Rubbery to touch, roughly 7 cm across. Growing (exuded?) at the joints (nodes) of a cultivated Opuntia stricta
No calls heard. I saw it flick its tail a few times but it wasn't extremely noticeable
Looks like a faded individual of this species maybe? Genus has 63 SP. in North America though and I haven't checked for lookalikes
I set up two sheets at Pinecrest Campground (no campers) in Big Cypress National Preserve for blacklighting. I originally tried Mitchell Landing Campground nearby but all of the spots with electrical sockets were taken by campers so I went to Plan B and only used my DJ blacklights connected to USB powerpacks. This observation is from the 2nd sheet described below
1: Pinecrest campground, very close to the gate and in the tunnel of trees before the open area. 2 DJ blacklights running from ~11:00PM until ~12:30AM and then the batteries died. I put on a new battery later than I should have (around 2:15AM) but I was busy photographing insects at the other sheet.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?d1=2023-03-25&d2=2023-03-26&nelat=25.761806503458363&nelng=-80.91879250206762&order=asc&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.76067598755696&swlng=-80.92007996239477&user_id=joemdo
2: Pinecrest campground, sheet tied to large sign and tree facing open area with just one DJ blacklight connected to USB powerpack.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?d1=2023-03-25&d2=2023-03-26&nelat=25.762470660741428&nelng=-80.91913662455477&order=asc&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.762144553314332&swlng=-80.91953359148897&user_id=joemdo
In addition to the blacklighting, I also set up a sheet (no lights) under an oak with some low hanging branches that I was able to whack with a fallen branch I found. I didn't put a ton of effort into this but still saw some cool barklice and other critters.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?on=2023-03-26&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&field:Entomology%20Sampling%20Method=beating
All of my observations from tonight including a little bit of walking around with a flashlight looking for spiders/insects:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?d1=2023-03-25&d2=2023-03-26&nelat=25.91366727752328&nelng=-80.78348221694716&order=asc&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&subview=map&swlat=25.57411578765215&swlng=-81.10345902358779&user_id=joemdo
Here's a video showing the DJ blacklights in action at the Pinecrest campground (Big Cypress) from Summer 2019: https://youtu.be/tavmTa7WoPk
Info about the cheapy DJ blacklights I used, great for getting started with blacklighting: https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/damontighe/11836-diy-moth-light
Blacklighting project for Florida on iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/blacklighting-florida
2022 Home River BioBlitz, exploring areas on and around the highly urbanized Miami River with Nico S.
Info about the project, including an event coming up on Sunday: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/the-home-river-bioblitz-2022-miami-river-florida
Umbrella project: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/the-home-river-bioblitz-2022
This bird has been widely discussed over the last few days.
Through a partnership with Duda Farms, Audubon Everglades was granted access to this restricted area. This invitation only event was a thank you to last years AE field guides. Our field guide for this trip was Kyle Matera. This is the only event scheduled at this time.
From our ebird report:
On an Audubon Everglades trip into Duda Farms in Palm Beach County we found what we believe is a Common Redshank. The bird was first picked out by Steve Carbol as a possible Ruff. (Oddly enough a confirmed Ruff was photographed on same trip and was ID’d only after trip was over and one of the participants was reviewing photos.)
After getting the bird in my scope the first thing I noticed was just how incredibly bright red-orange the legs were on this bird, like nothing I had ever seen. While observing the bird in the field we noted the glaringly bright orange legs (which are really not done justice in the photos), a bicolored bill with similarly bright orange at the base and black towards the tip. We also noted the clean gray back, some gray on the breast, a light grey & white face, and some barring on the undertail. We believe we eliminated Spotted Redshank based on the birds size, bill length and bill coloring, with the bicoloration appearing to split midway down the bill, instead of mostly on the lower mandible in a Spotted. We got to watch the bird for 10 or so minutes with a few brief glimpses afterwards while we attempted to relocate it. The white primary is only on the left side and appears to be aberrant.
Please see ebird checklist here for better photos: https://ebird.org/checklist/S117293450
Update - After many discussions with European shorebird experts, hybrid is now seeming like the most likely. Potentially the first documentation of CREH x LEYE. Tringa sp. perhaps?
I have scope videos if anyone would like to see them I can email.
Biscayne National Park (location is accurate)
Mix of shallow seagrass meadows with soft muddy bottom in some spots
Very quick observation of a male bird. Bird came flying in from the southwest, landing briefly, before moving on to the north. Lucky to have gotten a photo.
Tropical Park pineland, one day post burn. A very small part at the southern end of the preserve was still burning but most of the fire was completely out/not hot. This is a pine rockland habitat, dependent on fire to keep the mostly open canopy consisting of only slash pine and the rich diversity of native grasses, shrubs and forbs as an understory. For more info about the importance of fire in pine rocklands, see here: https://www.miamidade.gov/environment/library/brochures/pine-rocklands.pdf
& here: https://www.miamidade.gov/environment/pine-rocklands.asp
This pineland had been taken over by many invasive plants due to fire suppression and unfortunately also infiltrated by cats (there are probably hundreds of cans of cat food in some parts of this preserve thanks to people feeding the cats). I am hoping to volunteer with EEL to help clean up and also pull up any invasive plants that pop up. I came back on Monday, May 17th, five days post burn, and noticed an area with lots of rosary pea (Abrus precatorius) dropping fruit/seed in part of the preserve.
It is unclear to me how the fire started but my understanding is the fire department came and initially was planning on putting the fire out (even hosing down some of it) but then thankfully let it burn out on its own. I thought I heard it was a prescribed burn but based on how the news reported on it, that doesn't seem to have been the case.
Link to news article about the fire: https://wsvn.com/news/local/miami-dade/part-of-tropical-park-catches-fire-near-soccer-field/
My goal here was to sort of map the burn via iNaturalist, showing the state of plants in different parts of the preserve. I was very careful not to bring any seeds in on my shoes/socks/clothes! I unfortunately really goofed and did not have my phone geotagging my observations. I had to estimate the locations so basically all of my work of photographing the plants did not work out the way I planned. My impression is that there was a substantial area that was not burned a bit west of the path that goes north/south through the preserve. I thought I was documenting the location but, again, I must've accidentally turned off the geotagging feature on my phone's camera. When I came back the following Monday (five days post burn), it seemed like this island of green had been burned, so I am wondering if EEL had a fire crew come out and burn areas that were leftover.
All my observations from this day: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.788490133153903&nelng=-79.94006956842279&on=2022-05-12&order=asc&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&swlat=25.618346976274324&swlng=-80.63735808160638&user_id=joemdo
Observations from 5 days later, with just a couple burned areas showing signs of green: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.788490133153903&nelng=-79.94006956842279&on=2022-05-16&order=asc&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&swlat=25.618346976274324&swlng=-80.63735808160638&user_id=joemdo
Tiny octopus inside dead lucine clam.
Observed while plant monitoring with Steve W in HID Res. Area 2020
Hooked up Bioquip blacklight to electrical socket here and hung it from the roof beam... not many moths but still some interesting insects around
Blacklighting at Ron Ehmann Park. Temps in the low 70's, moon around 28% although it hadn't risen yet.
I had two blacklight setups going in this area, both pretty close to each other. This is from the first sheet described below.
First sheet lit by a Bioquip blacklight connected to car jumper thing with a 12 volt socket. Other observations from this sheet: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.66646251245836&nelng=-80.34778778459454&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.665797682335846&swlng=-80.34960381903161&user_id=joemdo
Second sheet lit by two cheapy DJ blacklights. Other observations from this sheet: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.666405455623483&nelng=-80.3494471898476&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.665740625182814&swlng=-80.35126322428466&user_id=joemdo
All observations from tonight: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.667572521960977&nelng=-80.3455038041323&place_id=any&project_id=blacklighting-florida&swlat=25.664913203986394&swlng=-80.35276794188059&user_id=joemdo&verifiable=any
Info about the cheapy DJ blacklights used on the second sheet, great for getting started with blacklighting: https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/damontighe/11836-diy-moth-light
Here's a video showing the DJ blacklights in action at the Pinecrest campground (Big Cypress) during Summer 2019: https://youtu.be/tavmTa7WoPk
Blacklighting project for Florida on iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/blacklighting-florida
I came out here because there is a cold front coming and wanted to take advantage of the warmer weather and darker night before the front rolls in (temps are supposed to drop to the 30's in a couple days- first time in over 10 years).
Really surprised to see this bee here! It was buzzing around and finally landed and briefly dug while I snapped a few photos. I tried to get a little closer for better photos but it flew off.
On a fruiting Ficus aurea tree at Southwest Miami High. Spent an hour picking figs and photographing little things around the tree. Ms. BB saw me out there and helped me find some of these critters along with Sofia G.
All observations from SW today: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?on=2022-03-16&order_by=observed_on&place_id=129492&user_id=joemdo
Not 100% sure about ID but looks like the best match on bugguide.net in Brentidae: https://bugguide.net/node/view/199515
Observed during Wild Vizcaya|Nocturnal Edition. Thanks to Rebecca for inviting me to come out!
I had two sheets set up along the same trail: one lit by DJ blacklights in an area with a more open canopy and the other lit with the bioquip blacklight in an area with a closed canopy.
Both sheets had good numbers of termites but with the sun setting after 7:30PM, there wasn't much time for many of the larger insects to arrive. I had my macro lens handy and mostly focused on the little insects that came to the sheets. The highlight of the night was a small beetle called Stereodermus exilis, which is seldom observed/documented:
All observations from tonight: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.746025310234007&nelng=-80.20599775995565&on=2022-03-18&place_id=any&swlat=25.74336774456748&swlng=-80.21527820249234
Observations from the first sheet with the bioquip blacklight:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.745510212119925&nelng=-80.20851170620146&on=2022-03-18&place_id=any&swlat=25.744845823395632&swlng=-80.21083181683564
Observations from the second sheet with DJ blacklights: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.74551451872572&nelng=-80.21083476464354&on=2022-03-18&place_id=any&swlat=25.744850130025547&swlng=-80.21315487527771
Here's a video showing the DJ blacklights in action at the Pinecrest campground (Big Cypress) from Summer 2019: https://youtu.be/tavmTa7WoPk
Info about the cheapy DJ blacklights used on the first and second sheet, great for getting started with blacklighting: https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/damontighe/11836-diy-moth-light
Blacklighting project for Florida on iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/blacklighting-florida
One of the best nights of blacklighting I have had so far! Temps were in the low 70's, there was some light wind making for difficult photography at times but it wasn't too bad. Lots of bigger insects came to the first sheet so I didn't spend as much time on the tiny stuff and probably missed lots species. I also met a couple really cool guys that were into bluegrass music so I had crunchy tunes to go along with the blacklighting goodness.
I had two sheets set up, this photo is from the second sheet described below, which I didn't spend as much time at.
First sheet was at the first Mitchell's Landing Campground with an RV hookup and regular power sockets. I was using my Bioquip blacklight hooked up to the power there and also changed the position of the sheet ever so slightly so it was a little bit further from the big oak here and maybe was a little more exposed.
All observations from the first sheet: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.75581877096547&nelng=-80.92848461106104&on=2022-02-28&place_id=any&swlat=25.755154439896867&swlng=-80.92983537153731&user_id=joemdo
Second sheet was in a random little area right off Loop Road that mostly had pines. Not an ideal setup but I didn't have a lot of time and wanted to try a new spot. I lit this sheet with two cheapy DJ blacklights.
All observations from the second sheet: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.753631626006754&nelng=-80.93233231414365&on=2022-02-28&place_id=any&swlat=25.75230293568458&swlng=-80.93503383509619&user_id=joemdo
All observations from tonight: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.75688987500895&nelng=-80.92476405596601&on=2022-02-28&place_id=any&swlat=25.751575170341294&swlng=-80.93557013977617&user_id=joemdo
Here's a video showing the DJ blacklights in action at the Pinecrest campground (Big Cypress) from Summer 2019: https://youtu.be/tavmTa7WoPk
Info about the cheapy DJ blacklights used on the first and second sheet, great for getting started with blacklighting: https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/damontighe/11836-diy-moth-light
Blacklighting project for Florida on iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/blacklighting-florida
Some type of warbler? We were doing survey in the middle of the ocean near Dry Tortugas National Park and this little buddy hung out with us for 4-5 hours before regaining his energy and continuing on his way to wherever he was going. Gave it water - what a day!
Found dead on trail along canal. Potentially Sherman’s (B. c. shermani).
Eating some kind of waterbug/waterbeetle. The gull caught the bug in midflight.
Pine rockland, burned April 9 (some rain about a week ago); sporocarps brittle, attached to rock in shaded crevices in depressions ca. 1 m below surrounding surface level; area covered with Pteridium and Rhus copallinum.
Observed in one of the shade house at plant nursery. Originally identified by Joe MDO and confirmed by Barbara W.
Rockdale Pineland Preserve moth night hosted by EEL for National Moth Week. We had some rain before and during sunset but it was mostly cloudy while these sheets were up between 8:45-11:00PM. I had two sheets set up, this one with just one "DJ" blacklight powered by USB battery packs (the kind used to charge phones) and the other with two lights. To learn more about the lights used in this setup, see here: https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/damontighe/11836-diy-moth-light
Video of these lights in action in Big Cypress: https://youtu.be/tavmTa7WoPk
My other observations from tonight:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?on=2021-07-23&place_id=139257&user_id=joemdo&verifiable=any
Found in a wetland habitat being considered as the site for a possible highway.
More info here: https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/desantis-florida-cabinet-clear-way-for-836-extension/2473466/
It has not yet been approved and is very much worth fighting against!
I came out here to document some of the native species that call this area home. Please spread the word about this area's importance as a wetland with many native species present and worth protecting.
I created a project on iNaturalist that includes observations from the wetlands and farmlands that would be affected: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/no-to-the-kendall-parkway
Set up my cheapy DJ blacklights with portable USB charging packs in two spots. I had two lights here on a billboard platform near the bridge west of the Everglades Safari. More info here about this easy/affordable set-up here: https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/damontighe/11836-diy-moth-light
This sheet was much busier than the other, which was on the ground about 50 yards away. The sheet on the ground also only had one light.
All observations from this night:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.761380601680504&nelng=-80.6249528301274&on=2021-07-09&order_by=observed_on&place_id=any&subview=map&swlat=25.7600519980589&swlng=-80.63005707388274&user_id=joemdo&verifiable=any
Finally found this species here after looking for several months. I first heard about it in this video by Keys Moths: https://youtu.be/sX7s5LTU_Wo
Seen while snorkeling at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. This was the first reef (closest to shore). I put it back where I found it!
Super excited to see this little shrimp! I am not sure about the ID but it looks like a good match. I went down to photograph an anemone and noticed this shrimp nearby. I was snorkeling so it was hard to get a good photo of this little guy
Seen while snorkeling at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. This was the first reef (closest to shore)
I think this was the coolest insect of the night! Not sure about ID... iNat's suggesiton helped me find this species, only observed once so far on iNat in Florida by @mpoinat
Set up a blacklight for about an hour at POHS. Very similar mix of insects to those we saw here during the insect bioblitz last Friday. There seemed to be slightly more activity, possibly because I did a better job spacing the blacklight from the sheet. Thanks to Fred for allowing me to give blacklighting another shot here since I needed to pick up my light.
I heard this coqui a couple times when working late in November 2017 but then never heard it again after that week.
ID is a guess... it was floating around wildly in the current, seemed to be very close to death.
Windy & wavy conditions, snorkeled near shore in very shallow water looking for shells and anything else I could find.
First year I've noticed them. They hang around in the baitfish shoals. They are just a few inches long.
It was attached to the sargassum leaf. When I picked the sargssum out of the water, the creature bunched up tightly.
An unexpected bird for this area. Very surprised and thrilled to find it in my local birding patch :-)
There have been a ton of coots and ring-necked ducks here all winter but this one must've popped in very recently
Seen while conducting plant monitoring with Steve W. in Restoration Area 2019 of the Hole-in-the-Donut (Everglades National Park)
My other observations from this area today:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=25.39258814990023&nelng=-80.58948484093018&on=2021-03-14&place_id=any&swlat=25.3712631375634&swlng=-80.67115274101563&user_id=joemdo&verifiable=any
Along the Shired Island Trail
Photographed from Bear Cut Bridge.
Look carefully! A damselfly (rambur's forktail) perched on its eye!
Video about this sighting: https://youtu.be/WSYeiLPReoQ
Location accurate! Paddled from West Lake to The Lungs and this was probably the craziest thing I saw... hanging out in the water. When I got closer it just dunked its head under but then popped back up a few minutes later
Can't remember what this is called... @noaboa
Location accurate (used GPS in drybag)