Springtime! A nice bath in the woodland creek, though that water is still chilly! This is a white-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) of the New World sparrow family. The yellow spots above the eye help ID this species from similar species.
Male-to-male combat with a female stuck in the middle! A grand display of sexual selection at the vernal pool. These are wood frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus). After a few warm days in early spring they gather in dense numbers to carry out breeding rit
Such a lovely creature! The northern cottonmouth, or water moccasin, (Agkistrodon piscivorus) is the only venomous water snake here in the U.S.. They're actually quite docile, unless they are provoked or you're a prey item like a fish. But I'm assum
I had the same reaction as this toad when I found out the Colorado Avalanche games were going to be postponed. 11 days without Avs! 😲 Though I fully respect the extra precautions taken by the NHL & NHLPA to ensure the safety of the players and
An epic feast! The two large American carrion beetles (Necrophilia americana) are sharing a meal with ferruginous carpenter ants (Camponotus chromaiodes). The reddish substance they are eating is likely a slime flux (some bacterial colony) or even
Snack time! This bee-mimic robber fly (complex Laphria sericea) found a leafhopper (maybe Oncopsis variabilis) along the Appalachian Trail. (During the summer, of course; it's sooo cold now!) A colorful predator-prey interaction, would you agree?
They actually posed well for the photo! Can you ID 'em? 🐸 BTW, color is not a great feature to use for distinguishing these species. I teamed up with Ty "The Snakeman" Smith to create a free ID guide for these often confused species. Thr
Do you see the ❤? This charming male is ready for some loving! I was baffled when able to get this hornyhead chub (Nocomis biguttatus) in the tank and see the marking behind the eye that so resembled a heart. A red blotch is typical on mature males,
The lepomis guide is complete and free-to-view at koaw.org/sunfishes. Identification, ranges and more! The spotted sunfish (Lepomis punctatus) has a lovely iridescent 'bowl' of blue on the bottom of the eye. Only one other species of lepomid (commo
EASTERN COPPERHEAD (Agkistrodon contortrix) – Finding this creature has thus far been the most enchanting animal encounter of my year. There exists some intrinsic fascination that draws my admiration for the beauty and complexity of this snake.
ID photos for you of the common whitetail (Plathemis Lydia) dragonfly because it can get a bit confusing. 🤔 1) Female 2) Male 3) Immature male The female is sometimes confused with the females and immature males of the twelve-spotted skimmer (Libel
Spring brings out the butterflies! 🦋 I usually see the zabulon skipper (Poanes zabulon) before most of the other skippers of the family Hesperiidae. Though, this year I did see a bunch of duskywings weeks before this male zabulon graced me with a ph
Oh yes, I am posting again on Instagram! 😁 A very attractive spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) is wondering why I have disturbed its rest. Stressed specimens will secrete a toxic substance that looks milky in color. I didn’t let this b
Looks like a sea urchin right?! That’s a #macro shot of a giant leopard moth larva (Hypercompe scribonia). The bristles look like a daunting defense mechanism and do provide a sturdy wall of protection. Yet, those pointy pokers aren’t utr
I found this little fella in an eerily dark hemlock forest. It's forked tongue is picking up my scent by capturing molecules in the air for the Jacobson's organ to process. This snake is probably tasting my Old Spice deodorant. 😂 Oh yeah, that's a
I just love the lie-and-wait position of this cryptically camouflaged hunter! Perhaps she is also meditating, pondering upon the necessities of clean energy and saying, “Solar energy is so amazing!” 🌞 I would reply to the spider, &ldqu