The Odes of Tres Rios Wetlands

On the morning of July 22nd, I met up with Justin Jones and Pierre Deviche, two incredible oders, at Tres Rios Wetlands.  Oding with these two guys was fantastic, I can't say how much I learned from them in just one time.  As you have read, Justin has been the one responsible for me getting into odes!  We had a great time, with several epic highlights.

Powdered Dancer

Mexican Amberwing

Roseate Skimmer

Things got very exciting early when Justin spied a Common Green Darner PERCHED!  It was the first time I have gotten to see a Darner perched, and boy was it cool!

And then Justin spied a PERCHED Spot-winged Glider.  It was the first time I've seen a Glider perched too!

Then, my first PERCHED Red Saddlebags!

Dusky Dancer

Comanche Skimmer

Widow Skimmer

Western Pondhawk

Comanche Skimmer-a beautiful female

After while, we went down to the Gila River to get our fill of the Neotropical Bluet population, and we weren't dissapointed!  And we also had two White-belted Ringtails flying around.

Rather shocking was a Least Bittern perched about 20 feet up in a cottonwood...

Sometimes I just hate it when I have to depart for work early, such this time with Pierre and Justin.  I left these two epic oders to hike back about 3 miles in the heat.  I assumed they would find something that I was wanting to see, such as the Marl Pennant that Justin was wanting to target later in the day.  But something strange happened.  While on my way back, I looked up and found none other than...a female Marl Pennant!!  It was a first for me.  After a call to Justin and Pierre, they came hurrying up to where I was.  Luckily, this cool-looking bug put on a show for all of us.

After we parted ways for a second time after celebrating the Marl Pennant, I had my first PERCHED Black Saddlebags!  And alongside my first perched Black Saddlebags was my first PERCHED Wandering Glider.  Good grief!  I had 5 odes for the day that I got to see perched for the first time.

Wandering Glider

The last ode I photo'd was a male Red-tailed Pennant.

Thanks goes out to Justin Jones and Pierre Deviche for teaching me lots and letting me tag along!  Speaking of Pierre and Justin, here they are!