alice_herden's Identifications

A nocturnal moth survey organized by staff of Brooker Creek Preserve. I heard about the event from Clint Gibson literally hours earlier; I chose to attend even though I had not registered in advance. There were about 30 participants at first (one woman wore a dress!) but numbers seemed to decline over the next hour. I spent much time with Don Fraser and Clint & Day Gibson.

I arrived at Brooker Creek Preserve at 1900 and iNatted the parking lot for an hour or so. For the moth survey, four arrays were set up, each 100-200 feet apart. I used my camera (a Panasonic Lumix FZ80, which lacks GPS) for the images, but I took a few photographs at one array with my phone to get a GPS location; I drew a circle to approximately encompass all the arrays. The weather at 1906 was sunny and 87 degrees ("feels like" 95), with a light breeze. There were no biting insects during the survey. At first, no moths were attracted to the arrays, but there were many "bugs," including many large brown beetles that seemed to fare poorly. Eventually, moths came in and we got nice results. The survey ended at 2200; perhaps the ending tine can be extended an hour or two in the future to attract more moths and other insects. I left at 2225 and arrived home at 2341.

I examined my images and made a strong attempt to reduce "repeats" -- reporting an individual with two or more records. Exceptions were for Salvinia Stem Borer Moths and for the various large brown beetles, of which there were many individuals present at the arrays.

A nocturnal moth survey organized by staff of Brooker Creek Preserve. I heard about the event from Clint Gibson literally hours earlier; I chose to attend even though I had not registered in advance. There were about 30 participants at first (one woman wore a dress!) but numbers seemed to decline over the next hour. I spent much time with Don Fraser and Clint & Day Gibson.

I arrived at Brooker Creek Preserve at 1900 and iNatted the parking lot for an hour or so. For the moth survey, four arrays were set up, each 100-200 feet apart. I used my camera (a Panasonic Lumix FZ80, which lacks GPS) for the images, but I took a few photographs at one array with my phone to get a GPS location; I drew a circle to approximately encompass all the arrays. The weather at 1906 was sunny and 87 degrees ("feels like" 95), with a light breeze. There were no biting insects during the survey. At first, no moths were attracted to the arrays, but there were many "bugs," including many large brown beetles that seemed to fare poorly. Eventually, moths came in and we got nice results. The survey ended at 2200; perhaps the ending tine can be extended an hour or two in the future to attract more moths and other insects. I left at 2225 and arrived home at 2341.

I examined my images and made a strong attempt to reduce "repeats" -- reporting an individual with two or more records. Exceptions were for Salvinia Stem Borer Moths and for the various large brown beetles, of which there were many individuals present at the arrays.

A nocturnal moth survey organized by staff of Brooker Creek Preserve. I heard about the event from Clint Gibson literally hours earlier; I chose to attend even though I had not registered in advance. There were about 30 participants at first (one woman wore a dress!) but numbers seemed to decline over the next hour. I spent much time with Don Fraser and Clint & Day Gibson.

I arrived at Brooker Creek Preserve at 1900 and iNatted the parking lot for an hour or so. For the moth survey, four arrays were set up, each 100-200 feet apart. I used my camera (a Panasonic Lumix FZ80, which lacks GPS) for the images, but I took a few photographs at one array with my phone to get a GPS location; I drew a circle to approximately encompass all the arrays. The weather at 1906 was sunny and 87 degrees ("feels like" 95), with a light breeze. There were no biting insects during the survey. At first, no moths were attracted to the arrays, but there were many "bugs," including many large brown beetles that seemed to fare poorly. Eventually, moths came in and we got nice results. The survey ended at 2200; perhaps the ending tine can be extended an hour or two in the future to attract more moths and other insects. I left at 2225 and arrived home at 2341.

I examined my images and made a strong attempt to reduce "repeats" -- reporting an individual with two or more records. Exceptions were for Salvinia Stem Borer Moths and for the various large brown beetles, of which there were many individuals present at the arrays.

Must have caught its wing in barbed wire. I had seen it earlier in the day thinking it was part if the larder of a shrike. It was very stuck and had broken its wing. I didn't think to call a rehabber at the time, but I don't know if it would have survived even if I had. Just a sad case of nature in the rough. :'-(

Cockroach Bay butterfly count with Don Fraser and Clint Gibson. We parked along 19th Avenue NW -- the mitigation bank is off-limits -- and iNatted the road shoulders. The saltmarsh mosquitoes were pretty horrendous. The weather at the start was sunny, 92 degrees ("feels like" 101!) with a light breeze. Butterflies were still scarce, but the group got some nice species such as Fulvous Hairstreak, Mangrove Buckeye, Western Pygmy-Blue, and Southern Skipperling; I missed all but the latter species! We left at 1142 and headed to E.G. Simmons Park.

A solo visit after work nearby. Because of the intense sun and heat, I had intended to stay along the nature trail, which is mostly shaded. But when I noticed that most of the southeastern portion of the WEA was recently burned -- and it looks GREAT! -- I decided to encircle as much as I could while avoiding a lot of direct sun exposure. I walked the southern nature trail to the powerlines, then walked north, then circled the burn clockwise. I returned to the nature trail and took it back to Jet. All duplicate species -- including the grasshoppers, the buckeyes, and the swallowtails -- represent different individuals; grasshoppers were abundant on the sandy road under the powerlines. The weather at the start was sunny and 94 degrees ("feels like" 100!), with a light breeze. I left at 1526 and headed home.

A solo visit after work nearby. Because of the intense sun and heat, I had intended to stay along the nature trail, which is mostly shaded. But when I noticed that most of the southeastern portion of the WEA was recently burned -- and it looks GREAT! -- I decided to encircle as much as I could while avoiding a lot of direct sun exposure. I walked the southern nature trail to the powerlines, then walked north, then circled the burn clockwise. I returned to the nature trail and took it back to Jet. All duplicate species -- including the grasshoppers, the buckeyes, and the swallowtails -- represent different individuals; grasshoppers were abundant on the sandy road under the powerlines. The weather at the start was sunny and 94 degrees ("feels like" 100!), with a light breeze. I left at 1526 and headed home.

A solo visit after work nearby. Because of the intense sun and heat, I had intended to stay along the nature trail, which is mostly shaded. But when I noticed that most of the southeastern portion of the WEA was recently burned -- and it looks GREAT! -- I decided to encircle as much as I could while avoiding a lot of direct sun exposure. I walked the southern nature trail to the powerlines, then walked north, then circled the burn clockwise. I returned to the nature trail and took it back to Jet. All duplicate species -- including the grasshoppers, the buckeyes, and the swallowtails -- represent different individuals; grasshoppers were abundant on the sandy road under the powerlines. The weather at the start was sunny and 94 degrees ("feels like" 100!), with a light breeze. I left at 1526 and headed home.

A solo visit after work nearby. Because of the intense sun and heat, I had intended to stay along the nature trail, which is mostly shaded. But when I noticed that most of the southeastern portion of the WEA was recently burned -- and it looks GREAT! -- I decided to encircle as much as I could while avoiding a lot of direct sun exposure. I walked the southern nature trail to the powerlines, then walked north, then circled the burn clockwise. I returned to the nature trail and took it back to Jet. All duplicate species -- including the grasshoppers, the buckeyes, and the swallowtails -- represent different individuals; grasshoppers were abundant on the sandy road under the powerlines. The weather at the start was sunny and 94 degrees ("feels like" 100!), with a light breeze. I left at 1526 and headed home.

A solo visit after work nearby. Because of the intense sun and heat, I had intended to stay along the nature trail, which is mostly shaded. But when I noticed that most of the southeastern portion of the WEA was recently burned -- and it looks GREAT! -- I decided to encircle as much as I could while avoiding a lot of direct sun exposure. I walked the southern nature trail to the powerlines, then walked north, then circled the burn clockwise. I returned to the nature trail and took it back to Jet. All duplicate species -- including the grasshoppers, the buckeyes, and the swallowtails -- represent different individuals; grasshoppers were abundant on the sandy road under the powerlines. The weather at the start was sunny and 94 degrees ("feels like" 100!), with a light breeze. I left at 1526 and headed home.

A solo visit after work nearby. Because of the intense sun and heat, I had intended to stay along the nature trail, which is mostly shaded. But when I noticed that most of the southeastern portion of the WEA was recently burned -- and it looks GREAT! -- I decided to encircle as much as I could while avoiding a lot of direct sun exposure. I walked the southern nature trail to the powerlines, then walked north, then circled the burn clockwise. I returned to the nature trail and took it back to Jet. All duplicate species -- including the grasshoppers, the buckeyes, and the swallowtails -- represent different individuals; grasshoppers were abundant on the sandy road under the powerlines. The weather at the start was sunny and 94 degrees ("feels like" 100!), with a light breeze. I left at 1526 and headed home.

A solo visit after work nearby. Because of the intense sun and heat, I had intended to stay along the nature trail, which is mostly shaded. But when I noticed that most of the southeastern portion of the WEA was recently burned -- and it looks GREAT! -- I decided to encircle as much as I could while avoiding a lot of direct sun exposure. I walked the southern nature trail to the powerlines, then walked north, then circled the burn clockwise. I returned to the nature trail and took it back to Jet. All duplicate species -- including the grasshoppers, the buckeyes, and the swallowtails -- represent different individuals; grasshoppers were abundant on the sandy road under the powerlines. The weather at the start was sunny and 94 degrees ("feels like" 100!), with a light breeze. I left at 1526 and headed home.

A solo visit after work nearby. Because of the intense sun and heat, I had intended to stay along the nature trail, which is mostly shaded. But when I noticed that most of the southeastern portion of the WEA was recently burned -- and it looks GREAT! -- I decided to encircle as much as I could while avoiding a lot of direct sun exposure. I walked the southern nature trail to the powerlines, then walked north, then circled the burn clockwise. I returned to the nature trail and took it back to Jet. All duplicate species -- including the grasshoppers, the buckeyes, and the swallowtails -- represent different individuals; grasshoppers were abundant on the sandy road under the powerlines. The weather at the start was sunny and 94 degrees ("feels like" 100!), with a light breeze. I left at 1526 and headed home.

A solo visit after work nearby. Because of the intense sun and heat, I had intended to stay along the nature trail, which is mostly shaded. But when I noticed that most of the southeastern portion of the WEA was recently burned -- and it looks GREAT! -- I decided to encircle as much as I could while avoiding a lot of direct sun exposure. I walked the southern nature trail to the powerlines, then walked north, then circled the burn clockwise. I returned to the nature trail and took it back to Jet. All duplicate species -- including the grasshoppers, the buckeyes, and the swallowtails -- represent different individuals; grasshoppers were abundant on the sandy road under the powerlines. The weather at the start was sunny and 94 degrees ("feels like" 100!), with a light breeze. I left at 1526 and headed home.

A solo visit after work nearby. Because of the intense sun and heat, I had intended to stay along the nature trail, which is mostly shaded. But when I noticed that most of the southeastern portion of the WEA was recently burned -- and it looks GREAT! -- I decided to encircle as much as I could while avoiding a lot of direct sun exposure. I walked the southern nature trail to the powerlines, then walked north, then circled the burn clockwise. I returned to the nature trail and took it back to Jet. All duplicate species -- including the grasshoppers, the buckeyes, and the swallowtails -- represent different individuals; grasshoppers were abundant on the sandy road under the powerlines. The weather at the start was sunny and 94 degrees ("feels like" 100!), with a light breeze. I left at 1526 and headed home.

A solo visit after work nearby. Because of the intense sun and heat, I had intended to stay along the nature trail, which is mostly shaded. But when I noticed that most of the southeastern portion of the WEA was recently burned -- and it looks GREAT! -- I decided to encircle as much as I could while avoiding a lot of direct sun exposure. I walked the southern nature trail to the powerlines, then walked north, then circled the burn clockwise. I returned to the nature trail and took it back to Jet. All duplicate species -- including the grasshoppers, the buckeyes, and the swallowtails -- represent different individuals; grasshoppers were abundant on the sandy road under the powerlines. The weather at the start was sunny and 94 degrees ("feels like" 100!), with a light breeze. I left at 1526 and headed home.

With Don Fraser, Clint Gibson, and many others; a nocturnal moth survey organized by Virginia "Ginny" Hamilton of The Nature Conservancy. There were two moth arrays about 600 feet apart. This was the second array, set up in an open flatwoods site adjacent to a marsh. While most of us were fixated on the moth array, Clint Gibson -- of course, who else? -- finds a frigging Gopher Frog maybe 80 feet away, sitting calmly at the entrance to a (n abandoned?) Gopher Tortoise burrow! A lifer for everybody, I think (if only by sight; I had heard Gopher Frogs at Archbold Biological Station in the 1990s, but had never seen one; some others had also heard them previously but had never seen one).

A lifer amphibian!

With Don Fraser; iNatting the Forest before a nocturnal moth survey at Tiger Creek Preserve. We were hoping for some Lake Wales Ridge endemic plants like Nolina, Zizyphus, and Dicerandra, but we found none of those. We left at 1503 and headed north, stopping along the way to iNat.

With Don Fraser; iNatting the Forest before a nocturnal moth survey at Tiger Creek Preserve. We were hoping for some Lake Wales Ridge endemic plants like Nolina, Zizyphus, and Dicerandra, but we found none of those. We left at 1503 and headed north, stopping along the way to iNat.

With Don Fraser; iNatting the Forest before a nocturnal moth survey at Tiger Creek Preserve. We were hoping for some Lake Wales Ridge endemic plants like Nolina, Zizyphus, and Dicerandra, but we found none of those. We left at 1503 and headed north, stopping along the way to iNat.

This female was with several young poults. I turned a corner in the trail, and there they were -- we scared the living bejeezus out of each other. The female ran away while the poults ran and hid. She was still looking for poults 20 minutes later.