with captured male Cassin's finch at yard feeders; carried prey to branch perch in nearby pine
Experts - What is going on here? This male American Kestrel sure did seem to have the hots for this female Merlin. He kept trying to get close to her and even brought her a few treats (insects?) from the grass beneath the fence. She accepted the treats but didn't seem thrilled with the attention. However, when he flew off, she followed him...
This bird was initially reported as a Black-chinned, but on closer inspection the gorget was rosy and it had visible rufous color on the flanks etc. Photos were sent to hummer expert Sheri Williamson who confirmed the general agreement that it appears to be a Rufous x Black-chinned hybrid.
Presumed Black-chinned x Calliope Hummingbird hybrid. More photos on these ebird checklists. https://ebird.org/checklist/S68207711 and
https://ebird.org/checklist/S68210284
Large flock. Mixing with Red-Winged as well. 5 individuals seen in photos.
Bioluminescent Lingulodinium polyedra bloom off SIO pier. Filmed with A7S camera.
Hyloscirtus antioquia (Rivera & Faivovich, 2013)
Rana Chocolate Antioqueña
Santa Rosa de Osos - Antioquia
Juvenile female "Pale" Milksnake - the recently-invalidated subspecies L. t. "multistrata". Discovered beneath a flat rock on a sparsely wooded slope between the towns of Biddle and Broadus, MT. Regurgitated a small Northern Sagebrush Lizard (S. g. graciosus) shortly after capture. An adult male "Pale" Milksnake was also found, within 50 feet of the specimen pictured.
Loved these things - and had to have a few documented. I'll be working to clean these up using a few resources over time. Any help is appreciated, but wouldn't mind going for the most uncommon bacteria in each picture, as I work my way through the below list.
GO THERE! (After school starts in the middle of the week, of course)
These are the same area, at different levels of zoom, and the greater habitat is pretty bizarre.
Yellowstone NP Targets
Watch the Video absolutely fascinating. I wanted to bring a lazer temperature gun, but only decided to take this vacation the night before, and shotgunned everything into the car...
https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/life-in-extreme-heat.htm
https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/thermophilic-bacteria.htm
https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/thermophilic-communities.htm
https://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Yellowstone_Hot_Springs
Cyanobacteria Calothrix
pH: 6–9
Temperature: 30–45°C (86–113°F)
Color: Dark brown mats
Metabolism: Photosynthesis by day; fermentation by night.
Location: Mammoth Hot Springs, Upper, Midway, and Lower geyser basins
Cyanobacteria Phormidium
pH: 6–8
Temperature: 35–57°C (95–135°F)
Color: Orange mats
Metabolism: Photosynthesis
Location: Mammoth Hot Springs, Upper, Midway, and Lower geyser basins
Cyanobacteria Oscillatoria
pH: 6–8
Temperature: 36–45°C (96–113°F)
Color: Orange mats
Metabolism: Photosynthesis; oscillating moves it closer to or away from light sources.
Location: Mammoth Hot Springs and Chocolate Pots
Cyanobacteria Synechococcus
pH: 7–9
Temperature: 52–74°C (126–165°F)
Color: Green mats
Metabolism: Photosynthesis by day; fermentation by night.
Location: Mammoth Hot Springs, Upper, Midway, and Lower geyser basins
Green Sulfur Chlorobium
pH: 6–9
Temperature: 32–52°C (90–126°F)
Color: Dense, dark green mats
Metabolism: Anoxygenic photosynthesis— produces sulfate and sulfur, not oxygen.
Location: Mammoth Hot Springs and Calcite Springs
Green nonsulfur Chloroflexus
pH: 7–9
Temperature: 35–85°C (95–185°F)
Color: Green mats
Metabolism: anoxygenic photosynthesis—use organic compounds during photosynthesis.
Location: Mammoth Hot Springs, Upper, Midway, and Lower geyser basins
Aquifex Hydrogenobaculum
pH: 3–5.5
Temperature: 55–72°C (131–162°F)
Color: Yellow and white streamers
Metabolism: Uses hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide as energy sources; can use arsenic in place of hydrogen sulfide.
Location: Norris Geyser Basin, Amphitheater Springs
Aquifex- Thermocrinis
pH: 5–9
Temperature: 40–79°C (104–174°F)
Color: Bright red or orange streamers; contains carotenoid pigments that act as sunscreen.
Location: Lower Geyser Basin
Red-winged Blackbird
near Stewardson, Illinois
1 June 1989
I'm posting this record just for the general interest of a Red-winged Blackbird with one white wing. Whether a partial albino, or a partial leucistic bird, I'm not sure. A local farmer told my wife and me that this bird had been on his farm for three summers. The bird left in the fall with the other Red-wingeds and came back in the spring. I watched it for about 30 minutes. It vocalized like any other Red-winged BB and interacted with other Red-wingeds normally. It was pretty flashy to see in flight, however. Three shots posted. These images scanned from old color slides.
N30.87344° W82.30556°
Okefenokee Swamp between Minnie's Lake and Big Water. http://williamwisephoto.com/photographyblog/okefenokee-birding-zeiss-binoculars
Thursday, January 21, 2021 - paddling the upper half of The Sill; Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. ©williamwisephoto.com
~ Journal: http://williamwisephoto.com/photographyblog/okefenokee-warblers
The Osprey dove and caught a fish. Almost immediately the Bald Eagle materialized and pursued the Osprey (Osprey Observation here). I didn't see the outcome because almost simultaneously, a Least Bittern flushed near my feet. The bittern was a lifer so I had to get it! This was all within a few minutes of leaving my car, so I knew it would be a good day!
October Big Day birding at Phinizy Swamp Nature Park, Richmond County, Georgia. October 8, 2022.
I know this is an albino bird… but not sure what kind! These two sightings were on two occasions, first three pictures are from July 30 and the last three are from August 14. I think it could be the same one! It was in the same area/neighborhood.
Thoughts on what it could be?
First 5 photos of this Leucistic Hummingbird are from June 28, 2017, first sighting in Palm Desert, CA. The last 4 photos are from August 16, 2017. This gorgeous creature is so friendly with a huge personality. It comes when called and eats one gnat after another with so much to say! I feel he/she likes the yard because the concrete walls and house are painted bright white making this hummer feel protected. Keep in mind there are no feeders on the property. 1. Can you please help me identify the type of Leucistic this is. 2. Male or female? 3. Does this Hummingbird look healthy? I've noticed possible missing feathers on its wings. I'm not sure if it has worsened over time.Thank you :) all photos are mine and taken by me, Nicole Campanaro
10/20/2017, 9:51 AM
Canon EOS 7D Mark II, 1/1250 sec, f/8, 349mm (EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM), ISO 3200 (auto), Exp comp +1/3
The location is pretty accurate, as you are hooking towards the pond from the east, there is a creek drainage that runs between some trees only about 5-10 feet off trail. I went back there and saw the bird flush into a tree which is when I got the picture. When I go back I will update the location more exactly.
Found sitting on front porch at approximately 10:45 pm.
Cardinal getting territorial with itself in this mirror. It was doing the same thing last week too. It spends a not-insignificant amount of time battling itself.
3cm long female
Two individuals found, both female, within 20m of each other. One under a clod of loose earth, another uncovered beneath a log. 17 leg pairs each, red dermal papillae on forehead. Curled strongly when disturbed. Underlying bedrock shale.
Not sure what is going on but this is the fourth birder that I know of who has had a phoebe perch on their binoculars or on their person at Commons Ford.
THEY WERE SO CUTE!!! I found a nest nest, three babies in it! I will keep an eye on it for all of you guys, was right beside the path.
Lifer!!!
Wow! I’ve heard of Pseudoscorpions before but never have thought to look for them in Montana! I immediately recognized this as one though. I should start keeping an eye out for them back in western MT, this one was under a rock in a gravel bed. There’s still a lot of snow on the ground up here.
Lots of fruiting bodies at various stages on one log