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Found this guy in the backyard on the retaining wall. This was the species I have been wanting to see unfortunate for this one it was dead but still the pattern is so cool. I have to say Cicadas are one of the coolest kinds of insects. So many patterns for each species. This one was not as large as some but still very cool. I have not decided which cicada is my favorite yet. I think it my be the Hieroglyphic Cicada but I kind of like this one too. There are so many. Every time I study a new field of insects I discover that there are tons more where that came from. There are dozens of species in everything we study in nature it is so mind boggling just how many species of things exist and the number of possible undiscovered species. This one was super cool. My cicada list has grown a little bit this summer. Still have to keep and eye out for more when out on my walks.

Male Pantala flavescens perched below female Dythemis velox

The Wandering Glider was hovering around scouting places to perch and finally settled on this spot below the setwing, giving a nice comparison of some behavioral traits.

The two dragonflies, both within the family Libellulidae, demonstrate their typical perched positions. The Wandering Glider perches obliquely at roughly a 45 degree angle. The setwing perches with its wings angled downward, the angle nearly reflecting the glider's abdominal angle.

[Worth noting that when not in direct sunlight/thermoregulating a setwing probably wouldn't perch with its abdomen at as steep of an angle (wings would still be same downward position relative to body).]

Day 3 of one of the greatest vacations ever! Full journal of nature adventures here: http://www.inaturalist.org/journal/sambiology/9891-vacation-in-california-news-flash-i-like-california

Using the great existing observations from the San Francisco Bay area and species guide to help with the ID's -- but please correct me if I've goofed. Almost ALL of these organisms were new for me!

Elizabeth and I went to the headquarters of iNat -- a pretty neat experience. Tony recorded a video of me as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW1VaJyyfCc&t

This species is very uncommon in spring locally, but this is a known location for the species in spring and fall. Some previous records at the same spot:
http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/4124732
http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/1393963
http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/1027854
http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/1461226
http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/1461205

Very dark conditions under heavy forest canopy. Image 1 natural light. Image 2 same insect with flash. Image 3 John and Kendra Abbott extracting DNA sample from this dragonfly as part of Dr. Abbott's ongoing research into this species which was only described new to science in 2011 by Abbott and Hibbitts.

Black-collared Hawk
Hato El Cedral, Venezuela
21 April 1992
This image scanned from 35mm slide

Location: Hato El Cedral, Venezuela (Google, OSM)
Places: Autonomo Munoz, Muñoz, Apure, VE, South America More...
Lat 7.4358, Lon -69.3249