These spines, vertebrae, and teeth were taken from the stomach of the decomposing young Short-finned Pilot Whale reported at https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/226893415 and https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/227898254 , when the skeleton was salvaged for a mammal research collection, with a federal permit. The digested/decomposed stomach material was collected, rinsed and screened. Based on the 5 spines (photo #1), 3 dogfish sharks were eaten. Photo #2 shows a small sample of the vertebrae, but none of the other skeletal elements. The teeth are a small sample of the 55 whole and partial teeth that were found in the screened material.
On the left (lathyroides on the right)
Small patch of 65 plants in mature Nyssa sylvatica stand with moderate to low density of Clethra alnifolia. Close to small stream, well off trail. Gaultheria procumbens and Mitchella repens nearby but not much groundcover.
not 100% on species in this genus
Field/roadside, often sloped, not wet, lots of color variation.
Both subsp. americanus (native to North America) and subsp. australis (introduced to North America) are found at this site, sometimes growing intermixed. In the photos the former is indicated with an “N” and the latter with an “I”. On the date I visited this site, 16 September 2019, these are the differences I observed with living stems between the two subspecies:
•Relative stem height: subsp. americanus usually shorter, subsp. australis usually taller.
•Relative stem spacing: subsp. americanus usually more dispersed, subsp. australis usually denser (rarely solitary).
•Stem breaking: subsp. americanus fibrous and hard to break off, subsp. australis often breaks off easily.
•Stem color (lower/older internodes): subsp. americanus red and often shiny, subsp. australis yellow-green and not shiny.
•Stem texture (lower/older internodes): subsp. americanus smooth, subsp. australis minutely ridged.
•Stem & leaf sheath dots: subsp. americanus often present, subsp. australis absent.
•Leaf condition: subsp. americanus has lots of senescence, subsp. australis generally are healthy.
•Margins of upper leaves near panicle: subsp. americanus finely serrated, subsp. australis coarsely serrated.
•Sterile stems more abundant than fertile: subsp. americanus yes, subsp. australis no.
•Panicle branches for panicles of similar length: subsp. americanus fewer, subsp. australis more.
•Panicle branch spacing: subsp. americanus farther, subsp. australis closer.
•Flowering status: subsp. americanus finished flowering, subsp. australis flowering.
There probably are other characteristics I overlooked that distinguish these two subspecies from each other. Perhaps these characteristics listed above hold up at other sites in North America. I don’t use leaf color to tell them apart because although some clones of subsp. australis are strongly blue-green, some clones of that subspecies are more green or yellow-green. See this observation for an illustration: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/30610594
Observation of P. australis subsp. americanus from this location: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/32878566
Observation of P. australis subsp. australis from this location: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/32888630
Liparis liliifolia (lily-leaved wide-lipped orchid), Lyme, CT
pretty small bird found in parking lot of jetties
Leaves alternate. Cleistogamous flowers present.
Agalinis decemloba
Small orange balls hanging from Impatiens capensis.
Natural light shot of Metridium lining the walls at Burnham. The peaks of this trench seem to gather the most invertebrates as seen here (with strobe): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/82101339
In the area pictured, the depths range from ≈21-33m. I consider this to be a world class dive. There's always a lot to observe without having to travel far from the mooring line and the trench makes for easy navigation in what would otherwise be a dark and confusing spot.
It's not often that my fieldwork results in finding a new native globally rare species to add to the flora of Massachusetts, but it happened in May. ID confirmed by Vermont moonwort expert Art Gilman, author of the New Flora of Vermont. (Arthur Haines agreed as well).
This is an adult male Southern Flying Squirrel compared to 2 of the last specimens of Northern Flying Squirrel preserved from MA. The most recent preserved specimen was from Belchertown, Hampshire Co. on May 24, 1968. The species may still exist in MA, but if so, its range has contracted and numbers have significantly declined.
Anyone know what this crab is?
Fan or blue?
Cases on chestnut found 8-Jun-2020, moth emerged 24-Jun-2020
Arthur Iverson Conservatio Area habitat management area aka clear cut, 3 years post cut, looked for all the different species I could find.
What is this abnormality/gall on the poison ivy? It's quite beautiful. The misformed leaves look almost flowerlike.
Vixen and her Kits
It looked like a large number of the flock smashed into the windows of a luxury building in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Not sure if there’s a lot of variation or if this was a mixed flock of highly similar birds with warbler-like traits. I am a new birder 😬 I also didn’t adjust the date, this is from photos much earlier in the year—October
I'm assuming that this is non-native, but the red stalks, somewhat diffuse colonial pattern and limited flowering have me wanting a second opinion. The red stalks could be just a result of being submerged for most of the growing season. This is growing on the drawn-down shore of the Quabbin Reservoir, where large stands of obvious non-native stands are established. On sandy shoreline.