cypselurus's Favourites

Observation by Michael Anninos - Photos George Anninos and reproduced with permission.

Found splashing in the shallows, apparently disoriented. Returned to deeper water where it rapidly swam out to sea.

Photo taken by Emily Kim. The birds are mostly Brandt's Cormorants. We're interested in what appears to be a shark "breaching" on the right side of the photo. Do you think this is a shark? Is so, can you ID to species?

I saw what I thought was one of the deer-stand-type lookout towers throughout the park. It was not that. Turned out to be a stand for an owl nest box. Realized this when an owl flew out. Went to take a picture of the nest box, and happened to get a photo of a second owl instead! I feel bad that I disturbed them during the day and will avoid the stand in the future, but I was definitely thrilled to get a photo of my favorite bird! (Location marked is the park, not the exact coordinates.)

Silene catesbaei (Eastern Fringed Catchfly). New population discovered with my friend. GPS and notes taken and officially reported with FNAI and Florida Park Service (found within Torreya State Park). Federally listed species.

This was found in an area in Northeast NC near Alligator River, where specimens had been called Coastal Plain Milksnakes. It is sort of a hazy in beteen area between Eastern Milksnake and Scarlet Kingsnake areas. The head and neck markings are not quite like typical Scarlet Kingsnakes. See also belly pattern.