On that April trip I'd netted and photo'd a number of Northern/Boreal-type bluets, and it seemed that both species might be represented. This needed confirmation, so on 6 May I invited Paul Johnson along to help confirm the first record of Boreal Bluet in Monterey County. We visited both sites shown above, plus another small creek, and together we netted and examined in-hand at least 20 male bluets. They were all Northern Bluets. It was quite disappointing. The addition of a new ode to the MTY Checklist would have to wait for another day.

Or would it? We hiked down to my little clubtail pool on the San Antonio and saw that a large and colorful dragonfly was steadily cruising the pond. . .

Yes, as unlikely as it might seem, it was a Western River Cruiser Macromia magnifica. I placed it on a twig and it immediately went into its hanging roosting position; it eventually flew to another roosting spot (photo right), seemingly exhausted from its ordeal, but otherwise in good shape. In our two hours on the upper San Antonio River, we ended up seeing 4 males along a short quarter-mile stretch. Paul said the habitat reminded him of Bear Creek in Colusa County, a well known cruiser locale.

According to Kathy Biggs's web site map, the nearest records are from Santa Clara & Alameda counties, presumably in the Diablo Range. Our cruisers in the Santa Lucia Mountains are more than 100 miles from those. Western River Cruiser also occurs in the Sierra Nevada south to Kern and Inyo counties (Manolis 2003).

Both in flight and in hand, I was very impressed by the gray thorax and the gray eyes. The gray thorax really contrasts to the black abdomen with yellow spots and a 'clubbed' tip. The single broad yellow stripe on the side of the thorax, bordered below with a broad black stripe, was apparent only in hand or on the perched individual. There are also a pair of short yellow stripes atop the thorax.

Our list for 6 May 2007:

• American Rubyspot 30
• Emma's Dancer 30
• Vivid Dancer 100+
• Northern Bluet 20 males (in-hand i.d.)
• Northern-type Bluet 300+
• Desert Firetail 1 m
• Western Forktail 60 (a very high local count)
• California Darner 8
• Blue-eyed Darner 2
• Pacific Clubtail 8
• Grappletail 1 [in flight; PGJ only]
• Western River Cruiser 4 m [1 netted]
• Western Pondhawk 4 (3 m, 1 f)
• Flame Skimmer 3
• Red Rock Skimmer 1 f
• Cardinal Meadowhawk 20

Don Roberson & Paul Johnson

Directions: From Hwy 101 in King City, go south on Jolon Road [G14] about 16.7 mi, and turn right (west) to the entrance gate for Ft. Hunter-Liggett. Here you must get a permit by stating where you are going, and showing driver's license, registration, and proof of insurance. You must have these documents to enter the military base. They also sometimes ask for i.d. of passengers. [This is the current protocol. Things were much more relaxed in the past. There are times, though, when Army training is underway, and the public road may be temporarily closed.]

Continue west 5.6 mi to Del Venturi Road [this is 1.7 mi past the turnoff to Nacimiento-Fergusson Road that goes south and eventually to Hwy 1 on the coast]. Del Venturi Road is marked; signs also say to The Indians and Memorial Park. It is a paved road that quickly crosses the San Antonio River at a paved ford, and will do so once more near the end of your ~9 mi drive through Hunter-Liggett. One is not allowed to stop or pull off the road on the military base. Once you reach the cattle guard and sign for Los Padres National Forest, you are back on public land, and may stop and go where you wish. Just 0.4 mi farther there is a pull-off on the left with a parking area and stile. This trail leads to the big rocks [Wagon Caves] visible from the parking lot. A small spring-fed stream is the first thing one crosses after the trail forks to the right; follow this tiny stream downstream for odes.

Returning to the parking area for Wagon Caves, drive 0.4 mi farther on the paved road (toward Memorial Park) to the first dirt road. Turn left. This is a rough dirt road that requires good clearance (but not 4-wheel drive). The road will divide – thereafter it is simply a loop and you can go left or right. I typically go right and bear left at the only other intersection. You will soon be on a bluff overlooking the San Antonio River. The road has one sharp jog. After that, where the dirt road swings sharply left and back uphill and inland, there if a small camping spot on your right that is at the edge of the bluff. Park here (or nearby, if folks are using the camping spot) and follow the narrow but well-marked trail from the camp site and to the east, eventually heading steeply down to the valley bottom. Walk over to the river. Upstream are riffles and rapids, downstream are slower stretches and little ponds. There are usually nice odes in either direction, so try both ways. [The steep trail down to the river is rugged and requires some athletic ability; one could not manage it if disabled. The river is grazed by cows, so be aware. There can be ticks or rattlesnakes, and it can be very hot in the summer, so carry water.]