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Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)Observer
wlcookDescription
Cousin L & the Harbor Seal.
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Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)Observer
wlcookDescription
Wonderful sight from the cottage, visiting family.
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Rosy Maple Moth (Dryocampa rubicunda)Observer
wlcookDescription
I always wanted to see one of these, and then it appeared on our porch.
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American Black Bear (Ursus americanus)Observer
wlcookDescription
We drove to the mountains for an evening picnic, which was cut short by an unexpected visitor.
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White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)Observer
wlcookDescription
We crossed paths so I sat on the ground to make myself smaller. She came a little closer to check me out then continued to graze nearby, wagging her tail.
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Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)Observer
wlcookDescription
The feeder is empty and it was eerily quiet of bird chatter. Looked outside and saw this. S'plains it.
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Asian Lady Beetle (Harmonia axyridis)Observer
wlcookDescription
I was pushing my son in the stroller and stopped to admire some flowers and saw some amorous ladybugs.
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Eastern American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus ssp. americanus)Observer
wlcookDescription
For my son's 4th birthday, we took him and his friends to the nature center to look for critters. He said, "this is the best party in the world"
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Broad-tipped Conehead (Neoconocephalus triops)Observer
wlcookDescription
In other news, our Katydid that our son found after the first frost has died. I am surprised that it lived as long as it did because the lifespan of an adult Katydid is brief. It lived out it's lifecycle in the lap of luxury dining on baby greens, and sipping fresh water from a bottle cap. It was certainly the only Katydid who has seen a blizzard and lived to tell the tale while warm and safe in it's home on our window sill. We had a little burial ceremony in our snow covered garden. Farewell, little Meadow Dancer...thank you for all that you taught us!
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Eastern American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus ssp. americanus)Observer
wlcookDescription
We just moved to a new rental, and my son found a toad.
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Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)Observer
wlcookDescription
Our family went to the sustainable landscaping workshop so we can plan our yard when we move in the summer. Their native garden was busy with butterflies and bees, much to our delight.
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Arctic Wolf (Canis lupus ssp. arctos)Observer
wlcookDescription
For my son's 13th birthday we took him to the Wolf Conservation Center for a campout with wolves. It was magnificent and the howling was exquisite so I uploaded a sound clip that I took. He met Atka the elderly Arctic Wolf (who sadly passed away in September. He met Zephyr the Gray Wolf, and Alawa.
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Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)Observer
wlcookDescription
A chickadee flew out of the trees and ate out of our hands. As did a friendly chipmunk.
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Genus LibiniaObserver
wlcookDescription
He went for a swim and came back with a spider crab.
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Slender Meadow Katydid (Conocephalus fasciatus)Observer
wlcookDescription
My son and his pal found a katydid at Big Meadows.
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Swamp Darner (Epiaeschna heros)Observer
wlcookDescription
We found a half dead dragonfly. We were sad, but grateful to be able to observe it up close.
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White Oak (Quercus alba)Observer
wlcookDescription
The Earlysville White Oak is majestic and when I told my son that it took root more than 200 years before Jefferson was even born, well I think we were utterly enchanted.
With a 292-foot circumference at breast height, the Earlysville Oak is the second-largest white oak in Virginia. At last count, the mammoth tree stands 75 feet tall and sports an 85-foot crown (the measurement from branch tip to branch tip). That’s large enough to hold a humpback whale in its canopy with room to spare. Virginia’s champion white oak, a 500-year-old tree in Brunswick County, is reportedly 331 feet in circumference with a 120-foot crown.
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Southern Live Oak (Quercus virginiana)Observer
wlcookDescription
The magnificent Angel Oak. The tree is estimated to be 400-500 years old and stands 66.5 ft tall, measures 28 ft in circumference, and produces shade that covers 17,200 square feet.
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Great Egret (Ardea alba)Observer
wlcookDescription
We saw some egrets, with no regrets.
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Five-slotted Sand Dollar (Mellita quinquiesperforata)Observer
wlcookDescription
A living sand dollar observed and released.
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Monarch (Danaus plexippus)Observer
wlcookDescription
Observed during VMN training.
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Yellow Garden Spider (Argiope aurantia)Observer
wlcookDescription
Found during VMN training.
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White Micrathena (Micrathena mitrata)Observer
wlcookDescription
Spinybacked Orb Weaver, Gasteracantha cancriformis found just off trail.
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Barred Owl (Strix varia)Observer
wlcookDescription
Another owl release. Always a joy to witness.
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Eastern Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus ssp. virginianus)Observer
wlcookDescription
Male Great Horned Owl release at sunset. It was rescued as a nestling after he was injured when his nest fell from top of a nearby tree. 6 months later he was released. Dr. Belinda Burwell, has been caring for sick and injured wildlife for 30 years, and founded Wildlife Veterinary Care to fill the need for wildlife rescue and stewardship in Northern Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland.
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Domestic Horse (Equus caballus)Observer
wlcookDescription
On our way back from seeing synchronous fireflies in Great Smokey Mountains National Park, we decide to take a 40 minute detour to find "wild" ponies on top of the mountain at Grayson Highlands State Park. We found them! More than 100 "wild" ponies roam wild within Mount Rogers National Recreation Area and neighboring Grayson Highlands State Park in southwestern Virginia
Read more:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/more-than-100-ponies-roam-free-this-park-virginia-180959786
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Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major)Observer
wlcookDescription
Pitstop during Florida roadtrip when my son shared his snack with some grackles.
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European Green Crab (Carcinus maenas)Observer
wlcookDescription
Time of wonder spent with beloved family at their Maine Cottage.
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Fragile Forktail (Ischnura posita)Observer
wlcookDescription
Itsy bitsy Damselfly on my son's fingertip at our local nature center.
