VisitingNature Website Updates

6-15-14 Updates for 2014 and all dates forward. Observations from Virginia, North Carolina, Arizona and other locales. Observations include birds, odonates, mammals, butterlies, scenery and reptiles. I am working on updating my website and this is a new link. Look for updates under the Outings category.

10-12-13 Update Clay-colored Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Wilson's Warbler from either Highland or Charles City County, Virginia in September or October 2013.

March/April 2013 update includes Ophiogomphus near susbehcha, Gomphus viridifrons or Green-faced Clubtail, Gomphus abbreviatus or Spine-crowned Clubtail, Eight-spotted Forester, Common Raven, Black Rat Snake, young Great Horned Owl and others.  It also contains poor video of Virginia Rail and Sora from Goochland County, Virginia.  (Black Rail tape was being played by me and these two species responded.)

February 2013 Update includes Brown Pelican from Prince George County, Virginia.  The weekend of the 9th includes Ross's Goose, Cackling Goose and possible Ross's X Snow Goose hybrid.  The weekend of the 16th included Greater White-fronted Goose.

1-6-13 Update includes Brown Pelican from Chesterfield, Prince George and Charles City Counties due to it being present on the James and Appomatox River convergence.  Also included are Ruffed Grouse, male displaying in Augusta County, female Ruffed Grouse in Rockingham County and Merlin in Rockingham County.

12-15-12 Update includes Western Grebe and a leucistic Red-tailed Hawk.

12-8-12 Update includes Ash-throated Flycatcher and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher from the City of Hopewell on December 8, 2012.

12-2-12 Update includes Subgenital Plates of Clubtails and Subgenital Plates of Snaketails

11-24-12 Update includes link to VisitingNature Outing- November 24-25, 2012 which includes Greater White-fronted Goose and Orange-crowned Warbler from Charles City County.

11-18-12 Update includes link to VisitingNature Outing- November 17-18, 2012 which includes Richardson's Goose and Red-tailed Hawk (Canadian race).

11-12-12 Update includes link to MacGillivray's Warbler an apparent 2nd Virginia record for the species.  Photographs are from 2011.

11-11-12  Update includes VisitingNature Outing - November 10-11, 2012,  Ashy Clubtail (Gomphus lividus) and Cinnamon Shadowdragon (Neurocordulia virginiensis).

11-4-12 Updates to Lancet Clubtail (Gomphus exilis), Cinnamon Shadowdragon (Neurocordulia virginiensis), Sparkling Jewelwing (Calopteryx dimidiata) and the addition of VisitingNature Outing of May 20, 2012 (Gomphus dilatatus and Gomphus vastas).

12-18-11 Update includes Le Conte's Sparrow and Lincoln Sparrow from Charles City County, Virginia on the Hopewell CBC.

10-9-11 Update includes Rusty Blackbird, Blue-faced Meadowhawk and Tree Swallows.

8-20-11 Update includes Swallowtail Kite and Mississippi Kite from Campbell County, Virginia.

6-25-11 Update includes Eastern Ringtail (Erpetogomphus designatus) in wheel with close-ups.

6-18-11 Update includes Gomphus dilatatus (Blackwater Clubtail) and Pale Bluet (Enallagma pallidum) from Sussex County and Isle of Wight, Virginia respectively.

6-12-11 Update includes Ceraturgus mitchelli a Robber Fly found in Fluvanna County, Virginia.

6-5-11 Update includes Gomphus dilatatus (Blackwater Clubtail) for Virginia, an apparent new species for the State.

6-2-11 Update includes Gomphus parvidens (Piedmont Clubtail), Ophiogomphus rupinsulensis (Rusty Snaketail) and Lanthus vernalis (Southern Pygmy Clubtail).

5-8-11 Update includes outings from April 23, 2011 in which Ophiogomphus near susbecha and Spine-crowned Clubtail (Gomphus abbreviatus) observed, April 29, 2011 which included Green-faced Clubtail (Gomphus viridifrons), Spine-crowned Clubtail, Laphria affrana and Red Fox and May 7, 2011 which included Rapids Clubtail (Gomphus quadricolor) and Black-billed Cuckoo.

2-13-11 Update includes Pacific Loon and Red-necked Grebe from Kerr Lake and Lake Ana, Virginia respectively.

2-6-11 Update includes White-fronted Goose and Ross's Goose from Henrico and Charles City Counties, Virginia.

1-30-11 Update is of a White-winged Crossbill observed in Henrico County, Virginia.

1-29-11 Update includes Least Bitterns observed at McKay Island National Wildlife Refuge, North Carolina on January 29, 2011.

1-15-11 Update to include visit to McKay Island National Wildlife Refuge with observations of King Rail, Virginia Rail and American Bittern.

1-9-11 Update to include visit to Highland County, Virginia with observations of Rough-legged Hawk and Golden Eagle.

1-1-11 Update to Eastern Shore of Virginia to include Mountain Bluebird and Cackling Geese.

12-31-10 Update includes Cattle Egret, Painted Bunting, Northern Waterthrush, Clay-colored Sparrows and Lincoln's Sparrows from Bodie-Pea Island CBC and Mattamuskeet NWR CBC.

12-19-10 Update includes Lapland Longspur from Henrico County, Virginia photographed during Hopewell CBC.

12-5-10 Update includes visit to Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge on December 3, 2010 with the following interesting warblers observed: Yellow-breasted Chat, Yellow-throated Warbler and Prairie Warbler.

8-14-10 Update includes Treetop Emerald (Somatochlora provocans) and Arrow Clubtail (Stylurus spiniceps) from Sussex and Powhatan Counties, Virginia respectively.

7-26-10 Update includes Alleghany River Cruiser (Macromia alleghaniensis) from Fluvanna County, Virginia.

7-25-10 Update includes Great Purple Hairstreak from Sussex/Prince George County line, Little Yellow from Fluvanna County and Northern Metalmark from Augusta County, Virginia.

7-17-10 Update includes Robber Flies Ceraturgus fasciatus, Machimus erythrocnemius, Machimus virginicus and Laphria posticata from Augusta County, Virginia.

6-12-10 Update to include Dot-tailed Whiteface, Chalk-fronted Corporal, Amber-winged Spreadwing, Hagen's Bluet, Gray Petaltail from Augusta County, Virginia.

6-5-10 Update includes Riffle Snaketail, Baltimore Checkerspot, American Copper and female Long Dash from Highland County, Virginia.

6-4-10 Update includes Harpoon Clubtail (male & female), Northern Pygmy Clubtail, Superb Jewelwing, Long Dash, Silver-bordered Fritillary, Harris' Checkerspot and Common Ringlet from Highland County, Virginia.

5-22-10 Update to include male Ophiogomphus near susbehcha(?), Appalachian Jewelwing, Dragonhunter and Cinnamon Shadowdragon.

5-8-10 Update to include female Ophiogomphus susbehcha(?)- Wisconsin Snaketail, Illinois River Cruiser, Polyphemus Moth, Laphria index a Robber Fly and Northern Waterthrush from Goochland County, Virginia.

5-1-10 Update to include female Splendid Clubtail (Gomphus lineatifrons), Eastern Pine Elfin and Timber Rattlesnake from Fluvanna and Buckingham Counties, Virginia.

4-16-10 Update includes Spine-crowned Clubtails, Sely's Sundragon, Common Roadside Skipper and Eastern Tailed-Blues from Buckingham and/or Fluvanna Counties, Virginia.

4-11-10 Update to include Spine-crowned Clubtail, Twin-spotted Spiketail and Brown Spiketail.

4-10-10 Updated website to include new photographs of Ophiogomphus (near susbehcha)? from Cumberland County, Virginia.

4-5-10 Website update to include Robust Basskettail, Brown Elfin and Henry's Elfin from King William County, Virginia.

4-3-10- Website update to include Robust Baskettail, Harlequin Darner, Falcate Orangetip and Mourning Cloak from Sussex County, Virginia.

3-6-10 Website update to include Black-headed Gull, Common Eider and Harlequin Duck from Little Creek Inlet and the CBBT, Virginia.

1-24-10 Website update to include Ross's Goose & Common Merganser from Henrico County, Virginia.

1-23-10 Website update to include American Tree Sparrow, Red Crossbill, Rough-legged Hawk and others from Highland County, Virginia.

12-30-09 Website update includes Bell's Vireo, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Painted Bunting, Summer Tanager, Common Eider and Harlequin Duck from the 2009 CBC counts or count period in North Carolina. The Bell's Vireo is the 4th record for North Carolina and the 1st winter record.

12-20-09 Update includes Cackling Goose, Vesper Sparrow and American Pipits from Charles City County, Virginia.

12-12-09 Update includes Parula and Orange-crowned Warblers, Baltimore Oriole and adult Bald Eagle.

12-6-09 Update to include Glaucous Gull and Parula Warbler from the City of Hopewell, Virginia.

11-29-09 Update to include partially leucistic Canada Goose from Charles City County, Virginia.

11-28-09 Update includes Golden Eagle and Rough-legged Hawk from Highland County, Virginia.

11-22-09 Update includes Parula Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher from the City of Hopewell and American Pipit and Clouded Skipper from Charles City County on November 21st and/or 22nd, 2009.

11-15-09 Update to include continuing Western Tanager, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and eastern Canada Red-tailed Hawk from Charles City County and City of Hopewell, Virginia.

11-8-09 Update to include Western Tanager, Baltimore Oriole, Blackpoll Warber, Blue-headed Vireo and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher from the City of Hopewell or Charles City County, Virginia.

10-29-09 Update to include Great Black-backed Gull predation on American Coot at Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge.

10-18-09 Update to include Hudsonian Godwits and Stilt Sandpiper, VisitingNature Outing- October 18, 2009, from Charles City County, Virginia

9-13-09 Update to include photographs of Warbling Vireo, Wilson's Phalarope & Snowy Egrets from Charles City County and Henrico County, Virginia. A Sand-Plover compilation of images can be found here.

9-12-09 Update with Buff-breasted Sandpipers from Washington County, North Carolina

9-7-09 Update to include Lesser Sand-Plover  and Lesser Sand-Plover compilation (Mongolian) from Augusta County, Virginia

9-6-09 Update includes photographs of Olive-sided Flycatcher from Goochland County, Virginia and Clay-colored Sparrow from Highland County, Virginia.

8-16-09 Updates include female American Emerald (Cordulia shurtleffii), female Clamp-tipped Emerald (Somatochlora tenebrosa), Red Crossbill, two Robber Flies (Megaphorus laphroides and Megaphorus minutus) and a spider, Castianera amoena.

7-18-09 Highland County Virginia Outing that includes Virginia Ctenucha Moth (Ctenucha virginica), Gold-stripe Grass-veneer Moth (Microcrambus biguttellus) and Sedge Sprite (Nehalennia irene).

7-11-09 Added female Great Spangled Fritillary from Augusta County, Virginia.

7-8-09 Update to butterfly, Sleepy Orange and two new Robber Flies, Asilidae, added: Efferia aestuans and Eudioctria species from Virginia.

6-28-09 Update to include photographs from Highland County, Virginia Outing of Riffle Snaketail (Ophiogomphus carolus), Superb Jewelwing (Calopteryx amata), Harpoon Clubtail (Gomphus descriptus), Beaverpond Baskettail (Epitheca canis), Hudsonian Whiteface (Leucorrhinia hudsonica), Dot-tailed Whiteface (Leucorrhinia intacta) and Chalk-fronted Corporal (Libellula julia). Also included are some Highland County butterflies from the same trip; Long Dash, Pink-edged Sulphur, Harris' Checkerspot, Peck's Skipper.

6-26-09 Update to include additional photographs of both Pale Bluet (Enallagma pallidum) and a Robber Fly, Ommatius wilcoxi from Sussex County, Virginia.

6-22-09 Updated website to include new Robber Fly, Philonicus fuscatus, a member of the Asilinae from Southampton County, Virginia.

6-20-09 Photographs from Southampton County, Virginia including Pale Bluet (Enallagma pallidum), Blackwater Bluet (Enallagma weewa) and Atlantic Bluet (Enallagma doubledayi).

6-15-09 Update to include Spotted Turtle, uncommon, from Caroline County, Virginia

6-14-09 Trip photographs from Highland County, Virginia. Butterflies include Harris' Checkerspot, Atlantis Fritillary, Silver-bordered Fritillary, Peck's Skipper and the Appalachian Tiger Beetle.

5-22-09 Update of male Burgundy Bluet (Enallagma dubium) from Caroline County, Virginia

5-12-09 Update to include recent observations of Appalachian Jewelwing and Cinnamon Shadowdragon from Fluvanna County, Virginia- May Outings

4-25-09 Update to include Ophiogomphus species (possibly susbehcha?), Gomphus abbreviatus (Spine-crowned Clubtail) and Helocordulia selysii (Selys' Sundragon from Fluvanna County, Virginia- Outing 4-25-09

4-11-09 Update to include Mocha Emerald (Somatochlora linearis) from Highland County, Virginia.

4-10-09 Updated Robust Baskettail (Epitheca spinosa) and added a new butterfly- White M Hairstreak both from Sussex County, Virginia

12-7-08 Updated with observations from December 7, 2008 in Hopewell, Virginia; Wilson's Warbler, Black & White Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler

11-29-08 Updated with photographic observations from November 29, 2008; Wilson's Warbler, Black & White Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Palm Warbler, Common Yellowthroat in Hopewell, Virginia area

11-27-08 Updated with observations from November 27, 2008; Black & White Warbler, Kumlien's Gull, Orange-crowned Warbler

11-23-08 Updated with observations for weekend of November 22 & 23, 2008

11-15-08 Added 1st winter Iceland Gull and a Barred Owl

11-9-08 Updated with observations for November 9, 2008 Outing- Grasshopper Sparrow, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Vesper Sparrow

9-14-08 Updated Smoky Rubyspot (female) and Gemmed Satyr.

9-7-08 Added Upland Sandpiper, Common Tern, Black Tern and updated Yellow-crowned Night-Heron.

9-1-08 Added Band-winged Meadowhawk (male, pair in tandem), Canada Warbler and updated Argiope aurantia (female, male).

8-30-08 Added immature Eastern Kingbird from Charles City County, Virginia.

8-24-08 Added Efferia pogonias (Robber Fly) and updated Slender Spreadwing, Swamp Spreadwing, Autumn Meadowhawk, Ruby Meadowhawk, Common Sootywing and Zabulon Skipper.

8-20-08 Added Ocellated Darner (Boyeria grafiana) and Common Spreadwing (Lestes disjunctus) from Highland County, Virginia.

8-19-08 Added Zebra Heliconian and Golden Silk Spider (Nephila clavipes) from Fort Macon State Park, Carteret County, North Carolina.

8-15-08 Added female Clamp-tipped Emerald (Somatochlora tenebrosa) from Stafford County, Virginia.

8-10-08 Added Yellow-throated Vireo from Charles City County, Virginia and added a leucistic Horned Lark from Charles City County.

8-9-08 Added female Fawn Darner (Boyeria vinosa) ovipositing in Hardware River, Fluvanna County, Virginia.

8-3-08 Updated the following sites: Smoky Rubyspot (Hetaerina titia), Dusky Dancer (Argia translata) and Promachus rufipes (Robber Fly).

8-2-08 Updated Clamp-tipped Emerald (Somatochlora tenebrosa) with new photographs and information.

7-26-08 Added web page for Georgia River Cruiser (Macromia illinoiensis georgina). Updated Golden-winged Skimmer (Libellula auripennis).

7-23-08 Added web pages for the following species: Robber Flies- Tipulogaster glabrata, Albibarbefferia albibarbis, Nerax femoratus; Odonates- Gray Petaltail, Amber-winged Spreadwing.

6-10-08 Added web pages and/or photographs for Birds: Alder Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, male Red-winged Blackbird, Grasshopper Sparrow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow; Butterflies: Common Ringlet, Harris' Checkerspot, Odonates: Uhler's Sundragon, Prince Baskettail, Clamp-tipped Emerald and male Slender Bluet.

5-27-08 Update includes Septima's Clubtail (Gomphus septima) from Virginia an apparent first documented State record.

5-18-08 Added web pages and/or photographs for Illinois River Cruiser, Appalachian Jewelwing, Cinnamon Shadowdragon, Northern Cloudywing from Fluvanna County, Virginia.

4-19-08 Added photographs of cerci & epiprocts of yet to be named Ophiogomphus near susbehcha species found along the James River in Fluvanna County, Virginia. Also added photographs of male and female Spine-crowned Clubtail from Fluvanna County, Virginia.

4-12-08 Added photographs of emerging Ophiogomphus near susbehcha species found along the James River in Richmond, Virginia.

4-6-08 Updated both Cobra Clubtail (Gomphus vastus) and Splendid Clubtail (Gomphus lineatifrons).

4-1-08 Added Edward's Hairstreak and Redbelly Water Snake

3-30-08 Various photographs added: Birds- Palm Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, American Pipit, Red-winged Blackbird; Odonates- Orange Bluet (immature male), Banded Pennant (female); Mammals- Muskrat; Reptiles/Amphibians- Redbelly Turtle, Bullfrog ; Robberflies- Laphria thoracica, Eudioctria species

3-23-08 Added photographs of adult White-faced Meadowhawk from Highland County, Virginia. Also added was Eastern Box Turtle from Charles City County, Virginia. Lastly, added Common Nighthawk from an early Florida trip.

3-22-08 Added photograph of American Snout from Sussex County, Virginia.

3-17-08 Added photograph of Intermediate Western Red-tailed Hawk (adult bird) and added Trumpeter Swan. Both birds were photographed in Glacier National Park, Montana.

3-15-08 Added photograph of Cicindela splendida (Splendid Tiger Beetle) from Goochland County, Virginia and added new web page for Cuerna costalis (Southeastern Grass Leafhopper).

3-9-08 Added two photographs of American Woodcock from Sussex County, Virginia. While normally secretive this individual bird walked across a gravel road early in the morning.

3-8-08 Added two additional photographs of Mangrove Cuckoo for identification purposes. Also provided update on unidentified Ophiogomphus species here in Virginia along the James River. It appears similar to Ophiogomphus susbehcha.

2-24-08 Photographs of Pacific Loon at Kerr Lake Reservoir, Virginia added.

2-17-08 Photographs of Red Wolf (Canis rufus), Northern Bobwhite, American Kestrel, Anhinga, Greater Scaup added from Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge or eastern North Carolina.

12-26-07 Photographs of Bachman's Sparrow and a Robberfly genus, Megaphorus added from Carteret County, North Carolina.

12-1-07 Photographs added from Back Bay N.W.R. and Sandbridge, Virginia. Species included Great Black-backed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Eurasian Collared-Dove, American Coot and Willet.

11-25-07 Added photographs from trip to Glacier National Park, Montana taken in late August and early September, 2007.

11-24-07 Added photographs of Rough-legged Hawk and Tree Sparrow from Highland County, Virginia. Also added photographs from the Highlands Nature Sanctuary near Hillsboro, Ohio.

11-10-07 Added photograph, taken as of this date, of Clay-colored Sparrow from eastern Henrico County, Virginia.

11-6-07 Added photographs of Least Chipmunk, Hoary Marmot, Columbian Ground Squirrel, Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel, Grizzly Bear, Mountain Goat, Bighorn Sheep, American Elk, Mule Deer, Moose and Pika from Glacier National Park, Montana.

10-21-07 Added photographs of Black Meadowhawk (Sympetrum danae), Striped Meadowhawk (Sympetrum pallipes), Pale Snaketail (Ophiogromphus severus) and Spotted Spreadwing (Lestes congener)from Glacier National Park, Montana.

10-7-07 Added photographs of Peregrine Falcon and Indigo Bunting and updated Blackpoll Warbler, Northern Parula, American Golden Plover and American Avocet.

10-5-07 Added photographs from Glacier National Park, Montana trip. Species include: Sharp-shinned Hawk, Prairie Falcon, Spruce Grouse, Blue Grouse, California Gull, Three-toed Woodpecker, Varied Thrush, Northern Flicker (Red-shafted), Gray Jay, Mountain Chickadee, Red-naped Sapsucker, Mountain Bluebird, Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon), Pine Grosbeak, Cassin's Finch and Yellow-rumped (Audubon's) Warbler. Other species added were: American Avocet, Lesser Yellowlegs, Pectoral Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, Scarlet Tanager, Northern Parula, Least Sandpiper, Philadelphia Vireo, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Blackpoll Warbler and Greater Yellowlegs.

8-26-07 Added photograph of Wilson's Phalarope from Charles City County, Virginia. Added photograph of moulting juvenile male Brown-headed Cowbird from Henrico County, Virginia. Added male Summer Tanager photographed in Henrico County, Virginia.

8-25-07 Added photograph of a male Black Horse Fly (Tabanus atratus) from Sussex County, Virginia. Added photograph of Southern Pearly-eye (Enodia portlandia) from Sussex County, Virginia.

8-19-07 Added three photographs of Northern River Otter (Lontra canadensis) taken in Sussex County, Virginia. Also added three photographs of Swamp Spreadwing (Lestes vigilax) from Sussex County, Virginia.

8-18-07 Added a photograph of a male like female Eastern Forktail (Ischnura verticalis) with a greenish thorax from King William County, Virginia. Also added a mated pair and a dark thoraxed Big Bluet (Enallagma durum) from King William County, Virginia. Lastly added, Dasymutilla occidentalis (Cow Killer Ant) from King William County, Virginia.

8-16-07 Added a photograph of Ommatius wilcoxi, a Robber Fly, from Sussex County, Virginia.

8-12-07 Added a photograph of Black-throated Blue Warbler and Eastern Chipmunk from Highland County, Virginia.

8-11-07 Added two photographs of Marsh Bluet (Enallagma ebrien) from Highland County, Virginia. The first apparent record in 30 years for Virginia.

8-4-07 Added three photographs of Russet-Tipped Clubtail (Stylurus plagiatus) and one photograph of Hoary Edge (Achalarus lyciades) from King William County, Virginia and one photograph of Swift Setwing (Dythemis velox) from Goochland County, Virginia.

7-29-07 Added three photographs of Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) and one photograph of Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus).  Added Harris' Checkerspot.  First state record for Virginia.

7-28-07 Added two photographs of Golden-winged Skimmer (Libellula auripennis), male, taken in Sussex County, Virginia. Also added two photographs of Lace-winged Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes aesculapisu) also taken in Sussex County, Virginia. A robberfly, Diogmites crudelis was added also photographed in Sussex County and finally a Dion Skipper (Euphyes dion).

7-21-07 Added two photographs of Dragonhunter (Hagenius brevistylus). Photographs were taken along the Hardware River in Fluvanna County, Virginia.

12-1-05 Added Roseate Skimmer.  It is the first documented record for Virginia.