Animal Log of your native fauna

[Gwangi]

I use iNat, mostly as a sort of life list for myself but also to help find a particular species I would like to see for myself. I ID stuff on occasion but I like to be absolutely certain that I'm correct instead of haphazardly throwing something out there like a lot of folks do. I've seen some of the suggested IDs that people land on and yeah, it's incredible, they clearly didn't bother to question the limits of the technology. I live in Maryland and the Maryland Biodiversity Project is tied to iNat so I like to help the MBP via iNat, when I can. Like the horned passalus beetle (Odontotaenius disjunctus) wasn't documented in my county until I uploaded my own sighting.

[bmathison1972]

I use iNat, mostly as a sort of life list for myself but also to help find a particular species I would like to see for myself. I ID stuff on occasion but I like to be absolutely certain that I'm correct instead of haphazardly throwing something out there like a lot of folks do. I've seen some of the suggested IDs that people land on and yeah, it's incredible, they clearly didn't bother to question the limits of the technology. I live in Maryland and the Maryland Biodiversity Project is tied to iNat so I like to help the MBP via iNat, when I can. Like the horned passalus beetle (Odontotaenius disjunctus) wasn't documented in my county until I uploaded my own sighting.

Oh neat that you are part of the MBP @Gwangi - I often help their entomologists with beetle IDs

[Isidro]

It was indeed an Agriotes, more precisely Agriotes sordidus, identified by an elaterid expert
Yesterday I saw a male Anogcodes seladonius and the beautiful moth Esperia sulphurella. It's the sixth sight of Esperia sulphurella in my life and the only one that has not been seen in March.

[Isidro]

Today I went with the same friend to a field trip, to one of the most peculiar places of our zone: a couple of saline marshes that evaporate quickly and have a high faunistic interests, near Bujaraloz, Monegros region, Spain. I also saw some lifeforms when coming and when coming back by the side of the river in my city. The worst part of the trip is that I forgot my camera at home This is the list of species seen today:


Acmaeodera bipunctata, a lone individual in a wooden wall around a bird observatory. Not seen since 2013 and my third observation of the species in life!
Acmaeodera pulchra, a couple of individuals or only one that flied from one point to other at the same wooden wall. Once, the small dull bipunctata and the magnific pulchra was almost together in the same pole! Not seen since 2015 and fourth sight in my life!
Aculepeira armida. One, waiting in the center of its web. Not seen since 2017.
Adalia bipunctata. This one in my city by the side of the river. A severely deformed one in black phase
Aelia cognata, one
Akis genei. Just one live, plus remains of dead ones.
Amphimallon pygiale. A lone female in the middle of the dried saltmarsh. (There is a chance of be Amphimallon pini instead)
Anacridium aegyptium, one seen in flight from the car
Anas platyrhynchos, in the city by the side of the river
Anax imperator, male in patrol
Andrena sp. Very big, black ones with grey pilosity on thorax, probably near Andrena morio. Two individuals
Anogcodes seladonius. In my city by the side of the river. Dozens of males concentrated at a single spot, attracted by flowers of rushes (Cyperus rotundus), just a lone female amongst them.
Anthaxia hypomelaena. Many many of them in a single Eryngium campestre in the side of a road, few more in another Eryngium in the saltmarsh periphery.
Anthidium florentinum. In my city by the side of the river
Apis mellifera. Only one in the field trip, but several in my city by the side of the river
Apus apus, in the city
Aquila chryaetos. Doubty ID but I think it was probably the correct one. Not seen since 2012
Argiope lobata. A lone male in the center of its web, with a recently caught Anthaxia hypomelaena as prey.
Armadillo officinalis. Only one, what is surprising in this very sociable species.
Artemia parthenogenetica. Many in a small deep water zone, they're bright red indicating that the salinity is high (in more fresh water they're white). Not seen since 2008
Balaustium sp. Unidentifiable mites, not many, running over the flowers of Convolvulus arvensis.
Carpocoris fuscispinus (mediterraneus)
Cephalota circumdata. Just one. They're the object of the scientific study from the friend that bring me here. Not seen since 2013 as they're located only here in my zone.
Chitona suturalis. This Iberian endemic, a bit rare, was very common today, concentrated in some (but not all) the flowering Sarcocornia/Arthrocnemum. Not seen since 2008 and fourth sight in my life.
Chorthippus apicalis, extremely common, a male went into the car and singed during all the trip back to the city. Not seen since 2012 and third sight in my life
Chrysolina americana. Many of them in the rosemaries.
Cicindela littoralis. A couple, very active and difficult to approach. Not seen since 2009.
Ciconia ciconia, seen from the car in middleway
Circus sp. A harrier for sure, but I was unable to tell if Circus cyaneus or Circus pygargus. The sight was close but very brief from the car
Coccinella septempunctata. Overall in the brooms
Coelioxys sp. Maybe first one in my life. Very brief sight
Colias crocea, only seen from the car
Columba livia, in the city
Columba palumbus, in the city and by the road
Coptocephala scopolina. Only one, in a grass stem.
Corvus corax, only heard, not seen
Corvus monedula, very abundant
Crematogaster auberti
Crocothemis erythraea. Not seen since 2015
Crypticus gibbulus unconfirmed.
Cryptocephalus rugicollis. Just two.
Dasyscolia ciliata, various concentrated in blooming thyme in a very small zone. Not seen since 1015 and third sight in my life
Delichon urbica, from the car
Dioctria gagates, one in Helichrysum flowers
Dysdera crocata. Big female under a stone.
Egretta garzetta, in the city by the side of the river, one seen from very close
Emblethis denticollis, one
Empusa pennata, a magnific adult male
Enallagma cyathigerum, one male
Endomia tenuicollis under a stone
Enicopus calcaratus. Extremely common, concentrated in Dactylis spikes.
Enolmis userai, just two
Eristalis tenax
Erythraus sp. A single one under a stone.
Eurydema ornata, only nymphs
Exoprosopa jacchus, at least three
Exosoma lusitanicum. Just one
Falco tinnunculus. A resident male lives in a ruined building at the destination place, he's always here
Forficula auricularia. A female
Galerida cristata, extremely common in the zone
Gyps fulvus, a big flock of them flied VERY low above our car, all flying in the same way
Hipparchia semele, one
Hippodamia variegata
Hirundo rustica, in the city by the side of the river
Hycleus duodecimpunctatus, two individuals seen near the end of our trip. Not seen since 2013 and third sight in my life. (There is a chance of be Mylabris hieracii instead).
Hydrotaea sp. Very irritating one in my face
Hyperaea femoralis
Hypotia massilialis, two. Not seen since 2012
Idaea sericeata, one
Labidostomis lusitanica. One male in Helianthemum flowers. Also a dead one under a stone that decolorated into a bright metallic blue sheen (when alive the pronotum is more black).
Labidura riparia. Male and female adults under a stone in the border of water and a small nymph near, running in surface of soil. Not seen since 2016
Larinioides suspicax. Concentrated around the water in a small deep water zone. Not seen since 2015.
Libelloides ictericus, the best species of the day, I'm very very fond on these kind of insects . Not seen since 2011
Lomatia sp. One, in a blooming thyme
Loxosceles rufescens, an especially dark one.
Loxostege comptalis, one
Mangora acalypha
Messor sp.
Milvus migrans, extremely common in the whole road. One went to eat a roadkilled rabbit
Motacilla alba, one
Mylabris varians, very abundant concentrated in a very small zone with blooming thyme. Not seen since 2011 and second sight in my life.
Narraga nelvae, not seen since 2015
Nomioides minutissimus, various, concentrated in the flowers of Peganum harmala
Nycticorax nycticorax, in the city by the side of the river
Ocypus sp. (near O. ophthalmicus?)
Oenopia doublieri. A very rare species compared with the common O. conglobata!! This one in my city by the side of the river, resting on a new shoot of white poplar. Not seen since 2014 and fourth sight in my life!
Ommatoiulus rutilans
Orthetrum cancellatum. Not seen since 2015
Oryctolagus cuniculus, very common, one fleed almost from my feet
Oxyopes heterophthalmus. One in a leaf of Eryngium campestre in a brief stop in the midway.
Panurgus sp. Two very big ones
Parus major. In the city by the side of the river
Pheidole pallidula
Pica pica, in the city and by the road
Pieris rapae
Pisaura mirabilis. A female guarding its nest. It surprised me, I tought they carry the nest with herself always, but this one have the nest fixed with silk around grass.
Polistes sp.
Pontia daplidice (one)
Porcellio scaber. Not seen since 2017
Proderus suberythropus a nice LIFER
Psammodromus algirus, various big ones very quick
Psilothrix viridicoerulea
Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
Rhyacionia buoliana, probably a lifer
Runcinia grammica
Saropogon leucocephalus, one
Scolia erythrocephala, seen a male foraging in broom flowers and some individuals crossing the path seen from the car. Not seen since 2008 and fourth sight in my life
Scolopendra cingulata, a young one under a stone
Selamia reticulata. Not seen since 2014
Spermophagus sericeus in the few flowers of the zone
Steatoda albomaculata, a very nicely marked female. Not seen since 2014.
Streptopelia decaocto, by the road
Sturnus unicolor
Sylvia hortensis. Not sure on the ID, it can be a female hortensis or a juvenile melanocephala but I think more probably the former
Sympetrum fonscolombii
Syritta pipiens, one
Tachina fera, big ones in the blooming brooms
Tentyria peirolei
Thanatus sp. (likely formicinus). One female
Thaumatomyia notata, very abundant
Thereva sp. One in a blooming broom, other in the car window
Thyridanthrax sp.
Trichodes octopunctatus. A single one in a blooming broom. Not seen since 2017


Notable mentions:
-A pseudoscorpion waiting for ID
-A very nice crabronid wasps with enormous head and red abdomen. Waiting for ID
-A very small tenebrionid beetle
-Galls of Etsuhoa thuriferae
-Dead remains of American red crayfish in my city by the river
-A dead Omophlus lepturoides upside-down covered in salt
-An ocellated lizard (Lacerta lepida) seen by my friend but not by me
-A grasshopper seen from the car that by size and appareance in flight from far probably only can be Truxalis nasuta
-Episyrphus balteatus, seen alive by my friend, I've seen only a drowned one
-A velvet ant waiting for ID, very abundant
-Vanessa cardui, seen by my friend but not by me

[Lanthanotus]

Thats an impressive list on what seemed to be a very rewarding trip. May I ask how you take note of so many species? Do you use a paper notebook, just have such good memory, mobile.....?

[Isidro]

In my brain (that always results in some omissions that I forgot lately)

[bmathison1972]

Went birding today up City Creek Canyon. These are the birds I documented:

mallard
wild turkey
mourning dove
turkey vulture
Eurasian collared dove
rock dove
black-chinned hummingbird
broad-tailed hummingbird [lifer!]
western wood-pewee
plumbeous vireo
warbling vireo
common raven
American crow
Woodhouse's scrub jay
black-billed magpie
black-capped chickadee
Townsend's solitaire
northern rough-winged swallow
European starling
American robin
house sparrow
song sparrow
chipping sparrow
spotted towhee
lesser goldfinch
yellow warbler
black-headed grosbeak
Lazuli's bunting

Among mammals, I saw fox squirrels and a 'mammalian lifer', an American badger!

Among readily-recognizable butterflies were the western swallowtail and Weidemeyer's admiral (the latter of which might be a butterfly lifer)

[Advicot]

I'd love to see an American badger however I'd have to travel to the states as no European zoo currently holds them 

[Isidro]

Yesterday I had very few nice sightings in a very poor urban wasteland: an ant lion (the same species than few days before, Creoleon lugdunensis), an assasin bug (Peirates stridulus) and the male of Sterictophora furcata, a fabulous sawfly that I saw previously only once in my life (in 2009) and then it was a female (females have normal boring antennae). I focused the camera, got the subject in the visor and... I've got a magnific photo of the empty stem where the insect was resting a second before That's a constant in the life of an insect photographer haha.
I also saw the rare skipper butterfly Gegenes nostrodamus, but surprisingly, not in the wasteland, but in a park with irrigated and cutted lawn of grass!!! Maybe he was lost Kestrel and black kite were the most (not very) noticeable birds.

And for today, I saw a rabbit from relatively closer distance than usual from the bridge, a longhorn beetle (Agapanthia cardui) in the entrance of my job place, and the best: the dragonfly Onychogomphus forcipatus in the same place (not seen since 2015).

Besides fauna, today was a happy day because one of my rarest plants, Arisaema candidissimum, sprouted from the tubercle. I acquired it last year, and it gave a splendid leaf, but a snail cut the leaf by the petiole and I was almost sure that the plant died for not getting enough energy from photosynthesis as it lost its leaf. But it's alive!! Yay!!!

[bmathison1972]

I am in Kansas and Missouri this weekend for my annual baseball stadium visits. Today I went birding at Longview Lake outside of Kansas City, MO. I documented these birds:

mourning dove
turkey vulture
eastern kingbird (lifer)
scissor-tailed flycatcher (lifer)
warbling vireo
blue jay
black-capped chickadee
purple martin (lifer)
barn swallow
European starling
Baltimore oriole (lifer, but we're here for the Kansas City Royals LOL)
orchard oriole (lifer)
brown-headed cowbird
northern cardinal

Also saw fox squirrels and an eastern box turtle

around town, but not birding officially, have also seen American robins, house sparrows, rock doves, and a hawk I believe is a red-tailed

[bmathison1972]

Today went birding along the Riverfront Heritage Trail in Kansas City, MO. Documented:

rock dove
mourning dove
killdeer
western kingbird
red-eyed vireo (lifer)
barn swallow
cliff swallow
European starling
American robin
cedar waxwing
house sparrow
house finch
American goldfinch
orchard oriole
common grackle (lifer)
northern cardinal

Also, at the ballgame last night I saw an eastern meadowlark, also a lifer

[Isidro]

-A very nice crabronid wasps with enormous head and red abdomen. Waiting for ID

Was Lindenius ceballosi (lifer)

-A very small tenebrionid beetle

Was quite probably Crypticus minutissimus (lifer)

Today I saw in a very urban environment, with not even a park nearby, four ladybirds in a space of about 2 meters in a spot in the middle of the street. Three of them were common ladybird Coccinella septempunctata (in the border of the road) and one was Hippodamia variegata (in the wall of the nearby house). I'm stranged by such behaviour.

[bmathison1972]

Went birding today in lower City Creek Canyon (Memory Grove Park).

No lifers, but a lot of bird activity. I am waiting confirmation for two more potential species; if the list changes I will edit later, but for now this is what I saw:

mallard
Eurasian collared dove
turkey vulture
Cooper's hawk
black-chinned hummingbird
downy woodpecker
warbling vireo
Woodhouse's scrub jay
American crow
black-capped chickadee
barn swallow
swallow sp. (northern rough-winged vs. cliff - waiting for possible confirmation)
American robin
house sparrow
house finch
lesser goldfinch
song sparrow
spotted towhee
orange-crowned warbler (tentative ID)
black-headed grosbeak
Lazuli's bunting

[Advicot]

Discovered my first Tenthredo scrophulariae today! Since introducing figwort (Scrophularia nodosa) to my damp meadow they have come, which isn't unexpected as this species of sawfly is called the Figwort sawfly in English.

[Isidro]

Nice! I saw the very distinctive larva only once, but the only adults that resemble T. scrophulariae in my zone are T. vespa, relatively common. I don't know if it's actually a matter of lack of knowlegde about correlation of larvae and adults of very similar species. Both the adults T. vespa as the larva of T. scrophulariae were always found in Scrophularia-devoided areas, but this is not matter since I think they're highly polyphagous.

Today, the spectacular moth Grammodes stolida was seen flying around the pilled pallets stored outdoors in my job. A noticeable high number of wall geckos in my parent's garden too.

[bmathison1972]

Birded this morning at Liberty Park. No lifers but the black-crowned night heron marks the 100th Utah bird since using eBird in February! I have seen almost 33% of the county's species! I think this is the first time I birded in a city park here and didn't see a robin!

Greylag goose (domestic)
Canada goose
mallard
California quail
rock dove
Eurasian collared dove
mourning dove
black-chinned hummingbird
spotted sandpiper
California gull
double-crested cormorant
black-crowned night heron
red-winged blackbird
downy woodpecker
house finch
house sparrow
black-capped chickadee
barn swallow
cliff swallow
European starling

[bmathison1972]

Went birding today in Memory Grove Park (lower City Creek Canyon) and got a lifer (tree swallow).

Here is everything:
mallard
rock dove
mourning dove
black-chinned hummingbird
warbling vireo
downy woodpecker
American crow
black-capped chickadee
tree swallow (lifer!)
cliff swallow
European starling
American robin
house sparrow
house finch
song sparrow
Lazuli's bunting
spotted towhee

Here is a link to the eBird list with numbers and a pic of the downy: https://ebird.org/checklist/S91592148

[JimoAi]

Spotted some smooth coated otters

[bmathison1972]

I am in Washington for baseball, but also got some birding in.

Yesterday, 7/25, at Point Defiance Park:
1. Canada goose
2. mallard
3. glaucous-winged gull [lifer]
4. bald eagle
5. American crow
6. barn swallow
7. brown creeper
8. song sparrow
9. dark-eyed junco

Today, 7/26, Discovery Park:
1. rock dove
2. Anna's hummingbird
3. rhinoceros auklet [lifer]
4. glaucous-winged gull
5. Caspian tern
6. great blue heron
7. osprey
8. downy woodpecker
9. Pacific slope flycatcher [lifer]
10. Steller's jay
11. American crow
12. black-capped chickadee
13. chestnut-backed chickadee [lifer]
14. golden-crowned kinglet [lifer]
15. brown creeper
16. Bewick's wren [lifer]
17. Swainson's thrus [lifer, but tentative identification - seemed a bit big in the field]
18. American robin
19. cedar waxwing
20. song sparrow
21. house finch
22. dark-eyed junco
23. spotted towhee
24. pine siskin
25. white-crowned sparrow

a couple other interesting non-birds today:
1. Steller's sea lion
2. banana slug

[bmathison1972]

this morning before my flight I got in a quick birding trip at wetlands behind the Univ of Washington (Union Bay Natural Area). No lifers, but new personal state records for a few:

1. mallard
2. gadwall
3. Canada goose
4. Caspian tern
5. belted kingfisher
6. northern flicker
7. American crow
8. black-capped chickadee
9. house finch
10. song sparrow
11. white-crowned sparrow
12. purple martin
13. American goldfinch

saw frogs and a turtle too, but darned if I know what they were. Wonder if the turtle is even native?