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Dragonfly Season

August 16-22, 2026

David Lukas

• 5 min read
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saffron-winged meadowhawk
Saffron-winged meadowhawks are abundant right now, with straw-colored females blending in among the drying plants. Photo by David Lukas

Ending yet another week of smoke and haze with a welcome touch of blue skies and scattered rain.

Week in Review

Writing today's newsletter with blue skies and the enticing smell of wet soil from this morning's light rain makes it hard to remember that the rest of the week was another dreary stretch of suffocating, gray smoke. If I weren't inside writing a newsletter, I'd be outside soaking it up, and I hope you're doing exactly that today!

ruddy ducks
Ruddy ducks enjoying some sunshine at Big Twin Lake. Photo by David Lukas

Given the persistent smoke, this wasn't much of a week for keeping track of the changing seasons, but we still had a few interesting observations.

Canada goldenrod
Canada goldenrods can be conspicuous flowers because they are nearly six feet tall. Photo by David Lukas

As noted above, this is the time of year when dragonflies and damselflies are particularly abundant and conspicuous. I wonder if that's because it takes most of the summer for their underwater nymphs to transform into flying adults, and now the adults are flying around and laying eggs that will overwinter before hatching next spring?

white-faced meadowhawk
White-faced meadowhawks adding a dash of lively color at a small pond along the Methow River. Photo by David Lukas

damselflies
A bluet checking out a mating pair of lyre-tipped spreadwings. Photo by David Lukas

There has been a fair amount of bird activity this week, with the notable appearance of at least two American white pelicans at the beginning of the week. Two stopped briefly at Big Twin Lake, and what might have been a different one showed up in a field in Mazama, which is quite bizarre.

American white pelicans
Two juvenile pelicans at Big Twin Lake. Photo by David Lukas

American white pelican
You don't expect to see an American white pelican in an alfalfa field! Photo by Han Nah

While keeping an eye on Big Twin Lake, I also spotted a single California gull, which is expected as these birds migrate from their nesting colonies throughout the American West towards the Pacific Coast. It's typical for single birds or small groups to stop briefly in the valley.

California gull
California gulls are best identified by the red and black spots on their bills, though with lots of practice and experience, you can also identify them by the shade of gray on their upperparts. Photo by David Lukas

Meanwhile, I continue watching for common nighthawks in hopes of pinning down the exact day they leave the valley. I had one on the 19th, and then a couple near Chelan on the 21st, so I think they are still at least a few hanging around.

common nighthawk
Common nighthawks are one of our hardest birds to photograph because they start flying around dusk, and they are usually high in the sky. Photo by David Lukas

Other bird activity has included the continued appearance of mixed flocks of smaller birds that have been showing up several times a week. These flocks seem to be built around families of western bluebirds feeding new babies, while chipping sparrows, yellow-rumped warblers, and other birds are also attracted to the busy energy. I've been surprised by how many baby bluebirds I've been seeing over the past two weeks, so this is something I'm going to watch for next summer as well.

fledgling western bluebird
A fledgling western bluebird waiting for its parents to bring its next meal. Photo by David Lukas

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As a follow-up to the question I raised last week about hybrid Douglas/red squirrels, I spoke with Andreas Chavez, an assistant professor at Ohio State University, who's been studying these squirrels around Washington Pass for several years. He believes that the range of these two species overlaps from East Creek Trailhead to Lone Fir Campground, and that they regularly hybridize in this transition zone. What's interesting is that the habitat preferences of these two species are slightly different, and their hybrid offspring have to find ways to thread the needle between the two choices.

Observation of the Week: Flocking birds

One of the more conspicuous seasonal changes you might be noticing is the appearance of bird flocks. This happens as birds stop defending separate breeding territories, and adult and juvenile birds start hanging out together.

American crows
American crows are one of our most conspicuous flocking birds because they can be very loud, and they often gather by the dozens. Photo by David Lukas

One advantage to hanging out in flocks is that there is safety in numbers. Not only does this lower your chances of being eaten by predators, but it helps if other birds in your group can watch for predators while you look for food.

California quail
Part of a much larger group of California quail. Photo by David Lukas

Not only that, but it helps to have more eyes looking for food because if one bird discovers a patch of food then other birds can join and share the feast.

starlings
Both blackbirds and starlings (seen here) can form large flocks with hundreds of birds. Photo by David Lukas

Other advantages include juvenile birds having a chance to watch and learn from adults birds, plus migrating birds can watch each other and come to a group consensus on when it's time to head south.

Canada geese
Canada geese loafing along the river as they wait to start migrating. Photo by David Lukas

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