Fringed Polygala (Polygala paucifolia)
RTPI President Twan Leenders was looking for native orchids recently in the Allegheny National Forest, but it turned out he was just a little too early for them to bloom. However, he did come across one of his favorite spring ephemerals – Fringed Polygala (Polygala paucifolia) which is somewhat orchid-like in its unusual appearance. Photographed for the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History and the Meet Your Neighbours global biodiversity project.
Read MoreDiamondback Terrapin
Here’s a belated post for #worldturtleday yesterday and one of Twan’s favorites – a baby Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) photographed for the Meet Your Neighbours global biodiversity project.
Read MoreCardinal Portrait
Sean was originally only going to photograph neotropical migrants on the black background for portraits, but that changed once he netted this male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis). He thought the red and black contrast would look very cool. It was clearly worth it, and Sean said this guy was a really good model with his bright red mohawk.
Read MoreRuby-throated Hummingbird
I photographed this hummingbird feeding on some crabapple flowers on the “best” day of Ruby-throated Hummingbird migration earlier this May. Obviously this is a female/immature type without that ruby throat, but it was a delight to see it fueling up in the midst of a certainly epic journey. This individual likely crossed the entire Gulf of Mexico as most of the species does…I mean, how can you even begin to process that? Unreal. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreYellow-billed Cuckoo
The ghosts of the forest, the cuckoos are as tough to actually see as any bird of their size and habitat can be. They may be all around us but they move so silently and sit perfectly still to elude detection, even at eye level. For a bird as apparently common as they are they certainly know how to keep a low and hidden profile. This Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) was one a few that I heard yesterday, and these were the best shots I could manage before this bird vanished again. I heard at least 10 Black-billed Cuckoos but saw only one as it flew from one tree to another while...
Read MoreAmerican Redstart
Here are a couple more shots from the Noble Proctor BioBlitz Challenge featuring an adult male American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla). This and many other Redstarts were foraging and singing nonstop on the beautiful spring morning. The species is utterly saturating our region right now with birds that can be seen or heard nearly anywhere you can find trees. I am still seeing mostly males, and I think we have a sizable number of birds yet to come over the next week or two. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
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