Cobra Clubtail (Gomphus vastus)

Cobra Clubtail
Gomphus vastus

The Cobra Clubtail (Gomphus vastus) is a fairly large clubtail which occurs in the eastern half of the United States. It occurs in a black and a brown form, the latter of which is most common in Texas, while the black form occurs farther east. The first shot of the Cobra on the mesquite limb was shot in May, 2003, and the next shot of the Cobra perched on a weed stalk was shot in June, 2003. Both these first images were taken with a Canon EOS 10D and EF 70-200 mm F2.8 L IS lens with a 2X extender and 550 EX flash in Austin, Travis Co., Texas.

On the right is a shot of a pair of Cobra Clubtails in copulation. This image was taken in June, 2004, in Austin with a Canon EOS 1D Mark II and EF 300 mm F/4 L IS lens and 550 EX flash.
The next two shots of a teneral female Cobra Clubtail were taken in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in June, 2005, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark II and EF 300mm F/4 l IS lens and 2X extender.

The mature female Cobra shown here was on the bank of the San Marcos River near Luling, Caldwell Co., Texas, in June, 2005. This shot was taken with the same gear as the 2 shots just before.
The male Cobra shown here was in Gonzales, Gonzales Co., Texas in June, 2008. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender.
The male Cobra Clubtail shown here perched on a Prickly Pear Cactus in May, 2010, in Austin, Travis Co., Texas. This shot, and the next 2 were taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and an EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.
The male Cobra Clubtail in the next 2 shots was perched on a Black-eyed Susan, also in Austin in May, 2010.

The male Cobra Clubtail shown here was also in Austin, Texas, in May, 2010, and was shot with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and an EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.
The next 5 shots show male Cobra Clubtails, all photographed 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 young male Cobra Clubtail in the next two shots was in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in May, 2011. These shots were taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and a Sigma 50-500mm lens and Canon 580 flash.

The Cobra Clubtails of the east are darker and a little smaller than those of Texas. The next three shots show two images of females and one shot of a male Cobra Clubtail along the Towaliga River in Monroe Co., Georgia, in May, 2011.


On the right is a male Cobra Clubtail resting on a prickly pear cactus pad. This shot was taken in June, 2011, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and a Sigma 50-500mm lens and Canon 580 flash.
The next two shots show a female Cobra also on a cactus pad in June, 2011 in Austin, Texas.

The next four shots show male Cobra Clubtails along the Wisconsin River in Vilas Co., Wisconsin, in July, 2011. These shots were taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and a Sigma 50-500mm lens and Canon 580 flash.



The next two shots of a male Cobra Clubtail were taken along the Guadalupe River in Gonzales, Gonzales Co., Texas, in July, 2012, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and an EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and a 580 flash.

Cobra Clubtail Gomphus vastus female Hornsby Bend, Austin, Travis Co., Texas 30 May 2013
Cobra Clubtail Gomphus vastus female Hornsby Bend, Austin, Travis Co., Texas 30 May 2013
Cobra Clubtail Gomphus vastus male Hornsby Bend, Austin, Travis Co., Texas 5 June 2013
Cobra Clubtail Gomphus vastus male Hornsby Bend, Austin, Travis Co., Texas 19 June 2013
Cobra Clubtail Gomphus vastus male Hornsby Bend, Austin, Travis Co., Texas 11 May 2014
Cobra Clubtail Gomphus vastus male Hornsby Bend, Austin, Travis Co., Texas 22 May 2014
The Cobra Clubtails in the northern and eastern parts of the U.S. are quite different looking than those in Texas. Cobra Clubtail Gomphus vastus male along Ranch Road, just west of Flambeau River, Rusk Co., Wisconsin 15 June 2014 45.3176 -91.2290
Cobra Clubtail Gomphus vastus male Guadalupe River, Independence Park, Gonzales, Gonzales Co., Texas 3 July 2014 29.4834 -97.4486
Cobra Clubtail Gomphus vastus female Hornsby Bend, Austin, Travis Co., Texas 1 June 2015
Cobra Clubtail Gomphus vastus male Hornsby Bend, Austin, Travis Co., Texas 9 June 2015
Cobra Clubtail Gomphus vastus male Independence Park, Gonzales, Gonzales Co., Texas 22 July 2016
Cobra Clubtail Gomphus vastus male Independence Park, Gonzales, Gonzales Co., Texas 22 July 2016
Cobra Clubtail Gomphus vastus male Independence Park, Gonzales, Gonzales Co., Texas 22 July 2016
Cobra Clubtail Gomphurus vastus female Tucker Park at Maidens Crossing, Goochland Co., Virginia 8 June 2017
Cobra Clubtail Gomphurus vastus female Tucker Park at Maidens Crossing, Goochland Co., Virginia 8 June 2017
Cobra Clubtail Gomphurus vastus male Hardware River W.M.A., Fluvanna Co., Virginia 8 June 2017
Cobra Clubtail Gomphurus vastus male with prey Hardware River W.M.A., Fluvanna Co., Virginia 8 June 2017
Cobra Clubtail Gomphurus vastus male Hardware River W.M.A., Fluvanna Co., Virginia 12 June 2017
Cobra Clubtail Gomphurus vastus female Hardware River W.M.A., Fluvanna Co., Virginia 12 June 2017
Cobra Clubtail Gomphurus vastus female Hardware River W.M.A., Fluvanna Co., Virginia 12 June 2017
Cobra Clubtail Gomphurus vastus male Hardware River W.M.A., Fluvanna Co., Virginia 12 June 2017
Cobra Clubtail Gomphurus vastus male Hardware River W.M.A., Fluvanna Co., Virginia 12 June 2017
Cobra Clubtail Gomphurus vastus male Hardware River W.M.A., Fluvanna Co., Virginia 12 June 2017
Cobra Clubtail Gomphurus vastus male Hardware River W.M.A., Fluvanna Co., Virginia 12 June 2017
Cobra Clubtail Gomphurus vastus male Hornsby Bend, Austin, Travis Co., Texas 21 June 2017
Cobra Clubtail Gomphurus vastus pair in copula Hornsby Bend, Austin, Travis Co., Texas 23 May 2018