Dominican Butterflies and Fall Plans

Hello!

I hope this first day of fall is treating you all well!  I love the changing seasons...and change in general.  I never like to do the same thing for too long!

I haven't been doing much shooting recently, but I have been editing a bit.  I was working back through some old photos from a 2011 trip to the Dominican Republic, and found a folder full of butterflies I'd always intended to identify but never gotten around to.  I managed to nail down most of them, although one remains a mystery (any butterfly aficionados out there fancy a challenge?).  Here they are:

White Peacock (Anartia jatrophae)

Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae)

Zebra (Heliconius charithonae)

And now the stumper....ready for it?

Mangrove or Tropical Buckeye (Junonia genoveva or evarete)

I don't feel so badly about being unable to pin this down, as a) the two species look incredibly similar and b) nobody seems to know which one is which!  BugGuide (which I take to be the be-all-and-end-all on all things bug-related) has this to say:

"There has been a lot of confusion due to the switching back and forth of the usage of the names Junonia genoveva and Junonia evarete, and most of the photographs up to date on BugGuide were switched from current usage due to this confusion, and the resultant fact that many field guides have backwards or confused treatments as well. Hopefully the Lamas treatment will be the final word, and things won't keep switching back and forth!"

Unfortunately the Lamas treatment simply assigns the correct name to the correct butterfly, but doesn't help at all in identifying which is which.  And because you can't trust the name-assignment in any other guide/source, it seems pretty much impossible to get this little bugger to species!  The one that got away I suppose...

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Anyway, on to non-butterfly-related things.  Got a few fun plans for the fall, and I'm hoping they'll push me to spend some time camera-in-hand.  First, I'm headed out to Tadoussac, QC next week with my father in search of these:

Then down to the US of A in October on an annual hunt (but not the shooting type) for these:

I'm pretty excited for both, as I've really been jonesin' for an adventure, even a small one!  Finally, on October 7 I will be giving a talk to the Hamilton Naturalists' Club about these:

The talk is open to the public, so come on out!

I think that's all the news for now - get out there and see some cool fall nature!

Kyle

Skinkin'

Headed up to the Georgian Bay area last weekend in search of reptiles.  The rain thwarted the better part of our attempt, but we did have good luck with Ontario's only lizard during a soggy hike.  Here are a few shots:

Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus)

Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus)

We happened on to a male in full breeding adornment - I've always wanted to photograph one of these spectacular little guys!

Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus)

Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus)

That's all for now!
Kyle

Presentation This Week

It has been a busy bird-count (and holiday) season, so I haven't had much time to edit photos or post to the blog recently.  All told I have done 3 Christmas Bird Counts, one Christmas Bird Count for Kids and the Guelph Arboretum Winter Bird Count.  Counting birds is just so much fun!  Highlights of the counts were as follows:

-one Common Raven on the Port Hope count (this was a very slow day, so highlights were hard to come by!)
-two Iceland Gulls on the Guelph count (both gorgeous adults)
-one Merlin on the Guelph CBC4Kids (mostly notable because the participants got excellent looks!)
-one Great Black Back x Herring Gull hybrid on the CBC4Kids (this was less exciting for the children)
-one Ring-necked Pheasant on the Rice Lake Plains count (almost certainly a game-farm escapee, but still cool!)
-one Brown Thrasher and one Barred Owl on the Arb Winter Bird Count (thrasher in winter...WEIRD!)
-good numbers of Common Redpolls and Bohemian Waxwings all round

If you didn't count this year, be sure to do it next year - even a slow day of bird-counting is tons of fun!

On a more tropical note, I will be delivering my Madagascar presentation this coming Thursday for the Guelph Field Naturalists.  The meeting is at 7:30 at the Arboretum Centre and it is open to the public, so come on by!  Here are a couple of teasers:

Perinet Chameleon (Calumma gastrotaenia)

Unnamed Frog (Platypelis barbouri)

Hope to see you there!
Kyle

Madagascar Presentation

Had an awesome time at last week's visit to the Ingersoll District Nature Club, so I thought I'd post a few photos from the presentation.  Here are some of my favourites:

Have you ever seen such an impressive butt-snorkel?

Giant Water Bug (Family: Belostomatidae)

We found this impressive water bug in a puddle, and fished him out for a closer look.  We have these creatures here in Canada (sometimes known as toe-biters or electric light bugs), but this one was exceptional in two ways: his raptorial arms are especially large compared to his body size, and he has a butt-snorkel longer than his entire body.  Here it is in use:

Giant Water Bug (Family: Belostomatidae)

We had the good fortune to find quite a few chameleons, but this one is probably my favourite.  Mostly because of the name.

Big-nosed Chameleon (Calumma nasutum)

One of the coolest birds in Mad is probably the Madagascar Pygmy-Kingfisher.  He is only about the size of the sparrow, lives in the dense forest and as our guide told us in broken English "fishes for lizards."

Madagascar Pygmy-Kingfisher (Ceyx madagascariensis)

And lastly, one of the most incredible spiders in the world.

Net-casting Spider (Family: Deinopidae)

To understand just how amazing this creature is, watch this video: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/18990161.  Have you every seen anything so freakin cool???

That's all for now!
Kyle

Presentation next weekend!

I am getting excited for my presentation next weekend at the Ingersoll District Nature Club!  The topic has been chosen and it will be "An Island Apart: The Stunning and Bizarre Wildlife of Madagascar."  This is a brand-new presentation, and I can't wait to do it!  For details, visit www.ingersollnature.ca.

I have made some updates to the "Upcoming Presentations" tab (at the top of this page) to reflect some recent changes and additions.  And of course, I always post updates on my Facebook page, and now my Twitter account (I'm so connected)!

Here's as sneak peek from the Mad presentation - I think I'll use it as the cover photo:

Jewel Chameleon (Furcifer lateralis)

:)
Kyle

The winter approaches

It seems that every year around this time, my photography season begins to wind down.  Everything is turning brown and the reptiles, amphibians and bugs are hibernating, or generally escaping the impending cold.  It always leaves me feeling a bit listless...

At any rate, it does give me a bit of time to sort through the looming pile of photos that I never had time to edit in the summer.  Today, it's a few miscellaneous South Africa photos from the giant stack.  Here they are!

First, a really exciting shot for me.  I had always wanted to see a monitor in the wild, and we were fortunate enough to find a handful!  The Nile Monitor does not disappoint - big, powerful and gorgeous.  Everything I expect a monitor to be!

Nile Monitor (Veranus niloticus)

Secondly, the most hideous creature in all of Africa - the Tsessebe!  Evolution has kindly shaped this animal into something too ugly to eat, or at least that is the only explanation I can imagine for it.  Don't be fooled, it's not sick or emaciated, it's just a Tsessebe.

Tsessebe (Damaliscus lunatus)

And lastly, an insect (what's a blog post without bugs?).  Since many of the parks in South Africa require you to stay in your car (and with good reason), I didn't get the opportunity to shoot many insects.  I can only imagine that the country is full of fascinating, six-legged critters, and I wish I had the opportunity to see more of them!

Locusts (unknown species)

That's all for now!
Kyle

Last from Africa

Well it is officially departure day after over 2 months in Africa - it has been an amazing trip but I am definitely ready to get home!  Had a bit of time at the hostel this morning, so here are a few quick picks (and quick edits) from the most recent leg of the journey:

White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum)

Flap-necked Chameleon (Chamaeleo dilepis)

Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta)

Lots more photos to go through, and I will do my best to post them as I get to them in the coming weeks!

Kyle

Still Alive in MG!!

Hello!

I have finally returned to the internet after a month-long absence (how did I survive??).  Last full day in Madagascar, flying to South Africa tomorrow.  Internet access in SA should be slightly more frequent than it has been here (none), but probably not significantly.  I will try to update when I can.

In the meantime, prepare for the longest post ever.  To make up for my absence, I have prepped a bunch of photos (quickly, and on a tiny computer, so I hope they're ok!).  I haven't had time to research the IDs yet, so apologize where they are lacking or incorrect!

We've managed about a half-a-dozen snakes in MG, mostly small and terrestrial.  Apparently the Malagasy name of this species means "many snakes in one hole."  Garter Snake anyone? (thanks to Bryna for excellent snake-wrangling!).

Lateral Water Snake (Bibilava lateralis)

Frog diversity here is stunning, and there are more frog species than birds!

Greater Madagascan Green Treefrog (Boophis luteus)

We've seen about a dozen chameleon species in the country, some very big and some very small!

Thiel's Pygmy Chameleon (Brookesia thieli)

Short-horned Chameleon (Calumma brevicorne)

One of my favourite bird species here:

Collared Nightjar (Caprimulgus enarratus)

Another cham!

Jewel Chameleon (Furcifer lateralis)

Truly one of the most bizarre (and among stiff competition) species that MG has to offer:

Giraffe-necked Weevil (Trachelophorus giraffa)

More frogs...

Betsileo Reed Frog (Heterixalus betsileo)

Largest lemur in the world!

Indri (Indri indri)

Sneaky kingfisher photo...

Madagascar Kingfisher (Alcedo vintsioides)

One of the most sought-after frogs in the country!

Baron's Mantella (Mantella baroni)

Total guess on the ID here, but it certainly appears to be a Nephila spider to me.  Check out the male (fully grown) on her back.  Careful little fella!  (not a joke - she would be quite happy to eat him before or after mating).

Giant Orb-Weaver (Nephila sp?)

Frequently shared breakfast with our little friend Larry (well, until we realized that Larry was actually Larries...).  Day-Geckos eat fruit and nectar, so a little jam or honey was not to be passed up.  Apparently chocolate cake is just as good.  (sad to note that although Day-Geckos enjoy chocolate cake, they do not posses a mechanism to ingest it effectively - Larry basically pressed his tongue against it for a while and hoped it would absorb).

Lined Day-Gecko (Phelsuma lineata)

One of my most-wanted Madagascar creatures!

Pill Millipede (Family: Arthrosphaeridae)

Tons of great butterflies, no way to identify them...

Butterfly (Species Unknown)

Craziest thing ever!  Total length about 3 inches.  Start researching turbellarians, prepare to be dumbfounded.

Turbellarian Flatworm (Species Unknown)

Lots of crazy phasmids!

Stick Insect (Species Unknown)

All credit goes to Bryna for this amazing find!  Note the epic common, and latin, names!

Satanic Leaftail Gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus)

A member of one of the endemic bird families - found this lady on a pendulous nest in the middle of a trail!

Velvet Asity (Philepitta castanea)

That is all for now!  Will try to update when possible from SA!

Kyle

Another Year...

Well it seems that everyone is doing a 'year-in-review,' and since I always do what everyone else is doing (hah), I thought I'd repost some of my favourite photos from the past year.  This also helps me continue to avoid the editing that I really should be doing...

I had some trouble whittling it down, so there's a bunch of them!

The year started with a trip to Cuba in early January with a small group, where we found a creature I'd long wanted to see:

Cuban Ground Boa (Tropidophis melanurus) in Cuba

I barely managed to snag this shot of a Great Blue while speeding by in a boat, and it has become one of my favourites!

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) in Cuba

Not much photography done in the early spring, but late April and May found me birding Point Pelee on several occasions.  I did find some time to search for reptiles too.

Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus) at Point Pelee

Northern Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica) at Point Pelee

In the summer I spent a long weekend on Georgian Bay with a few excellent friends, and although the weather definitely didn't cooperate, we had a good weekend and found a few exciting critters.

Robber Fly (species unknown) on Georgian Bay

Grey Treefrog (Hyla versicolor) on Georgian Bay

Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) on Georgian Bay

In August I spent a lot of time chasing butterflies close to home.  I bought a new camera body, so this gave me a great opportunity to break it in on some of my favourite subjects.  I decided to try resisting my predilection for the extreme close-up, and took a step back for a different perspective on some of the photos.

Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis) in Guelph

There is something irresistible about a good close-up though...

Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) in Guelph

I spent some time with Hummingbird Moths this summer, as I find them a very challenging subject!

Hummingbird Clearwing (Hemaris thysbe) in Guelph

It was really a banner year for Giant Swallowtails, and they were showing up everywhere!

Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes) in Guelph

In the late summer I spent a day herping in Simcoe County with some friends, and one member of our group nearly stepped on a neonate rattlesnake - one of the most amazing wildlife sightings of my life!

Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus) in Simcoe County

On Thanksgiving weekend I took my annual pilgrimage to southern Illinois with some amazing people, and had a great weekend searching for some spectacular herps (thanks Steve!).

Western Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus) in southern Illinois

This tiny froglet will forever remain unidentified...

Cope's or Bird-voiced Treefrog (Hyla sp.) in southern Illinois

On my last herping excursion of the year I found no herps, but I did grab a quick shot of an American Copper, which has become a real favourite of mine.

American Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) at Long Point

And that brings us up to the present, and one of my favourite (and last) photos of the year:

Zebra Longwing (Heliconius charithonia) in the Dominican Republic

That's all for now!  I am looking forward to kicking off 2012 with a trip to Madagascar and South Africa, and hope to have plenty of exciting photos to post when I get back!

Kyle