12 de marzo de 2024

Favorite observations of 2023

I just noticed that last year I did a fun post of my favorite observations of 2022, but didn’t do anything similar at the end of 2023.

Let’s see… there’s the pareidolia lichen, of course. And my first encounter with Sphex ichneumoneus, a species I had previously admired but never before seen in person. There’s my first loon and my first river otter, and the wonderful brightly fluorescing mushrooms I found along the trail to Irely Lake. There’s the very probable bear that I caught on my trailcam in December (who hasn’t returned since) and the western meadowlarks who visited the wildlife refuge. There’s the Canada jay who perched in front of the trailcam for a while. There are countless wonderful springtails, of course, and a fascinating little myriapod. There’s my first harbor porpoise. There’s the tiny garter snake in my yard. There are some lovely organisms I met tidepooling.

I have a special place in my heart for the snipe I saw at the beaver pond by North Fork Campground, the absolutely silly looking creature. And for the sooty grouse whose deep courtship calls echoed mysteriously through the woods.

How can I forget the beautiful little spider I found on a wind-downed branch of bigleaf maple after a winter storm? Or the weird orange rockslater? Or my first pseudoscorpion?

That isn’t even counting the beavers I didn’t get pictures of, the various owls I heard, the one barred owl who decided to perch directly in front of my car, that I decided not to post to avoid promoting approaching wild owls much too closely.

And 2024 has already had some very exciting observations and sightings as well, and the year’s barely started!

Publicado el marzo 12, 2024 10:14 MAÑANA por wildnettle wildnettle | 21 observaciones | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

09 de marzo de 2024

Under observation of the most common organisms

Most likely, if you're reading this, you're aware that certain common organisms tend to be underobserved on iNaturalist - common garden weeds, for example.

In Grays Harbor County, where I'm doing a lot of my observing these days, this issue is exacerbated by the fact that a high % of the observations come from people visiting Olympic National Park or the beaches. In more densely populated areas, a lot of the observations of common organisms seem to come from people with low observation counts - possibly including students using iNaturalist as part of K12 science programs. But a high % of the 3130 users with fewer than 100 observations in Grays Harbor county are more prolific in other Washington counties. The result is that there are large areas - even areas that include state parks - where commonly seen organisms have 0-1 observations. Looking at the organism list for a park in Grays Harbor County gives you little idea what you'll see if you visit that park - and plant phenology data has too few data points to be useful.

Apis mellifera has five observations in the entire county - the same number as the American mink.

If you notice a lot of observations of very common species from me this spring, that's because my current project is going to parks in Grays Harbor County and observing the stuff I usually pass over because I know it has most likely been observed many times. That's not true here! I'm also trying to develop a better record of what's blooming at those locations as the spring progresses, and add plant phenology data to existing observations in the county.

(I'm also observing common species in some timberland I have access to that I've heard rumors is slated for logging this year, so that if it does get logged, I can observe the changes in the plant community over time and compare that to a pre-logging baseline)

This is an interesting project for me because I started using iNaturalist in Los Angeles County, which has a very high density of observers. The idea that my observations of common and easy-to-see organisms might significantly change the dataset is rather new to me.

Publicado el marzo 9, 2024 06:58 TARDE por wildnettle wildnettle | 11 observaciones | 3 comentarios | Deja un comentario

10 de diciembre de 2022

Favorite observations of 2022

Looking at my year in review and thinking about some of the cool organisms I got to observe in 2022 (so far - there's most of a month left!)

In the winter, I found an interesting organism (turned out to be a mold) growing on a mulberry leaf and was able to take a very high magnification focus stack. That was a really fun project. I also did a lot of extreme macro work in the moss in the yard (back in California), and was fortunate to be able to watch an ant find a fungus gnat that appeared to be just emerging. High drama at tiny scale!

While recording audio in the mountains, I came across an incredible event - some hoverflies had found a concrete drainage ditch and were congregating there, sitting on the concrete and vibrating their wings at a fixed rate! They also landed on flat rocks and did the same. I did not observe any of them performing this behavior on softer nearby surfaces such as leaves or dirt, although they did land on these surfaces. I was able to get some good recordings of the interesting tones that they produced. I believe that the sound must have been the point of this behavior, but I can only guess what purpose it may have served.

I got to see some wonderful organisms this summer in California - like the state was giving me a good send-off, I got to see that beautiful tiny threadsnake, TWO solifuges, two lovely ground mantises, my first male black widow, my first webspinner... I also came across a couple rarely recorded insects that I uploaded to bugguide - they weren't observations that I recognized as special at the time, but they got me to start posting images on bugguide, something I'd been too shy to do previously.

Finally, my first springtail portrait that I'm really pleased with from here in WA, a globular springtail commonly found in the Pacific Northwest and not (from what I have seen) found elsewhere. I'm looking forward to spending a lot more time with springtails!

What a wonderful year of observations. I can't wait to see what next year brings!

Publicado el diciembre 10, 2022 04:31 MAÑANA por wildnettle wildnettle | 13 observaciones | 3 comentarios | Deja un comentario

28 de noviembre de 2022

Single-shot imaging of living Collembola in the field with existing equipment

I've been trying to achieve acceptable detail on springtails at high magnification without spending $1000 on the lens that springtail photographers prefer (that I don't even have a camera body to match anyway). The goal is to be able to clearly and unambiguously distinguish morphological details such as individual ocelli and setae, even on specimens of 1mm or less, when they are in focus. Additionally, the depth of field must be sufficient to locate the springtail, focus the image, and get at least an entire eye (cluster of ocelli) in focus at once. Preferably, it should be possible to achieve reasonable focus on both the eye and front lateral plane in a side view, but that will depend on the size of the individual being photographed.

This won't permit identification of all spp or even all families, but it should at least permit identification of some of the more easily identifiable spp, genera, and families, and should be sufficient for me to start learning more about identifying living springtails in the field without a compound microscope.

I'm also enjoying photographing mites and other small critters, but the springtails are really the focus of this project.

The images associated with this post were taken at Point Defiance Park in the Rhododendron Garden. There were quite a lot of springtails about!

Specs:
The field of view is about 3.6 mm across, and the depth of field achieved is at least 100 microns. Features of 10 microns or perhaps smaller can be recognized if they're in focus.

Yes, I decided I should try to focus a 100 micron (1/10 mm) depth of field handheld. BECAUSE I'M LIKE THAT. I did it though! A lot of breath-holding was involved.

The "lens" is around 200mm long (but not very heavy) and it is not remotely water resistant. Using this in the field is... a life choice. That I made. For some reason.

Technical details:
I used a 4x infinity microscope objective mounted on a reversed Raynox DCR-150 tube lens, identical to what is often used for focus stacking at high magnification in the studio. However, in order to get some actual depth of field, I added an aperture disk in between the microscope objective and the lens. I spent $10 to buy a set of aperture disks intended for a Lensbaby Composer. This set doesn't have anything between f/5.6 and f/8, so I widened the holes in the f/16 and f/22 objectives to fill the gap. Then the disk is simply taped to the opposite side of the adapter that holds the microscope objective. Black gaffer's tape would be ideal but I just used electrical tape because that's what I have, and it's facing away from all the light sources anyway.

I'm astonished and thrilled that I was able to manage remotely acceptable results with this technique. Did I mention the lens typically used for this task costs $1000, which is $1000 more than I have available to spend on this project?

Publicado el noviembre 28, 2022 04:57 MAÑANA por wildnettle wildnettle | 5 observaciones | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

01 de noviembre de 2022

Exploring underfoot: Point Defiance Park, Fort Nisqually

On Sunday, I visited Point Defiance Park, which is densely forested and not managed for logging - quite a lot of snags and also many older trees. Good place to see pileated woodpeckers, but I was there to look down, not up.

I observed at several spots close together, and with the iffy GPS reception, I'm not sure there's much point trying to differentiate. If I wanted to be more methodical, I'd have to keep better records of what I observed where. I did notice that the beetle mites (which were very common) were mostly associated with locations containing decaying wood.

I observed mostly on and near the bluffs above the water, so these were fairly exposed locations. On another day I'll see what I can find near the center of the park.

I found different springtails here than I found at the other locations, and I was able to observe several different varieties. That was exciting! I also saw a couple interesting-looking snails and some very cool mites. My favorite observation of the day, however, was a little purple globular springtail - I suspect of a cosmopolitan species - who displayed very actively, seemingly in response to my camera. I have to admire the pluck. Imagine challenging the Death Star to a duel...

The springtail must have won, because my camera and I departed.

Publicado el noviembre 1, 2022 01:17 MAÑANA por wildnettle wildnettle | 20 observaciones | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

31 de octubre de 2022

Exploring underfoot - Capitol State Forest, second site

The second observation site I visited in Capitol State Forest was full of a large number of these big lumpy springtails - the very recognizable Poduromorpha. It was cool to see them there, because I didn't see any at the first site. (I identified these as Neanuridae, that being the name that came to mind for these lumpy friends, but I should probably go up to Poduromorpha, that being all I'm really sure about.)

I also saw a couple of these yellowish elongate springtails. They didn't look much like the ones I saw in the suburban yard, but were visually identical to the one I saw at the other site in Capitol State Forest.

I'm looking forward to further underfoot exploration... somewhere less shooty.

Publicado el octubre 31, 2022 07:25 MAÑANA por wildnettle wildnettle | 11 observaciones | 1 comentario | Deja un comentario

Exploring underfoot - Capitol State Forest, first site

I'm not sure I'll be going back to Capitol state forest. There was way too much target shooting to do basically anything else. I got driven away from my first observation site by someone who pulled up very close and started shooting. I went to a different site in an area with signs posted indicating no shooting, and had JUST gotten out of my car before someone pulled up and started shooting. I have decided I do not approve of this sport.

The first site was in a small patch of mature forest with very deep leaf litter. I took a look at a bit right by the turnout - a few feet from the car. The diversity and density of life in the few square inches I contemplated was so great that I almost don't regret the day -- almost.

My favorite sighting was a tiny spider eating a globular springtail. I was sad to see one of my favorite taxa having met its end, but I also find it strangely pleasing to see them... let's say "participating in the food web."

Publicado el octubre 31, 2022 07:06 MAÑANA por wildnettle wildnettle | 9 observaciones | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

Exploring underfoot - Suburban backyard, in the moss and leaf litter at the base of the maple tree

I get down on the lawn, zoom my camera in on a patch of moss or leaf litter, and gradually the world around me fades away as my consciousness shrinks down... and down... until the few square inches I'm focused on become a vast universe, and a tiny speck of movement is magnified into something legible -- a springtail crawling across a piece of decaying leaf.

The freeway is still audible, but I don't notice. I'm -- not elsewhere, but in another world. A world that's here, but usually unnoticed. I haven't gone anywhere, yet what I'm seeing is most likely unfamiliar to everyone who passes it.

Like any portal fantasy, stepping through the lens has a permanency. I'll leave this tiny patch of universe. It doesn't even take a step away - just sitting up takes it out of reach. But it won't leave me.

Springtails and moss are just some of the many things I was excited about in my move to Washington. In Los Angeles County, this world sleeps most of the year, except in a few irrigated spots under bushes.

I expect, without a great deal of certainty, that the suburban backyard will host a number of cosmopolitan species. I'm not able to identify springtails to the species level, but I enjoy seeing intricate color patterning on such tiny creatures. I love getting glimpses into their lives.

I did a bit of research in the heat of the Los Angeles summer, dreaming of mossy, springtail-laden forests, and discovered that the communities of springtails at different sites in a forest can be quite variable, both with the elevation and the variety of host plants present. I found a European study that also found that some species were exclusively arboreal. I wonder how much the species in this yard will vary over the course of the year, or from one section of the yard to another. I wonder if I'll find very different springtails in the Olympic rainforests. I wonder if springtails live high up in the moss-covered branches of bigleaf maples.

I love the little critters. They don't seem very popular compared to insects, but I think they're very interesting and ridiculously cute.

Publicado el octubre 31, 2022 06:36 MAÑANA por wildnettle wildnettle | 8 observaciones | 1 comentario | Deja un comentario

11 de septiembre de 2022

I live here now

At long last, the move to WA is complete (or. Well, at least, I am now actually located in the state. I’m sure I’ll be unpacking for weeks/months). I’m fond of this observation because it marks my first observation as a WA resident!

I have moved from CA to WA during a pretty large CA exodus but the move has been firmly in the works since 2019 and it has been my dream to move permanently to the Pacific Northwest since 2001, when I lived in OR for a year and a half. I’ve spent 20 years trying to return to the PNW.

So happy to be here at last. I tried to enjoy CA and live a life there rather than centering my life around wanting to be somewhere else, but… now I’m where I should be, and it’s so much better.

Publicado el septiembre 11, 2022 02:43 TARDE por wildnettle wildnettle | 1 observación | 3 comentarios | Deja un comentario

29 de junio de 2022

It's never the ants you're observing who sting you

It seems to be the time of year to be stung by ants. A lot of people I know have gotten stung this week. I got stung this morning while looking for bees, probably by one of the red harvesters that are ubiquitous where I live.

Meanwhile in the hills, I've noticed quite a variety of ants in the evenings. I've been trying to make a point of taking pictures of some of them, even though I'm not great at identifying ants. I've been out most weekday evenings the past couple weeks, saying goodbye to the land around here. If you asked me a few years ago whether I'd miss SoCal when I left, I'd have told you no, but I will. I'm going to miss scented nights under the Milky Way, shimmering with the chorus of so many different kinds of insects singing together. I'm going to miss the dizzying diversity of insects in the scrub, the way it seems like everywhere I look there's a different kind of ant. Huge red ants, little black ants, tiny yellow ants you can barely even see if you don't put your face right up into their trails. Ants with short legs and ants that seem to be all leg. Sugar ants keeping watch over clusters of aphids and scale insects, fire ants going to the carcass of some small mammal, harvester ants dragging seeds several times their own size. I'm told the forests up north don't have anything like such a diversity of ants. (I'm also told I can expect to get bitten by angry Pogonomyrmex a lot less, which I will probably appreciate.)

Publicado el junio 29, 2022 05:54 MAÑANA por wildnettle wildnettle | 8 observaciones | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario