Happy Wednesday everyone! Today, I'd like to share a few photos taken over the last few days in meadows and wetlands found across western Michigan, USA. While I typically focus on fungi when walking through the woods, I also enjoy taking photos of any other wildlife I come across that I find interesting.
Over the past few days, I have directed my attention towards the plants and animals that inhabit the meadows and wetlands near my home. I was able to come across a beautiful variety of organisms ranging from the endangered Blanding's Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) and Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium) to the elegant and delicate Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus) and Spined Micrathena (Micrathena gracilis).
I feel so blessed to be able to live in an area of the world teeming with such beautiful and unique wildlife. It may not be a tropical rainforest, but the variety and complexity of life that resides in my region of the world is a gift that I take for granted far too often. Shifting my focus away from my typical subjects of the forest fungi to the plants and animals of the region offers me a chance to reset my wonder and remind myself to always be curious, always pay attention, and always appreciate the life that surrounds me here and now. I hope you all can find the time to do the same.
As always, feel free to offer your suggestions if you believe that I have misidentified any of the species shown below.
AMPHIBIANS & REPTILES
Blanding's Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) [ENDANGERED]:
American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus):
Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans):
BIRDS
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis):
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias):
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos):
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus):
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus):
INSECTS & ARACHNIDS
Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus):
Elm Spanworm Moth (Ennomos subsignaria):
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes):
Allegheny Mound Ant (Formica exsectoides):
Four-toothed Mason Wasp (Monobia quadridens):
Harvestmen (Subfamily Leiobuninae):
Grass-carrying Wasps (Genus Isodontia):
Genus Sphex:
Spined Micrathena (Micrathena gracilis):
Wolf Spiders (Family Lycosidae):
PLANTS
Ghost Pipe (Monotropa uniflora):
Pinesap (Monotropa hypopitys):
Black Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis):
Bittersweet Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara):
Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis):
White Meadowsweet (Spiraea alba):
Southern Arrowwood (Viburnum recognitum):
Common Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum):
Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium) [ENDANGERED]:
Chicory (Cichorium intybus):
Wood Nettle (Laportea canadensis):
Red Baneberry (Actaea rubra):
White Baneberry (Actaea pachypoda):
Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis):
Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis):
Wild Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum):
Common Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis):
Happy Wednesday to you all. Thank you for walking with me.
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Wow that was intense. So many great photos and such a variety of plants and animals and insects. I think the ghostpipes are my favorite. Such an unexpected color on the forest floor always a fun find. I love the call of the pileated woodpecker. Its been cool enough to sleep with the windows open lately and a pileated woodpecker has been my alarm clock lately lol 6am on the dot.
Ghost pipes are a really interesting plant. Both them and pinesap do not have any green coloration to them since they do not perform photosynthesis. They are parasites on the underground mycelium of mushroom species. They are fairly rare in some parts of the eastern United States, but thankfully they grow abundantly where I live. Fascinating plants!
such beautiful lush greens and so many critters and birds
Thanks for joining Wednesday Walk :), I truly enjoy exploring the world virtually each Wednesday seeing walks from all around the globe and feeling I am there and experiencing it all myself, such as I did in your post just now :)
Wow! These photos of your local wildlife are amazing! Thank you for sharing
You captured a nice crop of wildlife there !
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