Nalle Bunny Run Group Walk 2016-10-15
Yesterday morning four folks joined me for the monthly group walk on Hill Country Conservancy's Nalle Bunny Run wildlife preserve. These are general nature observation walks, but usually we concentrate on finding birds more than anything else because birds are what I know best. Yesterday instead we focused on pollinators and the plants they were on, as part of TPWD's 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz. Attached are our resulting plant and pollinator observations.
When you think of pollinators, butterflies and bees come to mind. But there are many others, including many flies, hemipterans, wasps, and more. In addition to the european Honey Bees we have many species of native bees. My favorite yesterday was this tiny bee covered in white hair with blue eyes. I hope someone on iNaturalist will help me identify it!
The most common butterfly of the morning was the white and orange Common Mestra. We saw a hundred at least! This has been a very successful year for this species, maybe because their inconspicuous host plant, Noseburn, is also doing very well this year. Here's a photo of one on its host plant:
Frostweed was the most common flowering plant, and that's where we found the most pollinators. Here's a Queen butterfly on a large patch:
You might notice that the Queen butterfly above looks very similar to a Monarch butterfly. We found both yesterday, but we found more Queens than Monarchs. I only got one photograph of a Monarch, also on Frostweed:
The most exciting butterfly observation was of a Zebra Heliconian that just briefly flew by us. Unfortunately I wasn't able to photograph it.
Here are a few pollinators that were not bees or butterflies. See the same photos on the attached observations to see what they are.
Here's our complete bird list.
And here are a few more photos on Flickr.
Special thanks to @billdodd for helping us identify plants, and for finding the tiny patch of Alabama Lipfern below!
Observations
Photos / Sounds
What
Green Lynx Spider (Peucetia viridans)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Photos / Sounds
What
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Photos / Sounds
What
Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Photos / Sounds
What
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Photos / Sounds
What
Subfamily ScoliinaeObserver
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Photos / Sounds
What
Clouded Skipper (Lerema accius)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Photos / Sounds
What
Gulf Fritillary (Dione vanillae)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Photos / Sounds
What
Monarch (Danaus plexippus)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Photos / Sounds
What
Striped Sweat Bees (Genus Agapostemon)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Photos / Sounds
What
Queen (Danaus gilippus)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Photos / Sounds
What
Alabama Lipfern (Myriopteris alabamensis)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Photos / Sounds
What
Spot-sided Coreid (Hypselonotus punctiventris)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Photos / Sounds
What
Dusky-blue Groundstreak (Calycopis isobeon)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Photos / Sounds
Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Photos / Sounds
What
Southern Yellowjacket (Vespula squamosa)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Photos / Sounds
What
Prairie False Foxglove (Agalinis heterophylla)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Photos / Sounds
What
Greenbottle Flies (Genus Lucilia)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Photos / Sounds
What
Great Spreadwing (Archilestes grandis)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Photos / Sounds
What
Queen (Danaus gilippus)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Photos / Sounds
What
Spotted Cucumber Beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus MelissodesObserver
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Photos / Sounds
What
Common Mestra (Mestra amymone)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Photos / Sounds
What
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Photos / Sounds
What
Cardinal Jumping Spider (Phidippus cardinalis)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Photos / Sounds
What
Common Mestra (Mestra amymone)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Common Mestra was by far the most common butterfly on this morning, and we saw at least 100. This photo shows one on its host plant, Noseburn.
Photos / Sounds
What
Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Photos / Sounds
What
Queen (Danaus gilippus)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Photos / Sounds
What
Queen (Danaus gilippus)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Photos / Sounds
What
Gulf Fritillary (Dione vanillae)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Photos / Sounds
What
Sleepy Orange (Abaeis nicippe)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Photos / Sounds
What
Coyote (Canis latrans)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Photos / Sounds
What
Annual Saltmarsh Aster (Symphyotrichum subulatum)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Photos / Sounds
What
Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Photos / Sounds
What
Frostweed (Verbesina virginica)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Photos / Sounds
What
Noseburns (Genus Tragia)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Photos / Sounds
What
Frostweed (Verbesina virginica)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Photos / Sounds
What
Christmas Cholla (Cylindropuntia leptocaulis)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Photos / Sounds
What
Agarita (Berberis trifoliolata)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
Photos / Sounds
What
Bitterweed (Helenium amarum)Observer
mikaelbDescription
Taken during the monthly group walk on the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve. This month we focused on finding pollinators for the 2016 Texas Pollinator Bioblitz organized by TPWD.
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