Mourning Dove (Zenaida Macroura), Taken April 1, 2025, In Georgia, US

Fowler's Toad (Anaxyrus fowleri), taken April 21, 2025, in Georgia, US

Quite the wise-looking toad! His eyes look like they see all—or maybe they see too much. I did almost step on him. While he was processing his near-death experience, I took the opportunity to get some nice macros of his face, and, even though I couldn't get the whole thing in focus, they turned out nice! This was my favorite of them because you can better see the curve of his mouth and the reflection of the woods around us in his eyes. After he finished recovering, he hopped off, likely in search of dinner!

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura), taken March 7, 2025, in Georgia, US

Just a nervous guy looking for seeds under the feeders. Surprisingly, he was one of few who didn't take off when I initially went outside to find my spot, so I was actually able to get decent dove pictures for once. Most of them involved him peeking his head above the rocks to look at me like in the second photo, though!

Drab Prominent (Misogada unicolor) larvae, taken August 21, 2023, in Georgia, US

Circles!! Curling up into a ball is this caterpillar's main defense mechanism, which doesn't really work well on humans... I find their patterns quite pretty, and they have lots of individual variation! They get their common (and scientific) name from their adult form, which is an almost patternless light beige.

Banded Fishing Spider (Dolomedes vittatus), female, taken September 27, 2024, in Georgia, US

Aside from maybe Joro Spiders, this is one of the largest spiders I find in my area. I almost stepped on this girl while I was circling a tree, and she shot out of the leaves and scared the crap out of me! She was a wonderful model, though, unlike her cousins the White-banded Fishing Spiders (Dolomedes albineus) who are hateful and cannot sit still.

Rough Stink Bugs (Brochymena arborea), taken September 17, 2024, in Georgia, US

My favorite stink bug friends to see around!! There's honestly nothing about them that really stands out, but they have neat spiny protrusions on their shoulders that can be used to ID the species and cool camouflage for life on trees! Occasionally I'll see a fresher adult that's almost completely black and white instead of brown, which looks pretty neat!

Pine Flower Weevil (Cimberis pilosa), taken April 1, 2025, in Georgia, US

Liftoff!! While I was photographing birds, this guy landed on my hand and spent a few minutes with me. I actually took him into my house to grab my macro lens and got it on just in time to catch him leaving! You can see that he's covered in pine pollen, as his name would imply. He's likely off to the next pine tree!

House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus), male, taken March 7, 2025, in Georgia, US

The house finches are coloring up for the spring! This guy is sporting some very deep reds, much deeper than they usually get here. He's going all out for the ladies!

Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus), taken March 2, 2025, in Georgia, US

Super fucking shaky footage of one of the regular RS hawk ripping apart a squirrel nest after being chased there by another RS. So mad I had my camera on the wrong mode because this would have been such a nice video if not for the EARTHQUAKE.

At about 1:15 there's some action when the other hawk returns for another attack! They moved further up into the trees, falling through the branches before briefly scattering when a Red-tailed Hawk swooped in to break up the fight! They're probably fighting for a spot to nest this spring, but this area is already used by a pair of RT hawks, so I'm unsure how that's going to pan out. The RT's don't nest close to my house, but I do still see them soaring over and through the woods daily, so they'd definitely see a RS pair using their territory.

Previously there was a RS pair here, but they were forced to move locations when their nest tree was cut down (very salty at my neighbors for that one). Since then, the RT's have slowly been moving further and further into the area, though it's pretty wooded so it's not the best area for them and is legitimately defensible for a RS pair. I know there's been at least one juvenile RS overwintering here without trouble, possibly two seeing as they're now fighting, so we'll see how it pans out! Hopefully one of the two RS's will be successful!

the leafhoppers are back 🥰

Erythronerua acuticephala

Erythroneura calycula

Erythroneura infuscata

Coppery Leafhopper (Jikradia olitoria), nymph, taken April 12, 2025, in Georgia, US

A teeny leafhopper nymph on a flower stem! My favorite leafhopper species is finally returning for the year! I can't wait for these nymphs to grow larger and gain their bright colors. The ones in this area tend to be orange and green, though nymphs of this species are highly variable, also coming in yellow, tan, brown, black, red, and white. All young nymphs look like this individual, being very dark brown and, in later instars, gain their unique colors!