I’ve got a bit of a backlog of observations to upload, but I can’t not upload this one!
After a VERY long kayak trip from Balloch to Inchconachan, I spent about an hour and a half looking for the wild wallabies that live on the island. They were released in the 1940s and have had a stable population ever since, and I’d always wanted to see them (https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/wallabies-of-inchconnachan).
Well, with less than ten minutes before I would have had to reluctantly start the trip back, I saw one! It was bounding through the ferns higher up the island, along one of the tracks they seem to have. I followed it for a while, more listening to the telltale ‘bouncing through undergrowth’ sound than seeing it (they’re fast), and finally was able to get this photo. Well worth the trip!
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...
I am not sure what this one is.
A transitional or intermediate morph of a female tiger swallowtail
It is still there. I brought a friend down today.
Good habitat and host plants around, out of range for mustard white I think and veins too light for a springtime mustard white, in Chemung county north of Horseheads
It was rather surprising to find a fresh American Copper in late October
Indian River Inlet, DE
The strangest reason I have not harvested a red pepper from my garden.
Three native swallowtail larvae side by side for comparison. From left to right: Eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus), Eastern black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) and spicebush swallowtail (Papilio troilus). Note snake mimicry of both Eastern tiger and spicebush swallowtail caterpillars. Note aposematic coloration of Eastern black swallowtail. The adults of these three species participate in a Batesian mimicry complex in which they mimic the highly distasteful pipevine swallowtail (Battus philenor)
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.
Type of waterleaf?