Shiny Gremlin

She/They 21 Capricorn Amateur Conservationist and Photographer I’m especially fond of butterflies of the northern United States🦋

[lifeinterconnected]

(8-22-24)

[michaelnordeman]

Eurasian Red Squirrel/ekorre. Värmland, Sweden (November 22, 2020).

[shinygremlin]

Switzy (2010-2023)

Last Friday I had to say goodbye to my best friend of 7 years as her quality of life was not good due to cancer.

We adopted Switzy in 2016. she had been rescued from a hoarding situation, according to the shelter she had been living in a small trailer with 11 dogs and 10 other cats, when we got her into the vet soon after it turned out she needed to have almost all her teeth pulled as they were all infected and she also had giardia which is an infection that causes weight loss, diarrhea, etc.

As soon as we brought her home she was the sweetest most perfect cat anyone could ask for. Whenever I was upset she'd force her way onto my stomach to lay on me, then sneeze in my face. She loved her sparkly crinkle balls, watching the chickens out the windows, flopping around, and laying on plants. She was also very chatty and loved to tell everyone about her day.

In April of last year we took Switzy in to examine a lump under her arm and it had turned out to be a very aggressive cancer. We had surgery done to remove it as we thought we'd get at least another couple years with her but it unfortunately came back that same year and grew even faster and was obviously worse than the first time.

Sometimes I still see her in the corner of my eyes, hear her meows, see her in her cat tree only to be disappointed. It still feels like she's just staying over night at the vets (even though our vet doesn't keep patients over night) and that she'll be coming home soon.

[shinygremlin]

Tufted Titmouse

[shinygremlin]

Red-Breasted Nuthatch (1/30/2023)

[shinygremlin]

I just love nuthatches so much, cried a little bit when I was thinking about how cute they are the other day.

[occasionallybirds]

A walk in the winter woods

White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)

Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)

American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)

January 11, 2023

Southeastern Pennsylvania

[steebs-nerdy-corner]

I’m bored so I’m gonna rate the birds that are coming to my birdfeeder

Dark eyed junco

10/10 they are just little goth orbs that go where winter goes. Perfect floof to birb ratio.

House sparrow

10/10 cryptic coloration but, like, in a classy way. So nice. And the black bit reminds me of a tie so dapper gentleman.

Mourning dove

13/10 one of my favorite birds. Classic song that I’ve been mimicking since before I could walk. Extremely round when it sits down, so comfy looking, excellent cream color.

White breasted nuthatch

10/10 daring climber. Simple but striking coloration. One of my grandma’s favorites.

Northern Cardinal

12/10 another grandma favorite, just look at that color. Even the females that have more cryptic coloration look just so lovely. Such a pretty bird, and I tell them so often

Brown headed cowbird

-5/10 nest stealing habitat fragmentation opportunist bastard, moving on

House Finch

10/10 so nice, slimming stripes, tasteful splash of color, classic yet daring

Black capped chickadee

11/10 is it a birdfeeder without a chickadee? No I didn’t think so. Friendliest birb, will sometimes hang out on a nearby branch while I fill up the bird feeder and scatter seeds on the ground.

Blue jay

9/10 just so goddamn pretty. Just look at those colors, like a clear sky. Mild case of bastard but the looks mostly make up for it.

Red bellied woodpecker

15/10 keystone species making homes for smaller birbs, eats wood eating bugs (even the emerald ash borer), and is also a shy boi who needs protecting.

[shinygremlin]

Nuthatches are so great. Love their little meeps and squeaks??? Honks???? idk what to call them

[fatsoxmainewildlifeblog]

Got some photos of a Silver Spotted Skipper Today! 7/19/22 Tenants Harbor.

[shinygremlin]

More skipper pics!!

Picture 1- Peck's Skipper ( 8/15/22)

Picture 3- Dun Skipper (8/16/22)

Taken on a Canon EOS Rebel T3i

[shinygremlin]

An Assortment of Little Dudes

Northern Pearly-Eye (6/27/22)

Little Wood Satyr (6/28/22)

Cabbage White (7/2/22)

American Copper (7/13/22)

All taken on a Canon EOS Rebel T3i

[picturetakingguy]

lunchtime!  

[headspace-hotel]

look at this bug. a friend called. common eastern bumble bee :)

[shinygremlin]

Great Spangled Fritillary on Milkweed (7/17/22 Canon EOS Rebel T3i)

Fun Fact about fritillaries is that they are very territorial and will often chase other butterflies out of their territories. One time while out photographing them, a hummingbird came up to the milkweed plants the fritillaries are fond of and they actually chased it away! The hummingbird sulked in a tree for a bit before looking for food else where.

[shinygremlin]

Red-Spotted Purple (6/18/22 Canon EOS Rebel T3i)

Honestly this was my favorite butterfly to take photos of. The months leading up to June had been really rough for me.

After flying around my head for about 30 seconds it landed on the leaves of our maple tree and it's the closest I've felt to a holy experience. It stayed there for maybe 2 minutes but it felt like much longer. I truly felt at peace and connected with nature.

[shinygremlin]

picture 1&3- Edwards' Hairstreak (7/8/22 & 7/13/22)

picture 2&4- Coral Hairstreak (7/12/22 & 7/17/22)

picture 5- Striped Hairstreak (7/26/22)

Hair streaks are some of my favorite butterflies, they're very funky looking and I have a lot of fun memories observing them this summer! I hope I get to see many more of them next summer too.

A bonus Banded Hairstreak!!(7/7/22) I've only seen one before and it flew off before I could get a good pic!