New discoveries in 2018 (non-odonates)

As 2018 is coming to a close quickly, it’s time to indulge in a little retrospection. This blog post features a few new non-odonates that I spotted for the first time in 2018.

Editor’s Note: Photos are presented in reverse-chronological order, based upon the date of the spotting.

Pandora Sphinx moth

This beauty was my reward after a long, mostly unproductive photowalk at Huntley Meadows Park. Posted on 24 September 2018.

20 SEP 2018 | Fairfax County, VA | Pandora Sphinx moth

Wild Turkey

Although I have seen signs of Wild Turkey at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 10 August 2018 is the first time I’ve seen actual birds at OBNWR. Posted on 19 August 2018 and 10 September 2018.

23 AUG 2018 | Occoquan Bay NWR | Wild Turkey

Northern Black Racer (mating pair)

Look closely — both heads are shown in the following photo. Posted on 30 September 2018.

21 APR 2018 | Huntley Meadows Park | black snakes (mating pair)

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Next post: New odonate exuviae in 2018 (by family).

Copyright © 2018 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.

More Wild Turkey at OBNWR

Several Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) were spotted during a photowalk along Fox Road at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Prince William County, Virginia USA.

23 AUG 2018 | Occoquan Bay NWR | Wild Turkey

There were four birds in the group, foraging along the road. The red-headed individual is a male.

23 AUG 2018 | Occoquan Bay NWR | Wild Turkey

Copyright © 2018 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.

Wild Turkey (“record” shots)

Several Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) were spotted along the edge of the parking lot at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Prince William County, Virginia USA.

10 AUG 2018 | Occoquan Bay NWR | Wild Turkey

Appearances to the contrary, the photos in this set were taken at quite a distance. Wary of my approach on foot, the turkeys did the turkey trot, moving from right-to-left until they were out of sight quickly.

10 AUG 2018 | Occoquan Bay NWR | Wild Turkey

Although I have seen signs of Wild Turkey at OBNWR, this is the first time I’ve seen actual birds. Not my best work, but hey, these “record” shots provide documentation of the sighting. With any luck, it won’t be the last time I see Wild Turkey at the refuge.

Copyright © 2018 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.

New discoveries in 2017 (non-odonates)

I’m an equal opportunity photographer. Although I tend to focus on photographing odonates (dragonflies and damselflies) I will photograph anything interesting that catches my eye. This retrospective features non-odonate new finds for 2017.

House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)

05 APR 2017 | The Beacon of Groveton | House Finch (male)

A House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) was spotted in the parking garage at the Beacon of Groveton, Fairfax County, Virginia USA. This individual is a male.

Eastern Hog-nosed Snake (Heterodon platirhinos)

10 MAY 2017 | HORP | Eastern Hog-nosed Snake

An Eastern Hog-nosed Snake (Heterodon platirhinos) was spotted at Hemlock Overlook Regional Park (HORP), Fairfax County, Virginia USA.

Mayfly (Hexagenia sp.)

27 MAY 2017 | Riverbend Park | mayfly (Hexagenia sp.)

A mayfly (Hexagenia sp.) was spotted at Riverbend Park, Fairfax County, Virginia USA. This individual is a female subimago.

Northern Red-bellied Cooter (Pseudemys rubriventris)

02 AUG 2017 | JMAWR | Eastern Amberwing (male) and water turtle

A male Eastern Amberwing dragonfly (Perithemis tenera) was spotted perching on the nose of a Northern Red-bellied Cooter (Pseudemys rubriventris), at Mulligan Pond, Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge, Fairfax County, Virginia USA.

Blister beetle (Meloe sp.)

16 NOV 2017 | Occoquan Bay NWR | blister beetle (Meloe sp.)

A blister beetle (Meloe sp.) was spotted at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Prince William County, Virginia USA.

Wild Turkey feathers (Meleagris gallopavo)

16 NOV 2017 | Occoquan Bay NWR | Wild Turkey (tail feather)

A tail feather from a Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) was photographed in situ along Easy Road at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Prince William County, Virginia USA.

Copyright © 2017 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.

Happy Thanksgiving!

On the traditional day when we give thanks for our many blessings, I am especially thankful for the opportunity to be a frequent and careful observer of the natural beauty of several wildlife parks located in Northern Virginia, and for many good friends with whom I share the experience. Happy Thanksgiving! Now let’s have some turkey…

Signs of Wildlife

Although I have never seen a Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Prince William County, Virginia USA, I know they’re there because of several items that were observed at the refuge recently.

A tail feather from a Wild Turkey was photographed in situ along Easy Road. The feather is approximately eleven inches (11″) long from end-to-end.

16 NOV 2017 | Occoquan Bay NWR | Wild Turkey (tail feather)

A wing feather was photographed in situ along Easy Road, near the preceding tail feather. The feather is approximately ten inches (10″) long from end-to-end.

16 NOV 2017 | Occoquan Bay NWR | Wild Turkey (wing feather)

Thanks to Mike Boatwright for confirming my tentative identification of the tail feather and for identifying the wing feather.

Lots of animal scat, possibly from Wild Turkey, was observed along Easy Road near the Wild Turkey feathers shown above.

Animal scat, possibly from a Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), photographed in situ along Easy Road at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Prince William County, Virginia USA.

Animal scat, possibly from a Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), photographed in situ along Easy Road at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Prince William County, Virginia USA.

Animal scat, possibly from a Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), photographed in situ along Easy Road at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Prince William County, Virginia USA.

Animal scat, possibly from a Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), photographed in situ along Easy Road at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Prince William County, Virginia USA.

Did you notice the brown flies on the animal scat? They may be Scathophaga furcata, a species of dung fly. Thanks to Matt Pelikan from the BugGuide Facebook group and Charles Davis from the Capital Naturalist Facebook group for help in identifying the flies!

Related Resource: The Feather Atlas – Flight Feathers of North American Birds, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Forensics Laboratory.

Copyright © 2017 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.

Wild Turkey tracks

Pattern recognition. The richness of my field experience is often the result of my ability to recognize patterns in nature. For example, while exploring a remote location in the forest at Huntley Meadows Park, I spotted a set of Wild Turkey tracks (Meleagris gallopavo).

I recognized the shape of the turkey footprints in snow as a result of a chance encounter a few years ago, when I was able to tag along with Mr. Kevin Walter — Natural Resource Specialist, U.S. Army Garrison Fort Belvoir — for part of a field survey of birds at Accotink Bay Wildlife Refuge. As we were walking along “Great Blue Heron Trail,” Kevin pointed out a fresh set of Wild Turkey tracks.

01 FEB 2016 | Huntley Meadows Park | Wild Turkey track

Related Resource: Wild Turkey tracks, one of over 700 spottings by Geodialist on Project Noah. [Note: “Geodialist” is my username on Project Noah.]

Editor’s Note: Sincere thanks to Alonso Abugattas, Ed Eder, and Ben Jessup — a professional naturalist and two excellent amateur naturalists, respectively — for verifying my tentative field identification.

Copyright © 2016 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.