Near bird blind at old beaverpond in central part of Gus Engeling WMA

female

@greglasley @briangooding @jcabbott

A new species for the WMA, and a significant range extension to the NW of this rare Clubtail species. This is my first time seeing the species. It flew in to perch on a grass clump in tall reeds and grasses in an area with lots of feral hog trails. Unfortunately, all my photos are from a similar angle because I was trying to photograph through grass clumps without disturbing it.

This is definitely one of the larger TX clubtails! I first thought it was a Black-shouldered Spinyleg when it flew in, but quickly realized it was something I'd never seen before.

As a side note, I suspect that a large male clubtail that I saw flying low and briefly perching on sunny sticks just above the water and in a deeply shaded portion of Catfish Creek on the north end of the WMA may have been this species. I assumed it was a Black-shouldered Spinyleg at the time, but noticed that the thorax seemed very 'bright' for that species. Unfortunately, I was unable to photograph that individual.