San Pedro National Riparian Conservation Area (SPNRCA) is a hotbed for snakes, lizards, and birds. And to many people's surprise, it is an excellent location to observe unique dragonflies. The river itself provides excellent habitat for dragonflies that tend to like moving water, and there are spots where small ponds provide additional habitat for other species.
I took a quick trip to the SPRNCA last weekend, and my casual observation noted 4 or 5 dragonfly species, most of which are difficult to photograph as they rarely if ever stop to perch. The Western Pondhawk (Erythemis collocata) is an exception in that it will perch for a few seconds now and again.
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Western Pondhawk (male) |
The Western Pondhawk range extends from Mexico through the southwest USA, and up into the southern reaches of British Columbia. Note that while there is little overlap with the similar Eastern Pondhawk, there are a number of intermediate/hybrid pondhawks, even in Arizona. There is still some controversy over whethr these "intermediates" that show features of both Eastern and Western pondhawks are truly hybrids, a separate species, or just a normal variance.
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