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Rare insects in Western Maryland with Hans Holbrook. Last updated: 6/5/2011.
Above and below: Rusty Snaketails in Washington Co., Maryland (6/4/2011). One of our most attractive insects.
Below: First state record of Pygmy Snaketail for Maryland. An awesome spot and ID by Hans Holbrook! This species is globally rare and appears to be endangered throughout its range. The second photo, showing details of the thorax, courtesy of Hans Holbrook.
Below: Hans returned to the site on 6/6 and was able to get a few additional photos - courtesy of Hans Holbrook.
Below: Green-faced Clubtail in Washington Co., Maryland (6/4/2011).
Below: Spine-crowned Clubtails in Washington Co., Maryland (6/4/2011). Fourth photo is posed.
Below: A rare opportunity to study a perched Hummingbird Clearwing (moth) - Washington Co., Maryland (6/4/2011).
Below: A Wood Turtle in Allegany Co., Maryland (6/4/2011). Enjoying the sunny and mild afternoon on a lovely stream, a pair of Wood Turtles were temporarily on our 'heard-only' list. Hans soon solved the mystery of that sound like two stones being knocked together.
Below: A Cobra Clubtail in Washington Co., Maryland (6/4/2011, in situ).
Below: What a stunning damselfy - Appalachian Jewelwings in Washington and Allegany Co., Maryland (6/4/2011). Two new sites for a species that was just added to the state list in 2008 (Brighton, Collins, Holbrook).
Below: A somewhat worn Azure species in Washington Co., Maryland (6/4/2011).
Below: A Bronzed Tiger Beetle (Cicindela repanda) in Allegany Co., Maryland (6/4/2011). It was quite intent on capturing prey from within the crack in the sand.
Below: An Appalachian Tiger Beetle (Cicindela ancocisconensis) in Allegany Co., Maryland (6/4/2011). This rarer and more local species is identified by subtle differences in the markings on the elytra (back/wings).
Below: Kate's-Mountain Clover (Trifolium virginicum) in Allegany Co., Maryland (6/4/2011). Threatened species in Maryland.
Below: Far more rare in Maryland than in the West, this Poison Oak was a rare find that Hans pointed out in Allegany Co., Maryland (6/4/2011).
Below: An Eastern Box Turtle in Washington Co., Maryland (6/4/2011).
Below: A Hackberry Emperor in Allegany Co., Maryland (6/4/2011).
Below: A Lancet Clubtail in Allegany Co., Maryland (6/4/2011).
Below: A Delaware Skipper in Washington Co., Maryland (6/4/2011).
Below: A Common Raccoon track in a sandy bank in Washington Co., Maryland (6/4/2011)..
Below: A Springtime Darner in Allegany Co., Maryland (6/4/2011).
Below: Don't worry, I can't do a full set of updates without any birds - a Short-billed Dowitcher at Cape Pond, North Carolina (5/30/2011).
Below: A Pomarine Jaeger off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina (5/28/2011).
Below: A Fowler's Toad in Allegany Co., Maryland (6/4/2011). Closely tied to the coastal plain, this was my first definitive encounter with the species this far west in Maryland. It is known from areas near the Potomac River even in western Maryland.
Below: A freaky intergrade chickadee in western Washington Co., Maryland (6/4/2011). Note the messy bib, long tail, and white secondary edges that suggest Black-capped Chickadee, but the lack of white in the coverts and dirty white cheeks that are more supportive of Carolina. Its voice was intermediate in quality, tending more toward Black-capped.
Below: A Black Rat Snake in Washington Co., Maryland (6/4/2011).
