This observation is for the smaller bird of picture 1.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/215625722
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/215625724
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/215625720
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/215625719
New adult, still pink after molting.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/128202824 (same individual, molting)
Fledging owlet.
3 m from the nest.
I am posting this now because the owls are no longer here. The nest activity had been well kept confidential.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/208186714
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/208186715
The owlet fledged 3 days after the picture was taken.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/208186714
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/208186716
Virginia, the mother, and Booboo the owlet, sitting in the nest.
Bob, the father, is watching, keeping crows at a distance.
Picture taken 4 days before fledging.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/208186715
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/208186716
Woodpecker and screech owl. Each has a nest below one another.
Frass stack (?) and leaf mining on mountain holly.
One of a pair. The other one is in a nearby tree.
This is Flaco's cousin.
Addendum:
This is the male (Bob).
Other hawk in a tree nearly, probably the mate:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/143269514
I dropped a live lanternfly near a green frog. The frog jumped and ate it.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/136106097 (identification of the frog)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/135954384 (similar observation at the same location).
Membranous ochrea with long bristles.
Presence of a membranous ochrea with long bristles (lat. longiseta).
Located near the Thompson grave stone.
Flaky bark.
Dangling fruit with long peduncle.
Nuts with long grooves.
Leaves similar to linden leaves on the ground.
Same tree:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/117523610
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/116438738
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/156295119
Black oaks appear black when wet. Here, only one side of the trunk is wet.
Best time to observe them: at sunrise on a clear winter day from the Millpond path.
Is it the same couple, coming every winter ?
@galecyon, @tfrench , @vilseskog
This observation combines data from 2 Inaturalist observations, each from a distinct owl pellet; the 2 pellets were found 2 feet apart. The second pellet was found 2 days later (I probably missed the first time).
What is remarkable is that separate owl pellets contain bones that seem to be from the same prey (a rabbit).
The rabbit left femur found in pellet #2 matches perfectly the rabbit pelvis found in pellet #1. More precisely, the femur head (convex part of the hip joint) fits perfectly in the acetabulum (concave part of the joint) of the pelvis. found in pellet #1
It is very likely that the 2 separate pellets contain the bones of the same rabbit. However, we cannot affirm that they come from the same owl. We know there is a mated pair of great horned owls in this area; they could have shared the same prey.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/145213755 (pellet #1)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/145213754 (bones in pellet #1)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/145383498 (pellet #2)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/145383499 (bones in pellet #2)
This observation is to identify the content of the owl pellet, not the owl.
The owl pellet is identified here:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/145213755
Some bone fragments are very sharp.
Half of the bark of this ash tree had been peeled off, probably when the tree broke.
Picture 2 is NOT a composite picture.
Picture 3 shows the the inside surface of the separated bark
Exposed tunnels are still full of compacted sawdust.
Notice the bristles and the horn on a seed.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/64558428 (same tree)
Pictures 1-3 are frames from a video.
Squirrel carrying and dragging an injured squirrel.
The injured squirrel was moving and had blood on its face.
Is it an act of compassion?
This observation is for the SOUND of RAIN made by things falling from a large sweetgum and hitting leaves underneath. It is not raining.
The leaves in question are leaves of nearby oak trees that extend branches under the sweetgum and oak leaves on the ground.
The sweetgum has already lost its owns leaves.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/193141115 (sweetgum abortive seeds)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/193141111 (sweetgum winged seeds)
On a spotted lanternfly, identified here:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/139522534
If you're squeamish, you probably don't want to read about what's going on here.
This Hog Sphinx Moth caterpillar, seen here on Smartweed, has been parasitized by Cotesia congregata, a braconid wasp that lays its eggs in the caterpillar. (Many thanks to evanioidea for the species ID.) They are now pupating in the white cocoons hanging from its back. The caterpillar was still moving, but just barely.
There's no particular reason I should feel more sympathy for the caterpillar than for the wasp. In fact, sphinx moth caterpillars such as tobacco hornworm & tomato hornworm are agricultural pests, & such wasps would make good biological controls. (I wouldn't be surprised if they're used as such. In fact, this photo wasn't taken on a farm, but there are farm plots within a mile or so -- this is part of Cook College, Rutgers' ag school.) But it just seems like such a horrible death, eaten alive from the inside out. I'm a biologist & not particularly squeamish, but I find this photo both awfully cool and awfully disturbing.
Wasp obs at https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/505539. Caterpillar obs at https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/531855. More on the virus at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotesia_congregata. The virus is encoded in the parasitoid's nuclear DNA and expressed in specialized cells in its oviduct so that virions are injected into the host along with the egg.
On Persian ironwoood (Parrotia persica), witchhazel family.
Leafminer
4 circular overwintering chambers with 1 larva in each
On this tree:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=132720&q=RG_02&subview=grid&verifiable=any
It is very likely that the larvae come from the nearby egg mass.
On a leaf of American persimmon.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/178760686 (eggs)
Observations of the same colony (grid view)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?order_by=observed_on&place_id=51&q=RHCM_2023_HB_1&search_on=tags&subview=grid
Eggs.
On a leaf of American persimmon.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/178760687 (larvae on the same leaf)
Observations of the same colony (grid view)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?order_by=observed_on&place_id=51&q=RHCM_2023_HB_1&search_on=tags&subview=grid
After heavy rains.
Gills are rolled up on top of the cap.
Length of the caterpillar : > 10 cm
There were several such caterpillars on this small bush.
The mushroom is identified here:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/147261542
Very attractive holly.
Last winter, it was covered with berries until the end of January.
Large tree, with reddish bark, near the Thompson grave stone.
Perfectly symmetrical leaves, unlike those of linden trees.
Addendum:
The following day, I added pictures 2, 3, 4, 4 that show that the leaves are hairless (glabrous).
No ID tag was found.
Next to the Thomson gravestone.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/106383954 (same tree)
Same tree:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/117523610
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/116438738
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/156295119
How appropriate! (The anole is on top of the certified wildlife sanctuary sign.)
This is a scene from Alice in Wonderland.
This observation is for the mushroom, not the caterpillar.
The (10-cm-long) caterpillar is identified here:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/147261543.
On the detached bark of a dead ash tree.
Needle ice on the fresh cut of a large vine (5 cm thick)
Partial decay has left an interesting texture on the surface of a tree stump.
Addendum:
It would be interesting to see what has created such unusual decay.
The decay has spared vessels and radial flat surfaces.
Cubical brown rot?
I added pictures.
Picture 6, viewed from above, confirms that the whitish blades are radial.
Picture 11 shows more the grain of the wood
Picture 12 shows some of the bark, at the base of the stump.
Leafminer tracks on leaves of American holly.
Hanging from a thread in the middle of the path.
1-cm-wide abdomen.
Owl pellet containing orange feathers.
Other interesting pellet:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/106578372
Pellet length: 7 cm
Found in Rutgers Gardens at the base of a tall hemlock tree.
The whole mass is like one single piece, like a sculpture. The bones seem to be glued together. The pellet did not have the usual skin or fur envelope.
Found in Farrington Lake.
Jelly-like masses on underwater dead branches.
Size of the masses: 2-6 inches. Surface is bumpy, inside in translucent.
Pictures 1 shows a cross-section of a 6-inch-long mass.
The ground is covered with holly seeds.
Robins congregate on this tree to eat the holly berries that they collect from the nearby holly tree collection.
Egg masses.
On the very large magnolia
1 male and 2 female cowbirds
The plant is probably Smilax sp.
Location is somewhere along the Lawrence Brook