Mary Lake, Redding - 21 May 2005
George Sappington and I explored Sulphur Creek and Mary Lake (both in Redding) this morning and afternoon. We started just after 8:00 a.m. at Sulphur Creek and didn't see much, a Variegated Meadowhawk, several unidentified dragonflies, and an unknown female bluet. We drove to Mary Lake where there was more going on. We saw a total of 12 species at Mary Lake: Vivid Dancer (about a dozen), Pacific Forktail (many), Western Forktail (1 adult male), Black-fronted Forktail (1 teneral male), Tule Bluet (common), Common Green Darner (several adult males and one tandem pair), Widow Skimmer (1 teneral), Common Whitetail (about 4 males), Twelve-spotted Skimmer (1 teneral female), Black Saddlebags (several), Blue Dasher (many teneral), and Western Pondhawk (1 adult male).
Mary Lake is in the western part of Redding, California, and shows up on USGS topographic maps as Falks Lake. The location in UTM coordinates (NAD 83 datum) is 10T,547990mE,4491727mN (see map below). There are quite a few houses around the lake. Nevertheless, it supports a variety of wildlife, including beavers, western pond turtles, fish, etc. Mary Lake is one of three places in Shasta County where Desert Firetail has been found (only once, however, but the habitat looks good for that species). A paved walking path, 3/4 of a mile in length, circles the lake.
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Mary Lake (Falks Lake) is indicated by a red star.
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Adult male Pacific Forktail. A common species most anywhere.
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Adult female Pacific Forktail (gynomorphic).
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A young female Pacific Forktail (gynomorphic) on blackberry leaf.
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Adult male Tule Bluet.
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Unknown female (andromorphic) bluet, probably a Tule Bluet.
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Tule Bluets in wheel. The female is gynomorphic; note the numerous mites on her abdomen.
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Young or teneral female Twelve-spotted Skimmer.
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Adult male Common Whitetail.
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Young or teneral male Blue Dasher.
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Young or teneral male Blue Dasher.
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Young or teneral female Blue Dasher.
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Young or teneral female Blue Dasher.
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Adult male Western Pondhawk.
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Adult male Western Pondhawk.
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Adult male Western Pondhawk.
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