stockslager's Favorites

Hoping for a sighting of Red Crossbills as reported for this site. At least my third attempt, and the cluster of birders nearby was a hopeful sign.
But no! The crossbills had just flown off, and a Red-shouldered Hawk (193825430) seemed to be the cause.
Patience isn't my long suit, but it did pay off. So many crossbills! Moving all around the tree, but especially at the base of one large branch where there seemed to be a natural water dish for them. There was a bit of fussing and feuding; everyone wanted a drink now!
I'm not at all certain, but it looked like there might be some begging going on from one of this year's chicks. Seems late, but...? See photos 3-4.

I think Golden Rain Tree must be one of the new, up-and-coming invasives for our area. We have heavily fruiting, mature individuals planted all around our central plaza on the NKU campus, the strong northern Kentucky winds blow the pods into drifts here, there, and yon, and then the seedlings volunteer EVERYWHERE.
The large tree and fruit pictured here are cultivated, but pictured to provide ID traits and show where the volunteers came from. I'm tagging the babies as wild.

Most of February was weirdly warm here, and the salamanders have activated almost a month early. This gorgeous, glossy individual -- about 4.5" long and as fat as one of my fingers -- was in the sheltered, muddy spot under my trash bin. I'm not sure that I've seen this species in my yard before. I took a few quick photos and then returned it to a slightly safer spot in the yard.

Old township cemetery in the middle of ag country with hundreds of these orchids blooming. Absolutely incredible. Tons of Sceptridium dissectum var. obliquum (and rarely var. dissectum) intermixed with the orchids as well.

Was just reading about how many different species of beetles are supported by False Solomon's Seal. This is the first year several False Solomon's blooms have made it past the deer eating them earlier in the Spring. I think the colony of plants has finally expanded enough to satisfy the deer and now also the beetles. Keeping the honeysuckle and also the garlic mustard in check has dramatically increased the size of this colony of plants. It's probably the biggest success since the start of the backyard restoration project.

Didn't notice it was carrying a lizard (an anole, I think) when I took the pictures. It was too small in the camera's screen to see the lizard. I took a burst and happened to capture it eating the lizard in the air.

This individual carp had a bad day and returns home with a story to tell. The species as a whole will hopefully benefit from the kids' memories of this interaction. My daughter caught it and her expression is slightly more joyful.

I was moving an opossum that was hit by a car at my mom's house. I picked it up with a pair of pliers by the tail and it slowly spun around. My daughter and I then realized it was a mother with two babies still alive. We washed off the babies and kept them long enough to find an animal rehab to give them to.