rickowen's Identifications

Neurocordulia (Shadowdragons) are a specialized group of riverine dragonflies that spend the days perched in the canopy (too high to see in many species) and wait until nearly dark to make rapid and seemingly random flights mere inches over the river. The flight period can last for 20 minutes to a little over an hour -- or possibly later in the darkness.

Saturday evening I visited the Santa Fe River in High Springs with Rex Rowan to search for Cinnamon Shadowdragon (N. virginiensis). Though the footing was rocky and the current swift and full of eelgrass, we waded up to our waists in an attempt to get closer to where a few were flying. We watched carefully, hoping they would approach close enough for a swing of the net. After some clumsy splashes, I caught two! Lifer!

Before we left in the near darkness, we noticed at least 50 still flying above a spot on the river about 300 yards upstream, where the twilight was still reflected on the river surface. It was too deep and too dark to get closer.

This is one posed in the field the next morning and also on my mask string in my hotel room.