Eastern Towhee – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern A fully grown eastern towhee will weigh less than two ounces This photograph was taken in Salisbury Beach State Park in coastal Massachusetts. These colorful sparrows are called eastern towhees. They can be found in the eastern half of the United States. Interestingly, the eyes are red for most eastern […]
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 […]
Plum Island It is also famous because of the purple sands that appear at high tide. The sands get their color from tiny crystals of pink pyrope garnet. Matt and I had hiked from the road to the Atlantic Ocean out on Plum Island. The sky was a bit overcast that day, which I have […]
Chalk-fronted Corporal Dragonfly – IUCN Conservation Status: LEAST CONCERN Each eye has up to 30,000 facets! I took this photo the day before my birthday in the Berkshires of Massachusetts. Matt and I were camping there enjoying the beginning of summer. We had been out on a loop hike through the park when we came […]
HARBOR SEAL – IUCN Conservation Status: LEAST CONCERN The harbor seals pile up on these rocks You wouldn’t know by looking, but this was taken in the middle of winter. This was a January kayak adventure off Salisbury Beach, Massachusetts. The Atlantic Ocean waters are around 40 degrees this time of year. Yet, you would never guess that […]
LONG-TAILED DUCK – IUCN Conservation Status: VULNERABLE These ducks are able to dive deeper than any other ducks! This duck’s name fits the bill. As you can see in this photo, the long-tailed duck does indeed have a long tail. In fact, the tail can reach about six inches long. What else makes this duck so unique? Long-tailed ducks […]
During our hike, we ended up at this remote pond This photo was taken at October Mountain State Forest, located in the westernmost part of Massachusetts, in an area they call the Berkshires. A couple years ago, Ben and I teamed up for a weekend camp and hike here. During our hike, we ended up […]