Female bluebird perched with male in flight.
Podalonia sp. Wasp (Sphecidae), New Chicago Marsh, Santa Clara County, California - August 1, 2009.
Thanks to E. Eaton for correcting my initial misguided ID and providing a genus for this wasp.
Saltmarsh Caterpillar (Arctiidae: Estigmene acrea), New Chicago Marsh, Alviso, Santa Clara County, California - May 2009. About 4 cm in length.
Skin Beetle (Dermestidae, Dermestes sp., possibly D. frischi), one of many found under a bird carcass, New Chicago Marsh, Santa Clara County, California - August 1, 2009. I was able to ID this one to genus, but v belov from Bug Guide suggested the probable species ID.
Small Minnow Mayfly (Baetidae), Bowers Park, Santa Clara, Santa Clara County, California - June 2010. Thanks to v belov and Bug Guide for family level identification. The huge eyes on this one are really cool.
Kukulcania sp. crevice weaver (Filistatidae), originally found at Bowers Park, Santa Clara County, California - 17 July 2010. Spider was initially found guarding an egg sac under a log. It was collected, chilled and photographed on our balcony. We have several native species - this is unlikely to be K. hibernalis, which is unusual in California, and might be K. utahana, arizonica or geophilia.
Parent bird present for id of eggs as Western Bluebird
Looks like it might have a nest in the reeds beside the waterway here
