Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) AKA Common Pondhawk

Eastern Pondhawk
Erythemis simplicicollis

The Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) is a common and widespread dragonfly over the eastern two thirds of the U.S. This species, along with the Western Pondhawk (Erythemis collocata) have now been officially "lumped" and are regarded as the same species under the name Common Pondhawk. I will maintain this separate page for this subspecies, regardless. The male is blue and the female green. The male at right was was a digital capture in May, 2003, in Austin, Travis Co., Texas using a Canon 10D with an EF 300 mm F4 L IS lens and 1.4 X extender. The shot of the female next was also a digital image with the same equipment in May, 2003, in Angelina Co., Texas.

Next is a shot of an immature male (with some green still on the sides of the thorax) taken in Bastrop Co., Texas in May, 2003.
This shot shows a pair perched in lakeside vegetation at Caddo Lake, Harrison Co., Texas in June, 2003.
The Eastern Pondhawk shown here was perched on a leaf on an early spring day in April, 2007, in Austin, Travis Co., Texas. This image was shot with a Canon EOS 1D Mark II and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender.
The female Eastern Pondhawk shown here is foraging on a small moth. This shot was taken at Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in August, 2007, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300 mm F.4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.
This female was also in Austin, in August, 2007, and was shot with the same gear as previously described.
The male Eastern Pondhawk shown here was at Austin in August, 2007, and was shot with the same gear as previously described. It is feeding on a small bee it has captured.
The female shown here was feeding on a female Eastern Amberwing. It was shot with the same gear as previously described in Howard Co., Arkansas, in September, 2007.
The female shown here has caught a hairstreak butterfly. This shot was taken near Lake Somerville, Lee Co., Texas, in May, 2008, with the same gear as previously described.
The female Eastern Pondhawk shown here was along the Medina River just south of San Antonio, Bexar Co., Texas, in September, 2008. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 EX flash.
The female Eastern Pondhawk shown here was in Bastrop Co., Texas, in May, 2009. This image was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.
The young male Eastern Pondhawk shown here is still changing from green to blue. This individual was in the Sam Houston National Forest, San Jacinto Co., Texas, in June, 2009. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 l IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.
The female Eastern Pondhawk shown here was just emerged from its exuvia. This image was taken in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in March, 2010, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and an EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.
The female Eastern Pondhawk shown here has captured a Red Saddlebags. This image was taken in Austin, Travis Co., Texas in July, 2010, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and an EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.
The female Eastern Pondhawk on the right was along the Guadalupe River in Victoria, Victoria Co., Texas in September, 2011. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and a Sigma 50-500mm lens and Canon 580 flash.
The female Eastern Pondhawk on the right was at the Lometa Reservoir, Lampasas Co., Texas, in September, 2011. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and a Sigma 50-500mm lens and Canon 580 flash.
The young male Eastern Pondhawk on the right, with a prey item, was along the Blanco River, Blanco Co., Texas, in July, 2012. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and an EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 1.4X extender.
Eastern Pondhawk Erythemis simplicicollis female - with prey item (an Argia species damselfly) Hornsby Bend, Austin, Travis Co., Texas 10 May 2013
Eastern Pondhawk Erythemis simplicicollis female - with prey item (an Argia species damselfly) Hornsby Bend, Austin, Travis Co., Texas 10 May 2013
Eastern Pondhawk Erythemis simplicicollis Hornsby Bend, Austin, Travis Co., Texas 30 May 2013
Eastern Pondhawk Erythemis simplicicollis male Hornsby Bend, Austin, Travis Co., Texas 7 June 2013
Eastern Pondhawk Erythemis simplicicollis female with prey - a Banded Pennant Celithemis fasciata Gus Engling W.M.A., Anderson Co., Texas 9 June 2013
Eastern Pondhawk Erythemis simplicicollis female with prey - a Banded Pennant Celithemis fasciata Gus Engling W.M.A., Anderson Co., Texas 9 June 2013
Eastern Pondhawk Erythemis simplicicollis female with prey - a Banded Pennant Celithemis fasciata Gus Engling W.M.A., Anderson Co., Texas 9 June 2013
Eastern Pondhawk Erythemis simplicicollis male Hornsby Bend, Austin, Travis Co., Texas 1 July 2013
Eastern Pondhawk Erythemis simplicicollis male with prey - a Banded Pennant Celithemis fasciata Gus Engeling W.M.A., Anderson Co., Texas 9 July 2013