Blue-eyed Darner (Rhionaeschna multicolor)

Blue-eyed Darner
Rhionaeschna multicolor

The Blue-eyed Darner (Rhionaeschna multicolor) is a common dragon of the western United States, occurring east to the Midwest from central Canada and the Dakotas south to west Texas and Oklahoma. In Central America it occurs south to Panama. It is not typically found in central or south Texas, however. The male shown here was one of probably about a dozen individuals of this species found at Austin's Hornsby Bend Wastewater Treatment Ponds. The shots here were digital captures taken in Travis Co., Texas in late October, 2003, with a Canon EOS 10D and EF 70-200 mm F2.8 L IS lens with 2X extender and 550 EX flash. We netted this male for in-hand documentation and I took a few shots at the time. Earlier in the day I obtained a few shots of this species in flight, but they are not worth posting, unfortunately. These photos represent the first record for Travis and surrounding counties in Texas.

This is a shot of another male Blue-eyed Darner from Kermit, Winkler Co., Texas in Augus,t 2004.
The next two shots of a male Blue-eyed Darner were taken in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in November, 2007, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender.

The female Blue-eyed Darner shown here was along the Yakima River, Benton Co., Washington, in August, 2008. This image was taken with the same gear described above.
The male Blue-eyed Darner in the next two shots was in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in November, 2010. These next two shots were taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and a Sigma 50-500mm lens and Canon 580 flash.

The male Blue-eyed Darner shown here was at Parker Canyon Lake, Cochise Co., Arizona, in August. 2013.
This male Blue-eyed darner was at Bonita Creek, Graham Co., Arizona, in August, 2013.
The female Blue-eyed Darner of the right was along the Gila River in Yuma Co., Arizona, in October, 2013.
This hand-held male Blue-eyed Darner was near Laguna Dam, Yuma Co., Arizona, in October, 2013.
Blue-eyed Darner Rhionaeschna multicolor male in flight Hornsby Bend, Austin, Travis Co., Texas 24 October 2014
Blue-eyed Darner Rhionaeschna multicolor male in flight Hornsby Bend, Austin, Travis Co., Texas 24 October 2014
Blue-eyed Darner Rhionaeschna multicolor male in flight Hornsby Bend, Austin, Travis Co., Texas 24 October 2014
Blue-eyed Darner Rhionaeschna multicolor male in flight Hornsby Bend, Austin, Travis Co., Texas 24 October 2014
Blue-eyed Darner Rhionaeschna multicolor male in flight Hornsby Bend, Austin, Travis Co., Texas 24 October 2014
Blue-eyed Darner Rhionaeschna multicolor pair in copula Hornsby Bend, Austin, Travis Co., Texas 24 October 2014
Blue-eyed Darner Rhionaeschna multicolor female near Higgins, Lipscomb Co., Texas 14 June 2016
Blue-eyed Darner Rhionaeschna multicolor female near Higgins, Lipscomb Co., Texas 14 June 2016
Blue-eyed Darner Rhionaeschna multicolor female near Higgins, Lipscomb Co., Texas 14 June 2016