Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron Live

Great Blue Heron – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern Great blue herons have a lethal weapon built into their head–their beak This majestic aviator is a great blue heron. With this month’s theme of “Zoomed In” you can get a good look at their decorative plumage. Great blue herons have a lethal weapon built into their head–their […]

Dusky Birch Sawfly

Dusky Birch Sawfly Live

Dusky Birch Sawfly – iNaturalist The dusky birch sawfly has an interesting lifecycle This tiny green caterpillar looking creature is called a dusky birch sawfly. As the name suggests, the host plant this species prefers is the birch tree. It can be found throughout the United States, but is typically seen in the eastern United States. I took […]

American Bullfrog

American Bullfrog Eye Live

American Bullfrog – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern They capture and consume unsuspecting lizards, snakes, rodents, crayfish, insects, snails, and worms This captivating eye belongs to an American bullfrog. Similar to other species, these are highly aquatic creatures. These frogs are native to eastern North America and are often seen near permanent water sources such as lake, […]

Spanish Needles

Spanish Needles Live

Spanish Needles – IUCN Conservation Status: Insufficient Data Spanish needles can reach a max of five feet tall This pollinator friendly plant goes by many names. Common names include butterfly needles, shepherd’s needles, tickseed sunflowers, stick weed, pitchfork weed, and beggar-ticks. Although this plant may look pretty, many consider it a weed. It is an annual or short-lived […]

Spotted Touch-Me-Not

Spotted Touch-Me-Not Live

Spotted Touch-Me-Not – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern This beautiful flowering plant is native to North America and is commonly found around creeks This is a hoverfly standing on the flower of a touch-me-not plant. This plant is also knowns as orange jewelweed, orange balsam, or common jewelweed. This beautiful flowering plant is native to North America […]

Hairy Vetch

Hairy Vetch Live

Hairy Vetch – IUCN Conservation Status: Insufficient Data Hairy vetch can be found across the United States This is an eastern bumble bee hanging upside-down on a flower known as hairy vetch. This strange named flower is also known as fodder vetch, winter vetch, or sand vetch. Although Wild Boyz Photography has written about eastern bumbles in […]

Atlantic Yellow-Nosed Albatross

Albatross Takeoff Live

Atlantic Yellow-Nosed Albatross – IUCN Conservation Status: Endangered They have a black bill with an orange trim This is a bird I might never see again. It is an endangered bird called an Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross. This photograph was taken from a boat just offshore of Eastern Egg Rock Island in Maine. This was a vagrant sighting, meaning […]

Puffin

Puffin Takeoff Live

Atlantic Puffin – IUCN Conservation Status: Vulnerable There were puffins standing on land, flying, swimming, taking off, and landing This photo was taken off Eastern Egg Rock Island in Maine. During the summer months, Atlantic puffins gather on a remote island off of Boothbay Harbor, Maine. There are tour companies that go for puffin cruises and whale […]

Juvenile Bald Eagle

Juvenile Bald Eagle Live

Bald Eagle – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern In 2007, bald eagles were removed from the endangered species list altogether This majestic raptor is a juvenile bald eagle. Many of us are familiar with the history of the bald eagle in America. Ben’s previous story can get you up to speed. We are encouraged to see a rebound […]

Orchard Orbweaver

Orchard Orbweaver Live

Orchard Orbweaver – IUCN Conservation Status: Insufficient Data The orchard orbweaver will suck this liquid out of the bite hole These ornate spiders are called orchard orbweavers. If you live in the eastern United States, this spider is one of the more commonly seen spiders. They are found from Canada to Brazil. Technically, there are two almost identical […]