@backyard_birding

See the latest bird photography and learn more about each species by following @backyard_birding_.

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) “Can I help you?” - this bird, probably. A common bird on the east coast, you’ll often seen male and female cardinals at feeders. Glowing red males generally outshine duller brown females.
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) Cormorants are surface diving birds you can often see flying over larger bodies of water, floating low on the water with their necks rising above the surface like periscopes, or drying on docks, rocks
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) You’ll often hear a Kingfisher’s rattling call before seeing it’s energetic flight along rivers, streams, and estuaries. It will hover to spot fish then dive, or dive directly from a perch. It&
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) A juvenile picks at the remains of a Gray Triggerfish (Balistes capriscus) at low tide. Gull species can be difficult to distinguish. Most undergo significant plumage variation throughout their lifecycle. This
Wood duck (Aix sponsa) These splendid ducks boast intricate plumage. Males have an iridescent green crested head, chestnut breast, red eyes, and other bold markings. Females are warm brown with a distinguishing white teardrop around the eye and edgi
Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter Cooperii) Sometimes it’s difficult to tell just what you’re looking at. I’m pretty confident that this is a Cooper’s Hawk. It was stalking small goldfinch and chickadees at the feeder, and gave
Piping plover (Charadrius melodus) Look closely! Dwarfed by this ring-billed gull, a small, plump piping plover surveys the tidal wrack for marine worms, mollusks, and other small marine creatures. These pale shorebirds are threatened federally and
Sanderlings (Calidris alba) I managed to catch a glimpse of this small Sanderling flock between foraging spots in the wake of hurricane Isaias. These plump sandpipers can be seen chasing receding waves in loose flocks, looking for tasty sand crabs a
 
 

@Backyard_botany

See the latest plant photography and learn more about each species by following @backyard_botany.

Russian Sage (Salvia Yangii) Blue violet flowers emerge in panicles during summer through October. They thrive in full sun and are a great addition to gardens as they attract pollinators and have ornamental value. Similar to most sages, they are fra
Common hibiscus (Hibiscus syriacus var.) Hibiscus is a genus in the mallow family that includes several hindered species, which can be found throughout the world in varied habitats. It’s flowers are large and conspicuous. There are many variet
King protea (Protea cynaroides) This showy, huge flower is the national flower of South Africa. It’s a huge dome shaped flower, ranging from 5-12 inches in diameter. The flower head, which is composed of many tepaled inner flowers, is surround
Shield Ferns (Dryopteris sp.) Ferns have an interesting reproductive process that, given palientological evidence, has not changed much over tens of millions of years - an example of evolutionary stasis. Ferns have two free-living generations. A spo
Lacecap Hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla normalis) This cultivar is the same species as the mophead hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) and both types require the same growing environment. They have small fertile flower buds in the center, with showy
Seep Monkeyflower (Erythranthe guttata) This yellow wildflower, also known as common yellow Monkeyflower, grows along seeps (small springs where water oozes to the surface forming a small pool) and streams, though it can tolerate a highly diverse se
Perez’s Sea Lavender (Limonium perezii) While native to the Canary Islands, this bright flower is often cultivated for gardens and is naturalized in California, generally south of Point Conception, where it can be abundant on coasts and roadsi
Leichtlin’s Mariposa Lily (Calochortus leichtlinii) Also called the Smokey Mariposa, this lily is native to the Sierras in California and western Nevada. It is common in open, gravelly places in chaparral or montane coniferous forest. The infl