Downy Woodpeckers (Dryobates Pubescens), Males, Taken January 10, 2025, In Georgia, US

Lesser Anglewings (Microcentrum retinerve), nymphs, taken May 2, 2025, in Georgia, US

Katydids in their awkward baby phase! Their legs are so spindly and long as young nymphs, kind of like a horse foal. Even though their limbs are a bit too long, they are still very nimble and navigate the tall grasses with ease. Alongside these guys, I'm also seeing lots of meadow katydid nymphs which will eventually become short-winged and handsome meadow katydids, though it's impossible to tell which at their current age!

Soldier Fly (Sargus fasciatus), female, taken May 31, 2024, in Georgia, US

A very beautiful green soldier fly! This is the first of only four soldier flies I've seen in the wild, the others being the more well-known Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) and two Compost Flies (Ptecticus trivittatus). There is no shortage of flies in my area, but majority of them are Nematocera! So it was a treat to see such a nice metallic green fly that wasn't a bottle fly!

Northern Mockingbirds (Mimus polyglottos), taken May 27, 2024, in Georgia, US

Just a mom and dad trying their best. The individual in the top right image, who I believe is mom, seems to have used some of her breast feathers for their nest. During breeding season, they're pretty territorial of the feeders, but not so much that nobody else can eat. In recent years, they've actually chilled out. The dad used to sit on the feeder for up to an hour chasing other birds off but never eating himself!

Probably already been added by someone but I'm making this addition for the pair in my backyard specifically.

Northern Mockingbird, 9/10

I have allowed 1 point for the times they are nice, but 90% of the time this mf spends the whole day bullying everyone else off the feeders and not eating anything himself. WHAT is the POINT if you don't EAT.

Rating the birds in my backyard by tendency toward violence

Northern Cardinal, 4/10

I'm sometimes worried the male is sexually harassing the female but I'm pretty sure they're just doing some elaborate public pickup roleplay. The rest of us didn't agree to participate in your kink, guys.

American Robin, 1/10

Literally just some dude hanging out. Never bothered anyone but worms. Big fan of the way you just stand there in the middle of the grass like you forgot what you were supposed to be doing.

House Sparrow, 10/10

You're a gang. You're participating in gang violence. There's ten billion of you living in a single wood pile and it's been civil war for three years now. When will the bloodshed end?

Tufted Titmouse, 1/10

A shy baby. A pretty little guy. I saw you on the neighbor's garage roof and time stopped. There were anime sparkles around you. Come back.

European Starling, 9/10

Why is it always you? Listen, I know, I KNOW the sparrows are the problem, and YET. When the fighting starts, it's always you in the middle of it, provoking them and then screaming like you're an innocent bystander defending yourself. I'm onto you.

Carolina Wren, 3/10

This rating is not for physical violence, which you don't engage in, but for your role as an incurable narc. A tattle tale. I know they're fighting again, okay? I see it. Our yard has been a warzone for years, you don't have to make a big announcement every time someone misbehaves.

Eastern Wood-Peewee, 0/10

If this were "birds who think they're better than everyone else," you'd get 10/10.

Red-bellied Woodpecker, 6/10

It's a utility pole. It's not a tree. You're surrounded by trees that are full of bugs. But there you are, on the utility pole. Committing vandalism.

American Crow, unrated

For who am I to cast judgment on the actions of La Famiglia? I assume you are doing what is best for the neighborhood. If I could, though, without criticism, make a single observation. That when large numbers of you gather in the ominous dead cottonwood - no? No, you're right. None of my business.

Great Crested Flycatcher, 5/10

Frankly, I think you could be doing more. I think your name implies a great potential. I think you should massacre the insects. I think your beak should drip with viscera.

Stay tuned for more criminal activity!

Smoky-winged Dancer (Argia fumipennis ssp. fumipennis), teneral female, taken May 6, 2025, in Georgia, US

Here I am again, filling my blog with damselflies... Update on these guys: the males are STILL brown. It's been 3 weeks!!! When will they turn purple?? They look nice brown as well, but they're not even the pretty brown they get when they're mature. When fully adult, females will become a nice golden brown and males become a vibrant violet, both having black patterning as well. It looks gorgeous, but right now all of them are this sad, pale brown. The day I see a purple male I am going to jump for joy and scare it away lol.

Stretch Spiders (Genus Tetragnatha), female (top) and male (bottom), taken July 7, 2024, in New Hampshire, US

This pair was set up under the awning of a dock lamp. It was an extremely effective setup, seeing as I had to hang out over the water on my stomach and put the life of my phone at risk to get pictures lol! In the top photo, there's a good view of the horrifically large fangs of this genus, while the male on the bottom is showing off his lovely gold coloration! He's a catch!

Chinese Mantis (Tenodera sinensis), taken October 23, 2024, in Georgia, US

October is getting to the end of mantis season! 2024 was the first time I was ever outside looking for it, and I got to see lots of fun mantises, including this one! He was the perfect model, even if he got a little freaked out at the end and put his legs out.

Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus), taken March 2, 2025, in Georgia, US

Super fucking shaky footage of one of the regular RS hawk ripping apart a squirrel nest after being chased there by another RS. So mad I had my camera on the wrong mode because this would have been such a nice video if not for the EARTHQUAKE.

At about 1:15 there's some action when the other hawk returns for another attack! They moved further up into the trees, falling through the branches before briefly scattering when a Red-tailed Hawk swooped in to break up the fight! They're probably fighting for a spot to nest this spring, but this area is already used by a pair of RT hawks, so I'm unsure how that's going to pan out. The RT's don't nest close to my house, but I do still see them soaring over and through the woods daily, so they'd definitely see a RS pair using their territory.

Previously there was a RS pair here, but they were forced to move locations when their nest tree was cut down (very salty at my neighbors for that one). Since then, the RT's have slowly been moving further and further into the area, though it's pretty wooded so it's not the best area for them and is legitimately defensible for a RS pair. I know there's been at least one juvenile RS overwintering here without trouble, possibly two seeing as they're now fighting, so we'll see how it pans out! Hopefully one of the two RS's will be successful!

Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus), male, taken April 27, 2024, in Georgia, US

I have one pair of red-bellieds that visit the feeders year-round, but the male is much bolder and always poses so well! He always makes such nice photographs, but I don't get him often because of how shy he and his mate are. These are some of the first pictures I got of him with my current camera!

Nomad Bees (Genus Nomada), taken April 12, 2025, in Georgia, US

Sleepy bees!! I found several nomad bees taking naps on the bare branches of some shrubs. None of them woke, even when I manhandled the branches for better pictures. I only see this species sleeping in this way, though I know other nomad bees do it. I assume other species use different objects to stay steady and that's why I haven't found them—it makes sense that larger bees would use larger anchors!