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

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

Reptiles! (mostly)

Finally back to the blog!  Starting a new job and moving in to a new apartment have proven hectic, and I have been away from the editing table for some time.  Somehow the computer stuff always gets put off.  Adding to the delay, I have spent the last few weekends looking for reptiles and birds in some of my favourite parts of the province.  The results have been great!  Here are a few photos from these recent excursions...

Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) - southwestern Ontario

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) - southwestern Ontario

Eastern Fox Snake - (Pantherophis gloydi) - southwestern Ontario

Raccoon (Procyon lotor) - southwestern Ontario

Eastern Fox Snake (Pantherophis gloydi) - Georgian Bay area

Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) - Georgian Bay area

Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) - Georgian Bay area

More to come (hopefully)!
Kyle

Indri

When I was in Madagascar I was fortunate to have numerous experiences with the largest lemur in the world: the Indri (Indri indri).  At up to 80lbs they are a spectacular primate, but the coolest thing about them is their song!  I was able to record a troop singing near Andasibe National Park - the video (which doesn't actually contain any images of the lemurs) can be seen here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GeBn0WAr4k&feature=youtu.be

So you know what you're listening to, here's a picture:

Indri (Indri indri)

Cheers!
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

First South Africa Photos

Hello!

After a week in the Capetown area, I finally have some internet access and can get some photos up!  It has been an interesting and whirlwind journey around the area, and I've seen lots of amazing things!  I've just had time to get a few photos together, and they're all quick selections hastily edited, so be kind!

Some scenery typical of the Western Cape:

Cape Scenery

One of our first stops was Betty's Bay, the site of an African Penguin colony!

African or Jackass Penguin (Spheniscus demersus)

Upon arriving at Table Mountain National Park, we were treated to a troop of baboons ripping the mirror off a truck in the parking lot.  The occupant of the truck - sleeping at the time - was surprisingly unperturbed.  It was a work truck after all...

Chacma Baboon (Papio ursinus)

While on the mammal train, we picked up some zebras near the Cape of Good Hope.

Cape Mountain Zebra (Equus zebra zebra)

In West Coast National Park, Bryna spotted the snake of the trip!  Not an award-winning photo, but what an animal!

Cape Cobra (Naja nivea)

And finally a bird with fewer than 5000 individuals in the worldwide population!

African Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus moquini)

Headed out pelagic-birding tomorrow, then up to Kruger and the surrounding area for the next few weeks!  Will update when possible!

:)
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

Still Alive!

Hola!

I am still alive, having survived the journey into Corcovado and currently residing in Tortuguero Village.  I am on the move these days, and haven't taken much time to edit photos.  Here's one though, from near the Sirena Ranger Station in Corcovado National Park.

Squirrel Monkey

I am coming home on the 28th of March, and will hopefully be able to get down to editing and posting then.  Until then!

Kyle

Odds and Ends #2

Hola!

Another one of those odds-and-ends posts today, with more photos from the last month.  I have found my most desired photographic accessory here is an external flash - many a backlit or dimly-lit photo could be improved with a little light.  For example, these two:

Brown-crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus tyrranulus)

White-faced Capuchin (Cebus capucinus)

Next, continuing with my Distant-cropped-record-shots-of-cool-birds series:

White-fronted Parrot (Amazona albifrons)

One more shot from the Butterfly Gardens, this one of an Owl Butterfly caterpillar.

Owl Butterfly (Caligo sp.)

What would an odds-and-ends post be without some sort of tree photo?  Odd, that's what.

Kyle and Tree

That's all for now, I shall post again soon!

Kyle