easily distracted by birds @flighty-flycatcher - Tumblr Blog

Overview

This is a blog dedicated to personal, research grade iNaturalist observations. It is intended as a personal record and general educational tool! To view my most recent observations, head to the full blog website on desktop and check out the sidebar widget.

iNaturalist is a citizen science platform and mobile app where people record and share observations of living things—plants, animals, fungi, and more—from around the world. If you are interested in learning more about what iNaturalist is, and how you can get involved in citizen science too, check out their website here.

To see more of my observations (those that need additional identification and others I have chosen not to highlight here), check out my profile.

And lastly, feel free to share any ideas you have to improve this blog! I'm open to new ideas and am happy to make adjustments in order to better serve a wider audience.

Guide to Observation Posts

📍 Location: location observed; city, state OR city, country

🗓 Date: date of observation; month day, year

🐾 Media: evidence of observation (image/audio/video)

🌿 Species: organism observed; common name (scientific name)

📝 Notes: general information about the organism appearance, behavior, distribution, and other characteristics

🔗 iNaturalist: link to observation source on iNaturalist

Tag System

Long term, I'm hoping to have a LOT of observations on this blog. As a result, I've got a system in place which will hopefully help in cataloging them. Every observation post will follow a similar tagging system:

Generic tags for broader Tumblr searches (i.e. nature, wildlife, etc.)

Location, generally state and country if US or just country (i.e. north carolina, usa)

Time, month and year (i.e. may, 2026)

Full taxonomic classification (i.e. animalia, chordata, vertebrata, aves,...)

Common name (i.e. bald eagle)

Generic observation tags (i.e. birds, insects)

In many cases, I would recommend using "tag match:tags" as a search operator (ex: may match:tags). This will ensure search results are dependent only on tags and not text (i.e. prevent posts with notes using the word "may" to appear in searches for observations tagged #may).

This should be enough information to allow for surface-level or in-depth searches of posts on this blog!

#inaturalist #wildlife #nature #naturalist

📍 Location: Kitty Hawk, North Carolina 🗓 Date: May 26, 2026 🐾 Media: Image 🌿 Species: Southern Leopard Frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus) 📝 Notes: Medium-sized native frog commonly found near ponds, marshes, swamps, ditches, floodplains, and vegetated shorelines across the southeastern United States. Recognized by its green or brown coloration with scattered dark rounded spots, pale underside, and distinct light dorsolateral folds running along the back.

Primarily active at night, this species feeds on insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates near shallow water and dense vegetation. When disturbed, individuals make quick powerful leaps into water or cover. Males produce a low chuckling or snore-like call during breeding periods in shallow ponds, wetlands, and temporary pools.

🔗 iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/365583198

📍 Location: Kitty Hawk, North Carolina 🗓 Date: May 26, 2026 🐾 Media: Image 🌿 Species: Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina ssp. carolina) 📝 Notes: Medium-sized terrestrial turtle commonly found in forests, floodplains, fields, wetlands, and suburban habitats across the eastern United States. Recognized by its high-domed shell with yellow or orange markings, sturdy limbs, and hinged plastron that allows the shell to close tightly for protection.

Primarily active during warm humid weather, this species feeds on insects, worms, mushrooms, berries, carrion, and other plant material while slowly foraging across forest floors and open ground. Individuals often shelter beneath leaf litter or logs during dry conditions and may remain inactive through colder winter months by burrowing into loose soil.

🔗 iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/365587694

📍 Location: Nags Head, North Carolina 🗓 Date: May 26, 2026 🐾 Media: Image 🌿 Species: Squirrel Tree Frog (Dryophytes squirellus) 📝 Notes: Small adaptable treefrog found in forests, wetlands, marshes, and suburban habitats across the southeastern United States. Coloration is highly variable, ranging from green and brown to gray or mottled patterns, with smooth skin and rounded toe pads adapted for climbing.

Primarily nocturnal, this species feeds on small insects and other invertebrates among vegetation and around lights or buildings. Males produce a raspy quacking or chattering call during breeding periods near ponds, ditches, and temporary pools after warm rains.

🔗 iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/365619570

📍 Location: Nags Head, North Carolina 🗓 Date: May 25, 2026 🐾 Media: Image 🌿 Species: Oak Toad (Anaxyrus quercicus) 📝 Notes: Small native toad commonly found in pine flatwoods, oak scrub, sandy hammocks, grasslands, and open coastal plain habitats of the southeastern United States. Recognized as the smallest true toad in North America, this species typically has gray, brown, or blackish coloration with scattered warts and a distinct pale stripe running down the center of the back.

Primarily active during warm humid weather, Oak Toads forage on small insects, ants, beetles, spiders, and other invertebrates along sandy soil and low vegetation. Breeding usually occurs after heavy rains in shallow temporary pools, roadside ditches, and flooded depressions where males produce a high-pitched peeping call often compared to the chirp of a young bird. Individuals frequently shelter beneath leaf litter, logs, and loose soil during dry conditions.

🔗 iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/365257456

📍 Location: Nags Head, North Carolina 🗓 Date: May 25, 2026 🐾 Media: Image 🌿 Species: Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) 📝 Notes: Medium-sized bird commonly found in cities, towns, farmland, parks, and coastal areas worldwide. Recognized by its stout body, small head, iridescent neck feathers, and highly variable gray, white, brown, or mottled plumage.

Primarily feeding on seeds, grains, and human food scraps, Rock Pigeons forage on the ground in flocks and readily adapt to urban environments. They commonly nest on buildings, bridges, cliffs, and other ledges that resemble their natural rocky habitats.

🔗 iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/367177635

📍 Location: Nags Head, North Carolina 🗓 Date: May 25, 2026 🐾 Media: Image 🌿 Species: Sanderling (Calidris alba) 📝 Notes: Small shorebird commonly found along sandy beaches, tidal flats, and coastal shorelines worldwide. Recognized by its pale gray and white winter plumage, black legs, and energetic behavior along the water's edge.

Primarily feeding on small crustaceans, insects, worms, and other invertebrates, Sanderlings forage by rapidly running along wet sand and probing for prey as waves recede. They are often seen in flocks during migration and winter, moving in synchronized groups along beaches and coastal habitats.

🔗 iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/367177633

📍 Location: Nags Head, North Carolina 🗓 Date: May 25, 2026 🐾 Media: Image 🌿 Species: Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad (Gastrophryne carolinensis) 📝 Notes: Small secretive frog commonly found in pine forests, coastal plains, wetlands, marsh edges, suburban gardens, and sandy habitats across the southeastern United States. Recognized by its rounded body, pointed narrow head, smooth gray or brown coloration, and distinct fold of skin across the back of the head. Unlike true toads, this species has relatively smooth skin and lacks large parotoid glands.

Primarily nocturnal, this species often remains hidden beneath logs, leaf litter, rocks, or loose soil during the day. It feeds heavily on ants, termites, and other small insects using a short sticky tongue. During warm rainy periods, males gather around shallow temporary pools and produce a nasal buzzing call resembling the sound of a sheep or insect-like hum. When threatened, individuals may inflate their bodies and secrete sticky skin compounds that can deter predators.

🔗 iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/365261987

📍 Location: Nags Head, North Carolina 🗓 Date: May 25, 2026 🐾 Media: Image 🌿 Species: Eastern Spadefoot (Scaphiopus holbrookii) 📝 Notes: Secretive burrowing amphibian native to sandy pine flatwoods, coastal plains, scrub habitats, floodplains, and open woodlands of the eastern United States. Recognized by its smooth gray, brown, or olive skin, scattered darker markings, vertical pupils, and distinctive hardened “spade” on each hind foot used for digging backward into loose soil.

Primarily nocturnal and rarely seen outside of rainy periods, this species spends much of its life underground to avoid heat and drought. After heavy rains, adults emerge to breed explosively in temporary ponds, roadside pools, and flooded depressions where tadpoles develop rapidly before the water dries. When disturbed, individuals may quickly burrow into sand or leaf litter using powerful hind legs.

🔗 iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/365265785

📍 Location: Wake Forest, North Carolina 🗓 Date: May 22, 2026 🐾 Media: Image 🌿 Species: Fowler's Toad (Anaxyrus fowleri) 📝 Notes: Medium-sized native toad commonly found in sandy woodlands, floodplains, grasslands, riverbanks, and suburban yards across eastern North America. Recognized by its gray, brown, or olive coloration, warty skin, pale underside, and dark blotches that often contain several small warts each.

Primarily nocturnal, this species feeds on insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates while foraging along open ground and moist habitats. Males produce a short nasal bleating call during the breeding season, and females lay long strings of eggs in shallow ponds, ditches, and slow-moving water.

🔗 iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/364127331

📍 Location: Wake Forest, North Carolina 🗓 Date: May 22, 2026 🐾 Media: Image 🌿 Species: Northern Cricket Frog (Acris crepitans) 📝 Notes: Small native frog commonly found near ponds, marshes, streams, and vegetated shorelines across eastern and central North America. Recognized by its rough-textured skin, pointed snout, and variable gray, brown, or olive coloration with dark leg bands and irregular markings along the back.

Known for its quick powerful jumps, this species often escapes predators by darting into shallow water or dense vegetation. Males produce a sharp cricket-like call during the breeding season, and the species feeds mainly on small insects and other invertebrates near the water’s edge.

🔗 iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/364127017

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📍 Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina 🗓 Date: May 13, 2026 🐾 Media: Audio 🌿 Species: Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 📝 Notes: Small active songbird commonly found in deciduous forests, woodland edges, parks, and suburban backyards across eastern North America. Recognized by its soft gray plumage, pale underside, prominent pointed crest, and large dark eyes, with subtle rusty coloration often visible along the flanks.

Frequently observed moving through branches in pairs or mixed feeding flocks while giving clear whistled calls and rapid contact notes. Feeds on seeds, nuts, berries, and insects, often caching food in bark crevices or leaf litter for later use. Readily visits bird feeders and nests in natural tree cavities or abandoned woodpecker holes.

🔗 iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/361201294

Photo is property of Stephen Taylor.

📍 Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina 🗓 Date: May 13, 2026 🐾 Media: Image 🌿 Species: Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) 📝 Notes: Medium-sized brush-footed butterfly commonly found in gardens, woodland edges, parks, trails, and disturbed habitats. Wings are dark brown to black with bold orange-red bands and scattered white spots near the tips of the forewings.

Often observed basking with wings open on paths, tree trunks, or sunlit ground, then flying rapidly and erratically when disturbed. Adults feed on flower nectar, tree sap, and fermenting fruit, while larvae develop primarily on nettles and related plants.

Known for territorial behavior, with individuals frequently returning to the same perch to chase away other insects. Migratory in many regions and commonly encountered during warmer months.

🔗 iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/361195832

📍 Location: Durham, North Carolina 🗓 Date: May 8, 2026 🐾 Media: Image 🌿 Species: Spiny Rose Gall Wasp (Diplolepis bicolor) 📝 Notes: Small cynipid wasp associated with wild roses, best known for inducing distinctive spherical galls covered in pointed spines on stems or leaves. The visible gall is plant tissue growth triggered by the developing larva inside.

Adults are tiny and rarely noticed; the gall itself is usually the most recognizable sign of the species. Galls may shift in color from green to red or brown as they mature.

🔗 iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/359560521

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📍 Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina 🗓 Date: May 5, 2026 🐾 Media: Audio 🌿 Species: Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus) 📝 Notes: Medium-sized warbler strongly associated with pine forests and mixed woodlands across eastern North America. Often observed high in the canopy moving deliberately among pine needles and branches while foraging for insects, spiders, and seeds.

Males are typically olive-yellow with brighter yellow throats and breasts, while females and juveniles appear duller gray-olive with more subdued markings. Unlike many warblers, this species regularly eats seeds and may visit feeders for suet or cracked sunflower during winter.

Song is a clear, musical trill that blends easily into the background sounds of pine forests. One of the earlier warblers to begin singing in spring. Frequently remains in the southeastern United States year-round.

🔗 iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/358727485

Photo is property of Greg Lasley.

📍 Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina 🗓 Date: May 5, 2026 🐾 Media: Image 🌿 Species: Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus) 📝 Notes: Robust perennial wetland plant commonly found along pond margins, marshes, ditches, streambanks, and other shallow freshwater habitats across Europe and widely introduced in North America. Recognized by its tall sword-like green leaves and large bright yellow flowers marked with brown or purple veining on the lower petals.

Spreads aggressively through thick rhizomes and dense seed production, often forming extensive colonies in wetlands and outcompeting native vegetation. Blooms primarily in late spring to early summer, with flowers attracting various pollinating insects.

Sap and plant tissues may cause skin irritation if handled extensively, and all parts are considered toxic if ingested in large quantities by humans or animals.

🔗 iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/358701705

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📍 Location: Chapel Hill, North Crolina 🗓 Date: May 5, 2026 🐾 Media: Audio 🌿 Species: Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) 📝 Notes: Small ground-dwelling wood warbler commonly found in deciduous and mixed forests across eastern North America. Olive-brown above with a white underside heavily streaked with dark markings, and a distinctive orange crown patch bordered by black stripes (often hidden unless agitated or displaying).

Usually detected by its loud, repeated “teacher-teacher-teacher” song rather than sight, as it moves through leaf litter on the forest floor.

🔗 iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/358729400

Photo is property of J.D. Willson.

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