Gray Catbird (Dumetella Carolinensis), Taken May 9, 2025, In Georgia, US

Chinese Mantis (Tenodera sinensis), taken October 23, 2024, in Georgia, US

October is getting to the end of mantis season! 2024 was the first time I was ever outside looking for it, and I got to see lots of fun mantises, including this one! He was the perfect model, even if he got a little freaked out at the end and put his legs out.

Today's bug of the day is the common silverfish! I hope you like it I've never drawn a silverfish before so I hope I didn't get any of the major details wrong :]

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), juvenile, taken May 9, 2025, in Georgia, US

A disheveled young cardinal stopping for a few sips! Someone had been in the bath prior and made it absolutely filthy with dirt, but this guy didn't really seem to mind. The bath water is replaced daily, but it tends to get dirty pretty fast if there are lots of baths in a day. The birds could just go to the koi pond literally 5 feet away, but I guess it's too scary for everyone but the song sparrows!

Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis), taken March 9, 2025, in Georgia, US

Despite how common they seem to be for many other people, this is the first time I've ever seen a junco! It approached me from behind and I only realized it was there because I happened to see it out of the corner of my eye. I barely got a look before it flew off, so I had no idea what it was, only that it wasn't a bird I'd seen before. It took me another 10 minutes before I even saw it again, then another 5 or so for it to end up behind me where it started. In the end, I was able to get a good picture!

Eastern Fence Lizards (Sceloporus undulatus), taken October 6, 2024, in Georgia, US

I hiked a mountain and these guys were all over the top! Before this, I'd never seen this species despite living only 20 minutes from this mountain. They must prefer the more arid, primarily pine forest as opposed to my creekside, primarily deciduous one. I've been up this mountain several times before, but I guess I never cared to look for microfauna before. Not sure how I missed these guys!

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), male, taken February 25, 2025, in Georgia, US

Bald!!!!! The spring molt has taken him... Every spring all of the cardinals become bald, and it is both pathetic and wonderful. This guy has started a bit early, so he's the odd man out of the bunch until they all follow!

Fowler's Toad (Anaxyrus fowleri), taken April 4, 2025, in Georgia, US

Toads have begun to emerge from their slumber! Many are likely making their way to my koi pond, where they'll deposit thousands of eggs and screw up the water balance... I love them regardless, because getting to see them frolicking around the pond is fun lol. Lifting the filter cover and seeing toads swirling around is not fun, but they're usually okay!

Eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica), taken September 15, 2024, in Georgia, US

Some of my favorite bee photos! I think I had my nicer lens on for these, so they turned out a bit higher quality than others. Taking pictures of bees moving frantically from flower to flower is hard enough already—add in needing to get close and it's near impossible because they run away! My more ranged lens is nice for insects like bees, butterflies, and dragonflies that are large enough to focus easily from afar and are too skittish for getting super close. These turned out pretty cute!

Double-banded Grass-Veneers (Crambus agitatellus), taken June 20, 2024, in Georgia, US

A peek at one of the many tiny white flying things in the average suburban lawn! Most of them are leafhoppers, but many of them are moths as well, especially grass-veneers. This species is particularly beautiful with its brown and black coloration and can be distinguished from others by the paired black bands on the latter half of the wings. You can even see some decent variation between these 3 individuals!

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula), taken February 10, 2025, in Georgia, US

The "king" part of this bird's name has certainly gone to their heads. I've seen these little guys pick on some pretty big birds, with notable success. It pays to be little and mean in the bird world!