a similar pose, but on 2 slightly different perches. 

I think I like a bit of color in the background. Note how these shots illustrate one of the limitations of digiscoping, which is the very narrow depth of field. Here The head, feet and abdomen are in reasonably sharp focus but the wings are clearly blurred. Here's the same ode on a nearby perch, which allowed a different background:

The bright red color helps with the ID, but the key feature is the 2 white spots on the side of the thorax. The wings have amber along the leading edges, the eyes are red, and the face is….well you'll just have to see it:

Note how the front legs are kept ready to hold or manipulate prey, and are not needed when perching.

Mute Swan - Cygnus olor

An adult Mute Swan, Cygnus olor, and a large "dirty gray" juvenile have been lingering in the first pond at Las Gallinas ponds, San Rafael, for a week or so. Mutes Swans are big birds indeed, a large male can rival the native Trumpeter Swan in size. Length of up to 63", wingspan to 94" and a weight of 25 pounds! This makes the Mute Swan one the largest birds capable of flight, up there is the American White Pelican.

Juvenile Mute Swan, Las Gallinas water treatment ponds

Mute Swan adult in a common swimming "display" - Ellis Creek, Petaluma 

The Mute Swan is a Eurasian Species, with 2/3's of the estimated population of 500,000 found in Russia (or what used to be the USSR). They are protected in some countries, eaten in others, and considered pests by some in many areas where they have been introduced, including northeast US and now California. Lots of people think their beauty outweighs the possible negatvie impacts. Good numbers of Mute Swans of can be seen in Sonoma (Shollenberger, Ellis Creek and Chileno Valley). Fortunately their numbers seem to have stabilized, wheras back east they increase by up to 10% per year. They are aggressive to other birds near their nesting sites, and to humans who get too close. The chicks, or cygnets, are gray, and remain gray through September, just now starting to get white plumage, as in the first photo. White gygnets are known to occur (photo, May 2013, Ellis Creek), presumably from a leucistic gene, and will become white juveniles.

The fully grown juvenile has a gray bill which lacks the knob seen on the adult. The bill here  (below) is starting to show some pink color, and will become orange by winter. Other swans native to our ABA area (Tundra and Trumpeter) have some yellow on the bill.

Taxonmy: 

Order: Anseriformes - Ducks, Geese, Swans, and Screamers

Family: Anatidae - Ducks, Geese Swans

Subfamily: Anseriinae - Swans and Geese

Tribe: Cygnini - Swans - Only 7 species in the world, in 3 genera. Our Tundra Swan (aka Whistling Swan) and Trumpeter Swan, along with the Whooper Swan, are in the genus Olor.The 3rd genus of swans is Coscoroba, with a single species, the Coscoroba Swan of southern South America.

Genus: Cygnus - 3 species, including the Black Swan of Australia/New Zealand, Black-necked Swan of southern South America and the Falkland Islands, and the Mute Swan.

Species: Cygnus olor - Mute Swan. From the above you will note that it is closer to the Black Swan than it is to the Tundra Swan.

Sources: Waterfowl, Madge and Burn, 1988, and Wiki-pedia.

Variegated Meadowhawk - Sympetrum corruptum

After I sent the recent photos of the Common Green Darner, May Chen reminded me that I could have mentioned that this is one of the few dragonfly species that migrates. Another migratory species that we see locally is the Variegated Meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum. We saw this one at Ellis Creek the same day we watched the Green Darner.

The Variegated Meadowhawk is very common, and although the colors can vary (duh…), several features make it easy to identify. On the sides of the thorax you can usually see 2 diagonal white stripes, each ending in a bright yellow dot. On the wings you may be able to see that the small stigma on each wing near the end is bicolored, darker in the center and lighter at the ends.  Red veins near the leading edge can be seen in some photos. On the abdomen there is row of white spots, or "portholes" (Manolis), and two dark spots on the top of the 2 segments near the end (8-9). Red/coral rings on the abdominal segments add color and interest, and he has a pretty face as well!

Another view:

May Chen sent this great link to a remarkable TED talk of how a scientist discovered the migration patterns of the Wandering Glider in Asia (from India to Africa!) - it is well worth your time, providing a great example of how a scientist gradually put observations together to paint a full picture:

Charles Anderson: Dragonflies that fly across oceans | Video on TED.com

The Xerces Society has initiated a project for gathering data on 5 species of migratory dragonflies, including the Common Green Darner and the Variegated Meadowhawk. If you'd like to learn about how you can help gather data for the project:

http://www.xerces.org/dragonfly-migration/migration-monitoring/

Brief Taxonomy-

Family Libellulidae is huge, with over 1,000 species wordwide. These are the Skimmers and allies.

Genus Sympetrum is big too, with over 50 species.

Species Sympetrum corruptum, the Variegated Meadowhawk. Seen widely across much of Canada and the US and south into Central America.

Common Green Darner - Anax junius

The late Rich Stallcup, renowned birder and naturalist, often referred to the Common Green Darner as  "The Lord of June". This large and striking species is one of the most common and widely distributed dragonflies in North America. The bright green thorax makes it easy to spot as it forages high and low, often near a pond or other body of water. Occasionally you can find one hanging from foliage, like this one at a pond in Tiburon, which allows leisurely study or a photo.

The male is shown above, with a distinctive "t-spot" in front of the huge multicolored eyes, plus a bright green thorax and bright blue abdomen with a dark stripe running down the middle. Here's a crop from the above photo to show more detail:

On September 28th we visited the water treatment ponds at Ellis Creek in Petaluma, California, and were delighted to see  several Common Green Darners in tandem pairs, ovipositing into the mucky stuff at the edge of the pond, giving us our best-ever looks at this species.

The pair moved occasionally to a new location, and almost every time they landed a male Green Darner would divebomb the pair, apparently hoping to get him to release his mate. Feisty creatures, for sure.

There are 5 Anax species in North America, including our largest dragonfly, the Giant Darner, Anax walsinghami, with a wingspan of 4.5".