Jeremy Sell
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jeremysell.bsky.social
Jeremy Sell
@jeremysell.bsky.social
Ecology and nature nerd. Plant and insect lover. Professional horticulturist. Michigander. Adventurer. Collector of experiences, not things. BA in Biology and Geology. Dated photos here are © my own.
Brown Pelicans (Pelecanidae: Pelecanus occidentalis) usually catch fish by diving at them from the air. Sometimes if there are a lot of fish near the surface or if the water is too shallow, they will instead just float around and grab them. Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida, 10 Apr 2012.
November 26, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Wenatchee National Forest near White Pass, Washington, 23 Nov 2015.
November 26, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Dame's rocket (Brassicaceae: Hesperis matronalis) is native to southern Europe but has been spread across much of the earth. In parts of North America it can be common along roads and other disturbed areas where it is considered an invasive weed. Clayton Michigan, 30 May 2013.
November 26, 2025 at 12:02 AM
A small creek cascading over mossy rocks. Olympic National Park, Washington, 19 Apr 2015. #NationalParks
November 25, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Dusty lacewings (Neuroptera: Coniopterygidae) are small but important predators of aphids, mites, whiteflies, and other pestiferous insects. They differ from other lacewings partly because they are covered in a white waxy powder. Blissfield Michigan, 14 Jun 2011.
November 25, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Native to the western US from Washington to Arizona, California poppies (Papaveraceae: Eschscholzia californica) are perhaps most common in their namesake state. In some places they can be so dense their large, bright flowers are hard to miss. Klamath Mountains of California, 26 Apr 2013.
November 25, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Great Blue Herons (Pelecaniformes: Ardeidae: Ardea herodias) range between Central America and Canada depending on season, but they're present year-round in most of the US. Since they mainly eat fish, they're usually found near water. Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, South Carolina, 28 Oct 2018.
November 25, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Forested slopes and snow-capped peaks along Hurricane Ridge. Olympic National Park, Washington, 18 Apr 2015. #NationalParks
November 25, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Great Egrets (Pelecaniformes: Ardeidae: Ardea alba) were nearly hunted to extinction during the feathered hat fad of the late nineteenth century. Conservation efforts helped them recover, and today they can be found in wetlands across the Americas. Everglades National Park, Florida, 09 Apr 2012.
November 25, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Squawroot (Orobanchaceae: Conopholis americana) is widespread but uncommon across eastern North America. It lacks chlorophyll, is parasitic mainly on oaks and beeches, and is only conspicuous when it flowers in April. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina, 11 Apr 2016.
November 24, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Sweat bee (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) females keep busy excavating nests in the ground, provisioning the nests with prey for their young, and feeding on flower nectar and pollen. They're important pollinators of a variety of crops. Palmyra Michigan, 30 May 2021.
November 24, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Wild Turkey males (Galliformes: Phasianidae: Meleagris gallopavo) begin courtship in March and advertise their fitness by strutting about in a showy fashion. These ladies did not seem impressed with this one. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina, 10 Apr 2016.
November 24, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Cedar Mesa Sandstone was deposited in coastal dune environments during the Permian Period, about 270-300 million years ago. This bedding can reach over 1000 feet in thickness and has eroded exposures all over southeast Utah. Bullet Canyon north of Mexican Hat Utah, 11 May 2018.
November 24, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Common wheat (Poaceae: Triticum aestivum) is one of the most important crops in the world. Although first cultivated thousands of years ago in the Middle East, it didn't become common in North America until settlers moved into the prairies in the 1870s. Blissfield Michigan, 17 Jun 2025.
November 24, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Slender crab spiders (Araneae: Philodromidae: Tibellus spp.) spend most of their time on foliage hunting insect prey. Signal flies (Diptera: Platystomatidae) move their wings when they walk, and this perhaps makes them more obvious prey for these spiders. Palmyra Michigan, 03 Jul 2013.
November 24, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Last night I dreamed I had a baby stegosaurus that could become intangible when something attacked it. I have the best dreams. 😆
November 24, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Here comes the sun. Blissfield Michigan, 24 Nov 2025.
November 24, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Agaves (Asparagaceae: Agave spp.) are succulents adapted to arid conditions, like this flowering individual in the Chisos Basin near sunset. Some species can grow for decades before they flower. Big Bend National Park, Texas, 10 Feb 2014.
November 24, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Adult warty leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Fulcidacini) are notable for their appearance, which is said to resemble caterpillar droppings. This may serve as camouflage against predators. Their larvae, in contrast, build protective cases from their own feces. Clayton Michigan, 26 Jul 2011.
November 23, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Globemallows (Malvaceae: Sphaeralcea spp.) include several dozen species that are primarily found in arid regions of North America. Most look similar to each other, with cup-shaped flowers and downy stems and leaves. Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, 12 Apr 2014.
November 23, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Shrubby cinquefoil (Rosaceae: Dasiphora fruticosa) is relatively widespread, cold-hardy, and long-flowering. This makes it a reliable source of pollen and nectar for a variety of insects, including ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota, 08 Aug 2014.
November 23, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Atlantic ghost crabs (Decapoda: Ocypodidae: Ocypode quadrata) hunt and scavenge on beaches from New England to southern Brazil. Their common name comes from their pale color and nocturnal habits. Padre Island National Seashore, Texas, 17 Jun 2017.
November 22, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Wild Turkeys (Galliformes: Phasianidae: Meleagris gallopavo) inhabit most of the US and parts of Canada and Mexico, in open woodlands where they forage for nuts, seeds, and insects. They sleep in the relative safety of trees, but nest on the ground. Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, 11 Apr 2014.
November 22, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Paederus rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederus spp.) can be found throughout much of the world. They prefer moist environments in which to lay their eggs. Some species have a toxin in their blood called paederin that can cause skin irritation in humans. Clayton Michigan, 28 Sep 2012.
November 22, 2025 at 2:08 PM
One of the better sunsets I've seen. Palmyra Michigan, 21 Jun 2021.
November 22, 2025 at 12:41 AM