jmaughn's Favorites
Photos / Sounds
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Long-tailed Giant Ichneumonid Wasp Megarhyssa macrurusObserver
cholmesphotoDescription
A female Giant Ichneumon wasp (Megarhyssa macrurus) oviposits into the side of a tree.
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American Beaver Castor canadensisObserver
rjadams55Description
Walking back from the Sousa Marsh overlook, this American Beaver was casually swimming in a pond just off the trail. Cruising away from me, it did an explosive splash with its tail as it disappeared up a narrow slough.
The only other beavers I've ever seen were at after dusk in Montana and they were just a few silhouettes of ears moving low across the water so this was a real treat!
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Florida Manatee Trichechus manatus ssp. latirostrisObserver
sullivanribbitDescription
The heated water in the Tampa Electric Company's discharge canal attracts a lot of manatees, and is now a state and federally designated manatee sanctuary.
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Argentine Black-and-white Tegu Salvator merianaeObserver
bobbyfingersDescription
Found this beautiful and robust "invasive" (remember, they didn't "ask" to be released into the wild in Florida!) juvenile Tegu behind the outdoor ice machine at the Florida City Quality Inn! Also found a young Corn Snake in the shrubbery outside the lobby of this "Herper's Hotel".
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Northern Cottonmouth Agkistrodon piscivorusObserver
wildlandbloggerPlace
Private
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Baird's Beaked Whale Berardius bairdiiObserver
abcdefgewingDescription
Baird's Beaked Whales on a Shearwater Journeys trip. One photo shows the bulbous head with a visible eye. Two photos show the dorsal aspects, and one photo shows the characteristic "low bush" shaped spouts. These rarely seen brownish cetaceans were seen in a pod estimated at 12 individuals.
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Woodlice and Pillbugs Suborder OniscideaObserver
matthew_bettelheimDescription
Found in an underground creek cave/tunnel along the damp wall; see photos for relative scale/size.
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Hoodwinker Mola Mola tectaObserver
underwaterpatDescription
PHOTO CREDIT:
Photo 1: Joe Platko https://www.instagram.com/hiimjoe88
Photo 2: JR Sosky https://www.instagram.com/hijrsosky/
Photo 3: JR Sosky/Marianne Nyeggard
MOLA TECTA IN MONTEREY BAY! Photographed by local photographers Joe Platko and JR Sosky, and Identified by Marianne Nyeggard via Michael Howard at Monterey Bay Aquarium
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Jaguar Panthera oncaObserver
dean_gDescription
Location is accurate to mountain, obscured for protection.
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Bay Polypore Picipes badiusObserver
ciara10Description
Ruffled yellow cap, black stipe growing out of a fallen bay laurel
To clarify, the underside of the cap is yellow, the top is brown
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Merlin Falco columbariusObserver
anudibranchmomDescription
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...
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Mountain Lion Puma concolorObserver
maxallenDescription
Lions drinking from this pool of water
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Harris's Sparrow Zonotrichia querulaObserver
samneloDescription
Found by Alex R, observed by many
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Colombian Weasel Mustela felipeiObserver
sultanaDescription
Atrapada en el baño de una finca
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Mouse-eared Bats Genus MyotisObserver
rjadams55Description
This was one of two bats found roosting under the eaves of a building in Death Valley Junction.
The other can be found here:
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Mountain Lion Puma concolorObserver
carter_kDescription
Confident in mountain lion ID due to pronounced leading toe. Tracks continued for 150+ yards
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Genus ExobasidiumObserver
rjadams55Description
@abr , @grnleaf While hiking with @flygrl67 along the Cone Peak Trail, we passed through several thick patches of manzanita
and emerging out of these shrubs were scattered bright red growths. I believe these may be a fungal infection like Cowberry Redleaf (Exobasidium vaccinii) but this is only a guess and I haven't found anything especially informative on diseases of manzanitas. Do either of you recognize this? Thank you!
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Genus ChrysisObserver
asjonesDescription
Dark wings, overall body length maybe 3-5 mm? Residential zone in former oak woodland
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Coast Mountain Kingsnake Lampropeltis multifasciataObserver
robberflyDescription
First adult Ive ever seen. Saw small juvenile a few years back...
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California Mountain Kingsnake Lampropeltis zonataObserver
kevinhintsaPlace
PrivateDescription
My lifer ! It crossed a trail in late afternoon , very warm at the time .
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Bull Shark Carcharhinus leucasObserver
underwaterpatDescription
With its golden trevally posse! On El Vencedor Wreck.
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Clay Mariposa Lily Calochortus argillosusObserver
abrDescription
This is a first observation of this species for San Benito County, as far as I can tell. Note the chevron shaped nectary, rather than square as in C. venustus. No fruit were available to rule out C. superbus, but soil was clay.
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Red-bellied Newt Taricha rivularisObserver
apattenDescription
3 terrestrial phase adults walking across the trail, plus one deceased (possible mountain bike strike). Distinguished from other Taricha by bright red ventral coloration. The black band across the cloaca is visible on the dead one.
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Coastal Tailed Frog Ascaphus trueiObserver
tiwaneDescription
Lifer! One of 3 or 4 females seen. No males found. Seen with Spencer Riffle and @robberfly.
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Barrow's Bolete Boletus barrowsiiObserver
jmaughnDescription
Didn't stain blue. Growing under Coast Live Oak
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Butterfly Mariposa Lily Calochortus venustusObserver
jmaughnDescription
Several odd creamy yellow ones growing amidst the usual white ones.
