I haven't seen a glass lizard in some time, but they are no doubt quite common throughout Grand Bay. This is an abundant --albeit secretive-- species. As our summer temperatures begin to ease into the less-harsh Autumn months, I expect to see more of these out and about at Grand Bay.
Janson Jones,
http://dusttracks.com
This is, I believe, Dolomedes okefinokensis, the Okefenokee Fishing Spider. Ranging throughout south Georgia and north Florida (at the very least), this is an impressive species of fishing spider found above the waterline, from where it hunts passing prey underneath. This particular individual was perched a few feet from the boardwalk trail at Grand Bay WMA and was rather fiesty. It wasn't happy I was photographing it and repeatedly moved to the opposite ends of its foliage to avoid my sightline.
Janson Jones, http://dusttracks.com
Here's one I need help with: A slew of caterpillars (right?) embedded in a weblike encasing between two boardwalk rails at Grand Bay WMA in south Georgia, suspended over the cypress swamp waters by about two to three feet. When it comes to Lepidoptera, I'm far from being an expert -- particularly when it comes to larval stages. Any ideas? (And hopefully I at least got Lepidoptera right!!!)
I'll update this description if and when we peg down an identification.
~ janson jones, http://dusttracks.com.
In this part of south Georgia, southern cricket frogs are reportedly dominant; however, there are accounts of northern cricket frogs as being present in Grand Bay WMA -- and their standardized range (in a few sources, at least) does put them very close to this area. I had a frog expert buddy check this and other frogs out and she believe this is a Northern cricket frog -- based on the snout and the webbing. I take her at her word! What say you?
~ janson jones, http://dusttracks.com.
I have a devil of a time distinguishing between northern and southern cricket frogs. Southerns *should* be more common in this area of south Georgia, but Northerns are reported to also be in Grand Bay. I had a frog expert buddy check this and other cricket frog shots from Grand Bay. She's confident this is a southern cricket frog. What say you?
Technically, if you go by subspecies this would be the Coastal plains cricket frog, Acris gryllus gryllus.
~ janson jones, http://dusttracks.com.
This little orange assassin bug was patrolling the edge of the pitcher plant bog at Grand Bay WMA in south Georgia. I barely caught sight of its legs under a leaf. Fortunately, it wrapped around and posed for a few moments -- until heading down into the denser foliage.
~ janson jones, http://dusttracks.com.
This was a cool little katydid. I found it patrolling the edge of the cypress boardwalk trail at Grand Bay Wildlife Management Area in south Georgia. It cooperated and hung back for a few moments, but then fled into the cypress marsh. Note: this a youngster!
~ janson, http://dusttracks.com
This thundering beetle was found --as they often are, it seems-- hanging out under a fallen log. It looks like it's got a hefty number of mites riding its head. Must be fun. I've seen a ton of these in the south Georgia area this spring and early summer. This was at Grand Bay WMA just east/northeast of Valdosta, Georgia.
~ janson, http://dusttracks.com
This southern green-striped grasshopper was one of many such grasshoppers in a narrow open-field stretch of Grand Bay WMA in south Georgia. They were out, about, and extremely active!
~ janson, http://dusttracks.com.
This is a rambunctious and moderately young gray rat snake observed at Grand Bay in south Georgia. Definitely not a kid, but also not a fully grown adult. Dude had some temper! (But not too manic...)
From what I've gathered so far, gray rats are pretty common in south Georgia.
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
This yellowbelly slider was busy coming back from who-knows-where. Probably moving from a water pocket back to the main canal line at Grand Bay. Seems a bit early to lay eggs (?), so I'm just not sure why it was so far from water.
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
This is another Eastern ribbon snake at Grand Bay WMA in south Georgia. A younger individual, though certainly not a kid. The ribbon snakes appear to be quite common in this area of Grand Bay.
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
This is an adult southern banded watersnake, Nerodia fasciata fasciata, found in the waters of the "canal line" at Grand Bay WMA just east of Valdosta, Georgia. It should be noted that I believe this snake was a hybridized decedent of both N. f. fasciata (the southern banded watersnake) and N. f. pictiventris (the Florida banded watersnake). I counted 126 ventral scales on this individual and that falls in line with N. f. pictiventris; however, this area is in the formal range of N. f. fasciata. Hybridization is common between these two subspecies. Because of range and the dominance of the southern banded subspecies in the area, I'm tagging it N. f. fasciata. Just recognize that there's likely some pictiventris DNA thrown into the mix!
For info on differentiating the subspecies, see Clay 1938: http://www.cnah.org/pdf_files/1021.pdf. An old document, but it does provide scale-count methods for distinguishing the subspecies. I'm counting Nerodia ventral scales (when I'm able) to "test" Clay's identification results.
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com.
This is a young southern banded watersnake, Nerodia fasciata fasciata, basking in Grand Bay WMA just east of Valdosta, Georgia. Having said that, there's a good chance this snake (and all the other bandeds at Grand Bay) have hybridized with the Florida banded watersnake, Nerodia fasciata pictiventris. According to range maps, this is the domain of the southern subspecies; however, on at least one individual, I counted ventral scales that parred with the pictiventris subspecies and not the fasciata subspecies. In other words, they "look" like southern bandeds to me, but I suspect if one were to genetically comb this population they'd find a mix of the two subspecies (along with some individuals from each).
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
The Eastern ribbon snakes are officially out and about at Grand Bay. One stretch of the elevated boardwalk-tower trail seems to be the dominion of young ribbon snakes and Nerodia watersnakes (with a few young cottonmouths thrown into the mix). A fantastic area and its nice to finally see the formal Eastern ribbon snake subspecies (in my home-region of Florida we have the Peninsula ribbon snake subspecies).
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
Sarracenia flava is the second of two carnivorous pitcher plant species I've observed in the (managed) wet savanna area of Grand Bay WMA. The other species is Sarracenia minor, the hooded pitcher plant.
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
There's a really cool pitcher plant bog at Grand Bay WMA just east of Valdosta, Georgia. A clearly of wet savannah (managed and not entirely natural) supports at least two species of pitcher plants: Sarracenia minor (featured here) and Sarracenia flava, the yellow pitcher plant.
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
A lovely green tree frog biding its time on the edge of a small pond in Grand Bay Wildlife Management Area. I must confess, the frog was asleep when I first fount it. Yeah, that didn't last long. (Fortunately for the frog, neither did our little photo session...)
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
I came across this rather lovely and sleeping American green tree frog while walking the boardwalk path at Grand Bay WMA just east of Valdosta, Georgia. A rather vivid coat of green on a fine early-spring day!
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
More unidentified fungal goodness! This fungi was growing just above the wet marsh surface. Lots of shade, lots of moisture, lots of fungi. Any ideas?
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
Honestly, the photos so dreadfully bland, I almost didn't want to post it. But alas, this is the best shot of this blue corporal I managed to muster and I'm trying to build up the ole' life list.
Blue dasher was my first thought, but the tail seemed a bit short and stumpy, the posture, the wings. Just off... Cyric suggested blue corporal and after checking the links, yup. That looks like the one!
Thanks Cyric!
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
This tanker truck of a skink was basking in some post-rain sunshine at Grand Bay on 24 March 2012. This was by far the largest broad headed skink I've ever seen. It had to have easily been five to six inches in length --at the very least-- from snout to venter (and not including the tail). Honestly, if it wasn't six inches, it was damn near close... I knew these were large skinks, but this individual took me off guard. Large, robust, and impressively girthy! Wish I could've gotten my hands on it for a solid measurement.
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com.
As March commences, I'm starting to see more and more Nerodias. The southern banded watersnake, Nerodia fasciata fasciata, seems to be particularly well established in Grand Bay Wildlife Management Area just east of Valdosta. I've seen several out there this week, as well as a few on the VSU campus in Valdosta itself. This Grand Bay individual was the lightest I've seen so far. If the N. f. fasciata subspecies is as variable as the N. f. pictiventris to the south, I'm in for a whole new range of Nerodia patterns. Great species.
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
This attractive little Lepidoptera was cruising the edge of the lead canal in Grand Bay WMA off of Knight Academy Road. Thanks to crusty for the identification assistance!
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
My first instinct for this one was southern cricket frog -- because I've seen *so many* at Grand Bay; that being said, this individual gives me pause and I'm not sure I can peg down why. There were innumerable frogs calling at this time (it had just rained a few moments before and I was on a deck walk over the marsh). I can't differentiate this individual's call. (I need to start recording this stuff). Any responses? Gut instincts? Experienced veterans of southeastern U.S. frogs? Sorry the photos aren't better. Best I could zoom with the light and no tripod!
UPDATE: I've been at this area repeatedly and time and again it's jammed with southern cricket frogs. I believe that's what this is, albeit a pale one. I'm tagging the observation accordingly, though I acknowledge there could possibly be something amiss.
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
Saw this dude/dudette at Grand Bay WMA today (just east of Valdosta). After giving this some thought, I'm pretty sure this is a younger American bullfrog, though I'd love some feedback on this identification. It's *possible* this is a pig frog (that was my first gut instinct), but the more I think about it, the more confident I am this is just bullfrog.
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
I saw two southern black racers, Coluber constrictor priapus, at Grand Bay WMA today. One was ridiculously cooperative and the other... not so much. These photographs are not surprisingly of the cooperative one. A real champ.
The chin was much darker than usual. Very mottled and dark. No white-chin action here.
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
The dragonflies are thickening up at Grand Bay this week. Tons of them. (And this is one of the very few I managed to successfully photograph...)
Erythrodiplax umbrata female?
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
More yellowbelly sliders out at Grand Bay today. Thick and heavy population now.
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
Truth be told, these photographs are terrible and probably shouldn't be posted. I can't make an absolutely-positive identification out of them; however, this should be a southern cricket frog, most likely the coastal plains cricket frog. They're enormously abundant in this area and I see them just like this one, each and every time I visit Grand Bay.
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
Dolomedes triton is very, very common at Grand Bay WMA, although --truth be told-- they're pretty common anywhere you have calm, fresh water. Lovely little hunters.
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
These flies were savagely taking advantage of a young alligator carcass. The alligator was likely run over by a car and was sprawled near the edge of the entrance dirt road to Grand Bay WMA from Knight Academy Road. The flies were, of course, rather numerous and apparently having a great time. They hardly minded my presence.
I'd appreciate confirmation or correction about this identification!
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
This is (I believe) a Northern cricket frog, Acris crepitans. The snout is blunter than the more-regionally-common Coastal plains cricket frogs. This individual lacked the standard triangle mark on between the eyes, but that's not a tell for or against this identification. It happens in the species.
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com.
I see at least one red-shouldered hawk on most visits to Grand Bay just east of Valdosta, Georgia. It seems they're as common here as they are in peninsular Florida.
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com.
The Carolina green anoles are out in force as of early-to-mid March 2012. At Grand Bay, there's one dominant male at each of the ironwork (water) gates along the main line into Grand Bay. They seem to like displaying and claiming the territory overhanging the water.
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com.
Yellowbelly sliders FTW! Plenty of these turtles at Grand Bay WMA, particularly along the entrance canal off of Knight Academy Road.
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
Time to start working on the south Georgia turtle identifications... (Identotron, I'm looking at you, kid.)
Judging from Tom Spinker's excellent description and identifications of similar turtles in this immediate area (over on Flickr), this should be a juvenile yellow belly slider, Trachemys scripta scripta. Lots of these turtles line the entrance canal to Grand Bay from Knight Academy Road.
Confirmation or correction would be appreciated!
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
Most certainly a member of Belostomatidae, but I'm not sure if the genus is Abedus or Lethocerus. I'd thought with an earlier individual in the same area it was Lethocerus (at the prompting of a friend), but now I'm wondering if these aren't Abedus...? Any ideas?
Update: The folks over at bugguide.net believe this is Belostoma lutarium. I'm not one to disagree with the folks at bugguide.net.
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
There is no shortage of Coastal Plains cricket frogs (Acris g. gryllus) in south Georgia. I see them damn near every time I visit Grand Bay WMA outside of Valdosta. At least when it's not freezing... I also see them often enough in my backyard. Water or no water, they seem to always be around.
~ janson jones, http://dusttracks.com.
I haven't been much of a fish guy in my life to date. I know the bigger ones -- the ones you like to eat... But the little'uns? No clue. Hoping to turn that around and learn a thing or two. So, having said that, any idea what this tiny little bugger may be? It was snagged at Grand Bay WMA in south Georgia (with a small dip net). The fish is, of course, very, very small. Also very lovely. (And yes, the fish was returned safely to the water... it wasn't quite a keeper...)
~ janson jones, http://dusttracks.com.
If I had a nickel for every fishing spider I came across today... well, I could almost buy a half a coke at disney world. They were quite abundant in Grand Bay WMA in south Georgia today. Quite abundant indeed.
I thin,
~ janson jones, http://dusttracks.com.
This is a rather large tadpole found in Grand Bay WMA in southern Georgia. Given the density of bronze frogs in the area (Lithobates clamitans clamitans) and after contrasting bullfrog tadpole imaging with this species online, I'm fairly confident this is, in fact, a bronze frog tadpole. Size is right, description is right, and the range is right.
At Grand Bay, bronze frogs (as they're called here) are quite abundant. Good to see a tadpole phase at last.
~ janson jones, http://dusttracks.com.
This is a crayfish I found at Grand Bay WMA in southern Georgia. There were numerous individuals found in a short period of time. Not sure of genus and species, however. Need to investigate further. Any tips?
Two individuals from the same sample are represented here.
~ janson jones, http://dusttracks.com
Another arthropod I found while dip-netting at Grand Bay WMA in southern Georgia. Clearly an insect, likely a dragonfly nymph, but what genus and/or species? You got me.
Any ideas?
~ janson jones, http://dusttracks.com.
I picked up a dip net and am starting to explore what's beneath the water's surface in south Georgia and Florida. This is new territory for me, as evidenced by the innumerable invertebrates and arthropods I found -- organisms I don't know and can't identify. Hoping to get some feedback and advice on iNaturalist!
Update: Judging from the comments, it sounds like this is a dragonfly nymph! Thanks for the tips, Masters O' Identification!
~ janson jones, http://dusttracks.com.
This is a new spider for me. It was found under a rotting log in Grand Bay WMA in southern Georgia, a bit east and north of Valdosta. It looked like the spider had a web built under the log, though it didn't look concretely funnelish. Coras medicinalis?
~ janson jones, http://dusttracks.com.
This is a southern watersnake, Nerodia fasciata fasciata, photographed at Grand Bay WMA in south Georgia on 28 February 2012. After a week of cold temperatures and lots of rain, the watersnake was basking on a clump of dead dead limbs between a dirt road and a canal-channel. The snake was quite thin and in dire need of a good meal. Still, quite responsive and alert. Just a little slower than the Nerodias typically are.
~ janson jones, http://dusttracks.com.
I've been finding plenty of these centipedes, Scolopocryptops sexspinosus, in and around Valdosta, Georgia since moving here. They're extremely abundant in this area (though, I suppose they're extremely abundant throughout most of the south -- at least).
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
I saw this little War of the Worlds water bug chilling out in a wetland area of Grand Bay WMA in south Georgia. I believe this a nymph Lethocerus americanus -- a not-so-giant giant water bug.
Update: it could be a species of Abedus? Just not sure...
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
The cricket frogs are out and about here in Valdosta, Georgia. I saw a few scampering about in Grand Bay WMA just northeast of town earlier this afternoon. Spring is in the air. This is, I believe, the Coastal Plains cricket frog subspecies, Acris gryllus gryllus.
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
