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Found this lil one which I have never seen a color morph like this for a Mud snake. I determined it to be one based off the visual/physical features such as the “tail spine”, pattern, head/eye shape, as well as a divided anal plate.

My mirror failed to fully retract on one shot (I think), making a false "ground" right where it should be for a chaparral yucca. This (hespero)yucca also afforded me a glimpse of two yucca moths! Previously observed. Initial observation Follow-up observation showing habitat and height scale

After spending over a week canoeing and camping in Temagami, Ontario, on July 14, 2012 we arrived in Toronto at about 7:00 pm; as always, Catherine moved her van from her driveway as I was going to park there. As I was very slowly backing up into her driveway, I suddenly felt that one of my tires ran into something in the driveway and I was unable to continue. I got out of the car and saw a big, dead raccoon lying next to the rear car’s wheel. Initially, I thought that perhaps the raccoon was simply hiding under Catherine’s van, seeking shade, and as Catherine was moving the van, she inadvertently ran over it. But once we closely examined the hapless creature, we immediately discovered the cause of its untimely demise: apparently, it had found a big empty peanut butter jar, which had some traces of peanut butter inside, so the raccoon obviously attempted to get whatever was left inside the jar by inserting its mouth inside the jar, which got stuck… unable to remove it, the raccoon simply suffocated! Catherine’s father was not aware of this incident, but said that indeed, Gabby the dog was somehow attracted to something on the other side of the parked van! Catherine called the City of Toronto and the raccoon was removed overnight.

The second photograph is the same, but much bigger.

The banded one in the third photo PERCHED ON MY HEAD and stayed there for over a minute. I could hear its bands jingling in my ears. So astonishing, no presence of mind to take a selfie. Pretty sure someone must be feeding them... There were three family groups in the area, for a total of ten jays seen. Wow.

Given the possibility of some smoke in the air today, I went out really early this AM to #YoloBypass in the hopes of getting some pictures with a red sun. I got there before the gate was opened and then, when it was opened at 625 or so I headed in. I parked at this wildlife viewing area in the rice fields and started walking East looking at the red sun, hoping to see something fly in front of it. After a few near misses I saw an egret flying at just about the right height off in the distance. It was flying North to South and I took a bunch of pics as it flew and then BOOM it flew right in front of the sun.

Dia 82, un individuo.

Day 82, one individual.

Relacionado con // Related to:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/2667158
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/2667199
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/2667420