[Odonata-l] Nova Scotia Sympetrum emergence Mai 20?

[Dieter Plümacher]

As this question of only regional interest might not be all that 
thrilling for an international forum, answers from Eastern Canadians 
directly to my address would be appreciated --
mailto:dieter at tallships.ca   
I am an amateur odonata observer and have taken photos of over 30 
odonata species in my vicinity in SW Nova Scotia over the last few 
years -- from emergence to ovipositing. Never before have I seen a 
teneral Sympetrum (obtrusum/internum/rubicundulum) before the end of 
June. I even re-read the relevant paragraphs in Vol 3 of "The Odonata 
of Canada and Alaska" once I was home but can't find any indication 
of a flight period starting this early. I had in fact been on my way 
to search for Gomphid exuviae in a few locations when I noticed the 
first very shiny-winged teneral (male) S. basking on a sheep laurel 
leaf, an hour later a second, much more mature looking male (much 
darker yet white-faced) on the ground in a sunny spot, chewing a 
blackfly. I was able to take several photos on both occasions, but 
since I use an old film SLR it will be a while before the photos can 
be scanned and uploaded. 
 	I apologize to everybody if this should turn out to be a fairly 
common event, and maybe it is just a case of first-dragonfly-of the 
year-hysteria on my account, but a note from someone more 
knowledgeable would certainly be appreciated a lot. Has emergence of 
any Symp. species ever been known to happen this early in Eastern 
Canada? Thanks, 
Dieter Pluemacher, Lunenburg County, NS Canada