Lauren's Life Book: September 2010

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

White-Lined Sphinx (Hyles lineata)

This moth was spotted at a house in Cheyenne, Wyoming near F.E. Warren Air force Base in July 2010. You can read more about these moths here.

Vulture Bee

These bees were spotted during late August 2010 eating out the inside of a dead bird on the sidewalk of Howes Street in Fort Collins, Colorado. These bees are stingless and they feed on rotting flesh rather than the usual humdrum plant-based nectar or pollen. You can read more (but not much more) about these bird eating bees here, and you can read about bee eating birds here.

American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)

These finches were spotted drinking out of a puddle somewhere near a cotton field in Capron, Virginia on Friday, August 20th at about 11:00AM. The female is on the left, and two males are on the right. You can read more about these finches here, and you can read more about sexual dimorphism here.

Green Heron (Butorides virescens)

I saw this heron in the Urban Wetlands of Greenwood Cemetery in downtown Orlando, Florida in the afternoon on August 11, 2010. I think that the last photo is the bird in flight, but I am not 100% sure. If you know otherwise, please feel free to comment. You can read more about these birds here.

Sagebrush Lizard (Sceloporus graciosus)

This lizard was spotted Memorial Day weekend 2010 in the mountains of Wyoming somewhere near Laramie Peak. This joker was the source of constant porch rustling that was just the sounds of him in a watering can near the front door of the cabin. You can read more about Sagebrush Lizards here.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus)

These mountain goats were spotted near and at the summit of Mount Evans yesterday afternoon. Even though the trip up the mountain was mostly driven, I did hike up to the 14,264 feet summit with my sister. I've always thought mountain goats have such noble faces, but they can't be bothered to show them because apparently they are hungry sorts also. An interesting side note: after having spent over an hour above 14.000 feet my mind was a little loopy and I spotted some sort of raptor bird on the trip down. I struggled to get my camera in time to take a picture, and missed the opportunity. At which point I said, "Man! I really wanted a picture of that bird but I don't have my homework." Altitude is fun. I will have more posts later featuring the vegetation up above the tree line, and really I could do a whole blog dedicated to subalpine tundra vegetation alone, it is so fascinating. You can read more about mountain goats here.