A couple weeks of dry and warm days has finally seeing Ode numbers pick up. Many species in many areas are 10 days behind.

Our May numbers didn't match last years records, but we might still see some May observations arrive in iNat.

We are at just over 4,500 observations on the year. 91 species in 81 counties, by nearly 250 observers.

Counties still missing form the data: Defiance, Gallia, Lawrence, Monroe, Richland, Paulding, and Putnam.

Fragile Forktail has the most observations, by a fair margin. Franklin Co is about double Champaign Co. Franklin also has the most species (40+).

It appears we have 25 new County Records so far, and a number of new early flight dates. All good.

Stay hydrated in this heat! Watch for ticks - check your crevices!

We are entering the most productive period of the Odonata season - the days of the year for most daily observations and most daily species start now and span the next couple weeks.

Our numbers have picked up significantly, we're over 6,000 confirmed observations and over 100 species. Nearly 300 observers. All good numbers. Still waiting on some of our regulars.

Only one county remains without observations - Monroe. Hopefully someone can find their way east.

The hazy atmosphere and cooler temperatures of the past couple days aren't helping. And too, a bit of rain would help.

A week of warm weather has produced a load of observations. We're at 8,000+ for the year.

Forktails still lead in the number of observations (800-ish) and Counties (78 each for Eastern and Fragile). Common Whitetail numbers are next, with 130 observers (the high on that metric) reporting observations. Pondhawks numbers rising quickly.

We now have observations from every County. Franklin (788) doubling up on Ashtabula, Lucas, and Montgomery. Franklin also leads in number of species with 50. Allen, Marion, Knox, Scioto, and Wood are the low end.

There have been 4 days this year with over 500 observations. We don't normally see those kind of numbers until mid-to-late June. June 4 was a special day - we recorded 72 different species! This may be half of what we will see for the year. The previous species/day high was 66, on 3 days back in 2019 and 2021. Amazing.

Thanks for the Odes.

Four-spotted Skimmer observations were submitted on June 17 from Crawford, Greene, and Lorain Counties. This covers a wide geographical range. These were likely blown in with the cold-front earlier in the week. But that means there may be many more. Check your local wetlands for this occasional visitor to Ohio!

OK, an exciting day.

We are close to 50 reports in iNat on the Four-spotted Skimmer “event” - now covering a dozen counties. Some folks reporting Four-spotted sightings at every wetland they visit. Some reporting Four-spotted as outnumbering Pondhawks at specific wetlands. Still others reporting pairs in wheel and females ovipositing.

This is an unusual and interesting event. And you can play along - our current guess is that they could literally be anywhere in Ohio. Look for a medium-sized golden-to-yellowish dragonfly. Similar in size and behavior to a Common Whitetail - abdomen a bit wider than most dragons, sitting on a preferred perch. I saw them yesterday sparring with Whitetails and Twelve-spots.

Four-spotted is a northern species that has seen dwindling numbers - so this is a “lifer” opportunity for many. Also, a shot at a county record.

Several folks reported more observations yesterday (in one day) than we’ve seen in most years.

So, this is a triple-dog dare to go find one!

Four-spotted Skimmer, Libellula quadrimaculata

We are now at 92 observations in 17 Counties by 27 observers. 10 of these are new Counties for the Ohio Odonata Society Database. Here's the current map - 2023 observation locations in orange.

Interesting that, at this point, no June 2023 observations in Pennsylvania, none in southern Michigan, one in Indiana. Ontario has quite a few.

There are more 4-Spots out there. Find yours!

Four-spotted Skimmer, Libellula quadrimaculata

We are now at 124 observations in 22 Counties by 34 observers. 12 of these are new Counties for the Ohio Odonata Society Database. Here's the current map - 2023 observation locations in orange.

Four-spotted Skimmer, Libellula quadrimaculata

We are now at 184 observations in 27 Counties by 44 observers. 19 of these are new Counties for the Ohio Odonata Society Database. Here's the current map - 2023 observation locations in orange.

Weather slowed us a bit across much of the state on 6/22, so fewer incoming.

However, we are now over 200 Four-spotted Skimmer observations. I know we're looking for them, but at this point, we have more 4-Spots than Eastern Amberwing and Twelve-spotted Skimmer! And double the number on Spangled Skimmer! Updated map below - filling in from NE to SW - 2023 observation locations in orange.

In other news, we're at 111 species for the 2023 season, nearly 12,000 observations. With a week to go in June, we're at 7,500 observations. A bit below June 2022, but very respectable.

With all the new counties for 4-Spots, they dominate the new County Records, but there are other species too. Franklin Co still way ahead in numbers.

Blue Dasher is dashing upward - now in the top 10. Forktails continue to lead the way.

Today's Four-spotted Skimmer map. Over 200 observations. 30 Counties (in orange). 22 new County Records (with white dots).

At Rick Nirschl suggestion, green dots have been added to indicate Counties where we have received 10 or more observations since 6/15 - but no Four-Spots. Fewer than 10 observations is just a number, but no counties with Four-Spot observations have fewer than 10. This doesn't mean they're not there, just that we haven't recorded them YET.

Up in the air - 1) Are they still arriving? Or 2) do we have what we're going to get? If the latter, now it's a rush to observe as attrition kicks in - Kingbirds, Darners, Age...