June - my big month! Also, sorry for spamming up your dashboard... And - a challenge!
Since we've had a crazy wet May here in TX, I've decided that June will be my big month. I'm setting a personal objective to observe as many different species as I can this month! It's quite fun, and I've spotted some brand new ones for me.
Most of these observations I'm making this month are very common species in TX. Am I wasting my time to post these? Well, I don't think so -- each observation is a point of data on that individual's or population's existence in space and time.
I'm still looking at plants a lot, and I try to only post the plants that have reproductive structures (flowers or fruit). This is crucial to the ID of the plant, and I'm quite cautious to ID a plant based just on vegetative characteristics.
Recently, I've been getting into dragonflies! These are such amazing insects. Big time thanks to the folks here on iNat that are giving me guidance on their ID's.
A challenge -- go outside and observe more! Even if it's something extremely common, I challenge you to go ahead and observe it and post it. Visit a park you haven't visited before, too. Who knows what kinds of neat critters/plants you'll spot?!? :)
Observations
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What
Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata)Observer
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I think there were like 20 black saddlebags at this pond!
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Checkered Setwing (Dythemis fugax)Observer
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Again, this male was so angry -- his face was red with fury! :)
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Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)Observer
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There must have been about 10 tiger swallowtails on this buttonbush. :)
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Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor)Observer
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There were several killdeer making a ruckus, so I looked around for a nest with eggs... Instead, I sneaked up on this nightjar! I need to look this one up. :)
Comments
Thanks for your post and the impetus to continue documenting everything I see. I am noticing wide variations in presence/absence of common plants in the relatively small area I frequent.
And besides.... any thing you observe is NOT spamming up my dashboard!
Oh, getting ambitious I see. Well best of luck and happy searching to you good sir. I will be watching your observations.
I learn a lot from your common observations. What's common to you may be unknown to me, a relative greenhorn when it comes to plants, especially. Plus, even the common things need to be documented, because how will we know if the common becomes uncommon over time? At one time, passenger pigeons were common.
By the way, I like having the opportunity to actually confirm the ID of a species with confidence. Your "duplicates" enable me to holler "Hey, I know what that is!!!... and hit the AGREE button." Not too many observations I can do that with....but increasing my knowledge via help from fellow iNaturalists.
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