A female Giant Ichneumon wasp (Megarhyssa macrurus) oviposits into the side of a tree.

I was honored to have this observation selected as observation of the day for June 11, 2020, and again as observation of the week (week of June 21, 2020). It is covered in this blog post: A Trip to Texas Provides a Long Sought Photographic Opportunity - Observation of the Week, 6/21/20.

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!

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".

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.

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

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 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.

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.