A pair of Common Loons dove under each other, opened their bills, and stayed close to each other for about ten minutes. Sometimes one would tip its head back with bill open. I'd never before observed this behavior!
It was amazing to watch a Pied-billed Grebe struggle with a large Procambarus clarkii (Red Swamp Crayfish), shake it and plunge underwater, then finally swallow it whole.
This is a remarkable Orthasterias koehleri (Rainbow Star), with four short arms and one quite long one. Maybe a miraculous recovery from sea star wasting syndrome?
The first live Loligo opalescens (Opalescent Squid) I've ever found, about 6" long and stranded in shallow water in the eelgrass with a -2.6 tide. I was amazed how it changed color a couple of times, accentuated dots near its fins, and how it flared out its fins. It was very feisty! I left it there as the tide was coming in.
One of nine Great Blue Herons feasting on what I think are Apodichthys flavidus (Penpoint Gunnel). This one has TWO in its beak.
This lovely juvenile hawk (Sharp-shinned or Cooper's?) puffed all its feathers to stay warm on this bitterly cold and windy day.
From the shore, it looked like the Steller Sea Lion was furiously shaking a large fish. Photos show it was a Giant Pacific Octopus!
I think this is a Phoxichilidium femoratum (Spiny-thigh Sea Spider) <1" across; placed for photos in a plastic container and released. I was helping with the PTMSC night low tide walk.
Two male Columbian black-tailed deer locked antlers repeatedly, right in someone's front yard in Uptown!
A Rhinoceros Auklet swam and dived so close to the pier I could see it clearly.
We puzzled over this juvenile crab molt because it was so large for its juvenile coloration. The Cancer productus (Red Rock Crab) I find of this size have all turned solid reddish, so I wondered if it could possibly be Romaleon antennarius. The underside is heavily speckled. One photo shows the crab in a friend's hand for scale.
We saw eight Ruby-crowned Kinglets flitting about in shrubs, and then these two bathed in the rain puddle. The one on the left showed his red crown.
Maybe 2,000 Cackling Geese flew in large, chattering flocks and landed in the grasslands by the wetlands, many then tucking their beaks into their wings and resting.
A young partially leucistic Columbian black-tailed deer, the only one like this I've seen in our town with hundreds of deer.
A musical European Robin sang by the ancient church.
Seven Greater Yellowlegs were catching small fish and resting near each other.
This small fish, about 3/4" long, darted out from the eelgrass during the -3.1 tide. A Buffalo Sculpin?
Several Battus philenor hirsuta (CA Pipevine Swallowtail) fluttered around the California section of the Botanical Garden, and only this one landed for photos on some type of pink allium.
A tourist brought to our attention a dead octopus. I was amazed to find a huge Giant Pacific Octopus floating in the waves. I pulled it out of the water, and it was quite heavy and slippery, and laid it out on the beach-- 6' across and in perfect condition. Normally when I see a dead octopus on the beach, which is rare, it's been eaten away by Bald Eagles, gulls, and crows. Someone said a marine biologist told her the females die this time of year, having finished caring for their eggs.
A North American River Otter knew he/she was not a motor vehicle while trotting down to the marina.
One of two male Rufous Hummingbirds currently buzzing about non-stop, rarely pausing on a branch for a photo. This one was just taking off when I snapped this photo.
This Bald Eagle was eating a Giant Pacific Octopus's 2' arm, then carried the remains to a branch on the bluff and kept eating.
A male Varied Thrush with toes frozen in ice on this very cold, snowy day. Yesterday there were two Varied Thrush attracted by suet and sunflower seeds falling from a feeder, today four.
A gorgeous caterpillar on Grindelia integrifolia (Entire-leaved Gumweed). iNaturalist suggests Asteroid Moth?
These flowers growing in the water on the edge of the lake in an extremely rainy part of the Andes looked like English Daisies with very long stems, about 6" tall.
I think this may be a Speyeria zerene ssp. bremnerii (Bremner's Silverspot) nectaring on Erysimum arenicola (Cascade Wallflower).
The first photo shows seven Blues gathered to lick up minerals in the dirt road. I think they are Celastrina echo (Echo Azure) butterflies. For males, minerals are essential nutrients, and I think these were licking up bird guano.
These two immature Bald Eagles flew side by side, then tumbled together a bit, not fighting, maybe playful siblings?
The male Rufous Hummingbird has spectacular, iridescent feathers. I just learned that a 2020 study in Evolution "shows that while hummingbird feathers have the same basic makeup as other birds', the special shape of their pigment-containing structures enables them to reflect a rainbow of light." These two photos were taken about 20 seconds apart.
I was thrilled to finally see a Snowy Owl, right here in my town, which is rare. I think this may be an immature one, with so much brown. The poor owl was continually harassed by noisy crows-- not a nice welcome to our town. Thanks to @ekingfisher for telling me!
A spectacular, iridescent butterfly that looks different in each photo. Blues Subfamily Polyommatinae?
We were amazed by this sole Lewisia tweedyi (Tweedy's Lewisia aka Mountain Rose) growing beside a boulder close to the river. The shimmering petals are absolutely gorgeous!
This Cicindela (Tiger Beetle) was sadly dead, clinging to the seeds of Yellow Sand Verbena. It was larger than other Tiger Beetles I've seen, about an inch long, and had spectacular metallic colors on its underside, and unusual streaked brown eyes..
The prettiest blue Tonicella lineata (Lined Chiton) I think I've ever found.
This Gygis alba (White Tern) chick is typical of the chicks we saw mid-February on Lord Howe Island. All are perched alone on a branch of a Norfolk Pine tree, awaiting tiny fish from their parents. The trees are growing beside the roads, so they are used to people walking right by their branches.
A curious and beautiful Long-tailed Weasel watched us, then slipped away.
An amazing viewing of a Golden Eagle, who was standing on branches from an old clear-cut beside the gravel road when we walked down from the summit of Mt. Walker. A huge construction/logging truck came up the road and frightened the eagle, who flew west, soaring and not flapping its wings.
The first Song Sparrow singing a spring song!
Usually our River Otters are in small groups on the beaches and in the sea. This one was alone in a flooded ditch by Chinese Gardens lagoon and was very interested in me.
This Peregrine Falcon flew by and terrified about 30 Double-crested Cormorants that were resting on an enormous eucalyptus tree, then landed on the same tree.
There's often a White-winged Scoter off this beach trying to eat a crab, and succeeding.
We first saw this Townsend's Warbler in a friend's backyard during the Christmas Bird Count three days ago. I returned today with my camera and it showed up again, six or seven times! (Location is not exact for privacy.)
We saw about 50 Roosevelt Elk near the Brinnon Elementary School, including bulls with antlers, a female with a radio collar, and juveniles. Some were calling softly to each other. They crossed the road in groups. I wonder how to find out background about the female, tagged #73?
This is the first Agapostemon virescens (Bicolored Agapostemon) I've ever seen, a female. (If I identified her correctly!) She was flying around the dried grasses and rocks not far from the sea.
An adorable and small (3/4") Pseudacris regilla (Northern Pacific Treefrog) was resting on a blade of grass, still in the same spot two hours later.
This is one of four 1/2" Anemones I found today in the intertidal. I dug into the sand to see its column, and after 3", it had disappeared.
The first time I've ever seen an upside-down Dirona albolineata (Frosted Nudibranch) crawling along!
This sad little baby Belted Kingfisher must have fallen from her nest, a hole in the cliff 12' above. She kept calling for help, and could only waddle a bit and attempt to flap her wings. I hope her parents could help her.
This must be a Cyanea capillata (Lion's Mane Jelly) with very colorful tentacles! It was about 11" across. I found it upside down, tangled in the eelgrass during a -2.7 tide, and gently turned it over with my rubber boot.
This spectacular 3" fish was swimming in the shallow sea during a minus tide near the tinier baby fish. I can't find a fish like this with its jewel colors and dots in my field guide, and Ammodytes looks like the closest match on iNaturalist.
I found hundreds of 2/3" Haminoea vesicula. sea slugs on the sand during the minus tide. Many masses of yellow eggs were wrapped around the eelgrass in this section of the shallow water. An amazing sight!
This Nautichthys oculofasciatus (Sailfin Sculpin) was the most remarkable fish I've ever found, like a gossamer butterfly swimming in the sea. It was only about 3/4" long. I'd only seen one once before in the aquarium at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center years ago.
The sticky sand beach was crowded with millions of megalops and juvenile instar crabs. It was amazing! Three or four could fit on my little fingernail. They looked like flakes of oatmeal emerging from the sand. A friend told me a nearby beach was covered in masses of orangish crab larvae on May 18.
A very colorful Violet-green Swallow paused on a picnic table in the campground for a portrait.
This observation focuses on the fish. A River Otter was eating this large fish. A Bald Eagle stole the intestines (?) and flew off with them.
This Pine Siskin looks ready to build a nest. One of dozens chirping in the forest by our house and taking turns at the bird feeder.
I didn't even notice the banding on this Brant until getting home and looking at the photos. The green band on the left leg says OR2, and the silver band on the right leg was illegible. A local expert birder told me to report it to USGS. Now I have a certificate telling me it's a male, banded 7/30/17, too young to fly when banded near Nuiqsut, North Slope Borough, Alaska by John Pearce at the USGS at the Alaska Science Center. So cool!
Mutisia decurrens was growing in clumps along the road to Quila Quila. It's spectacular!
Four Southern Lapwings were walking on the edge of the lake, and one sipped water from the lake. They are very common in this area.
I think this might be a Slender-billed Parakeet? A few noisy parakeets flew from tree to tree. They are larger than the Monk Parakeet.
I think this is a White-tufted Grebe. It was one of two diving for food beside the port.
We saw three of these giant 1 m lizards my friends called Salvator meridae (merianae?). This one was walking around repeatedly putting out its long tongue like antennae.
A fabulous bird with a tall crest of black feathers and a pale eye. It was scavenging among shrubs.
A Great Blue Heron hunkering down in the 32 degree weather
This Merlin was our favorite bird on the Christmas Bird Count.
About 20 Caprella mutica (Japanese Skeleton Shrimp), the largest 1" tall, entered the tank housing baby Pinto Abalone at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center with the sea water flushing through the tank. So I won't call them "captive." They look like little stick insects doing a dance. I've only seen these once before at the marina, and those were beige. Both times they have been in small groups.
I think this glutinous orange gilled mushroom may be Pholiota aurivella (Golden Pholiota). These and two others were growing on the end of an old log in the dark forest. The largest was about 2" diameter.
Only the second Geastrum saccatum (Earthstar) I've ever seen, and in perfect condition this time
This Harbor Seal swam right below us on the pier
I was astounded by the holdfast of this Macrocystis pyrifera (Giant Kelp), about 2' diameter. This was the largest of three large holdfasts washed ashore. I don't know if it's a single holdfast or a tangle of several. @hfb?
We were delighted by three Lewis's Woodpeckers who were catching insects, large ones, then returning to the same tree.
A huge male Elephant Seal on Protection Island, photographed with a zoom lens from at least 200 meters.
One (maybe two?) Tufted Puffin near Protection Island.
One of three 1/2" Haliclystus stejnegeri (Oval-anchored Stalked Jelly) photographed during the minus tide, each a different color.
The phenomenal Bothragonus swanii (Rockhead), found by my friend in a tide pool during a minus tide, a first for us. Andy Lamb wonders about the purpose of the hole in its head.
This poor Pugettia producta (Northern Kelp Crab) was covered in kelp! I wonder if the kelp attached to the carapace before or after it molted?
Such amazing variety of coloration in the local Pseudacris regilla (Northern Pacific Treefrog).
Pigeon Guillemots were calling to each other with their heads tilted back. A courting ritual?
Two huge meadows of Olsynium douglasii (Satin Flower), the first I'd ever seen!
A beautiful wild orchid near Arenal Volcano. Our naturalist guide called it the Spanish Flag orchid.
This 2" long beetle is a pale greenish color with bumps, some larger than most.
This area has abundant Brown Pelicans, many fishing close to shore, and others resting on trees on small islands.
I was excited to find my first Painted Ghost Crab. Its carapace was quite small, only about 1" across. The second photo shows what a large area it sprays with sand in digging its hole. I waited a long time for it to emerge from its hole. They are very shy around people.
This is the first agouti that has permitted a photo. He was foraging on our hotel grounds, and I followed him from a distance, listening to his gnawing. Very sweet profile and a tiny tail! The second photo shows how easily he walks downhill.
This Yellow-headed Caracara flew down to the beach for a quick snack. What a magnificent bird!
A few Squirrel Monkeys, including one juvenile, leapt about on trees beside our hotel room. Hard to say how many-- four maybe. A White-throated Capuchin Monkey came and chased them away.
The White-throated Monkeys groomed each other intently, with very serious expressions.
This incredibly beautiful Blue-crowned Motmot posed on a tree for me in perfect lighting, and my camera didn't work. Fortunately a few seconds later it worked and I got these photos showing its beautiful feathers and facial markings.
This magnificent Chestnut-mandibled Toucan was one of a pair in a tree very close to our hotel.
This Collared Araçari was feeding on fruits/berries in a tree near the Arenal Volcano. My favorite bird.
Three adult Howler Monkeys and one baby rested and moved around a bit in the trees above the beach.
We were thrilled to finally find a Turquoise-browed Motmot, right above the beach.
My second Nine-banded Armadillo in two days. This one had more pink on its skin. It reacted exactly the same way as the one yesterday-- foraging happily while I photographed, and then seeing me, and running away, terrified.
I was thrilled to finally see three Resplendent Quetzals , a dream of mine for many years. This female was easier to photograph than the male.
I was thrilled to finally see three Resplendent Quetzals, a dream of mine for many years. This male was hidden below a hanging bridge. I leaned onto my back and hung my camera over the side in order to get a photo. The other juvenile male I saw flew past us with no photo.
Our first Yellow-crowned Euphonias, so spectacular. Poor bird has a hurt foot.
I was thrilled to see my first White-nosed Coati yesterday, and today there were about 20 roaming the grounds of our hotel, digging into the grass. The second photo shows the long claws.
I found one tide pool with about ten Dolabrifera dolabrifera, perfectly camouflaged.