Backyard and Beyond

Starting out from Brooklyn, an amateur naturalist explores our world.

As John Burroughs said, “The place to observe nature is where you are.”

Shadow Darner

Aeshna umbrosaAs November nears, the dragonflies are starting to be very scant above the ground. On Saturday, I saw a single Common Green Darner in Green-Wood. Yesterday, I saw this Shadow Darner (Aeshna umbrosa) at Little Stony Point up in Cold Spring. A new species for me, IDed with help from the Northeast Odonata FB crew. Paulson says this is “usually one of last species of autumn.” Besides a bumblebee, this was the only visible insect there. This afternoon, I saw about half a dozen Common Green Darners patrolling a very sunny lawn in Prospect.

3 responses to “Shadow Darner”

  1. Autumn Meadowhawks are usually the latest flying ode in Ottawa, Ontario. One unseasonably warm fall we had them flying until the first week of November! I haven’t seen any in over a week now, and with the colder weather, they may be done for the year. I’m sad that I have to put my dragonfly net away for the year.

  2. But there’s always next year!

  3. […] Shadow Darners can be seen well into the fall. They are one of the last Odonata flying around here. The only other time I’ve seen one was in late October. […]

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