It was just thrilling to see this Loggerhead Sea Turtle! Then again & again!! Over the course of a couple of hours we saw her surface 5 times. But just for a second or two each time.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/84265769
It was difficult to get the pictures. My camera is my iPhone, so even my best one is not really clear. The experience though…. Fantastic!!
Welcome to the forum and thank you for sharing that amazing experience! I’m sure you had goose bumps! I often get sort of mediocre pictures, but I treasure the reality even if the photographic record isn’t ideal.
Fun topic! My nominee is a stilt bug, which I’ve either never seen before or never taken a second look. I wouldn’t know what to call it without the ID suggestions when I uploaded. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/84136615
Anthomiya illocata was one of the first flies I learned to identify after moving here to South Korea. Their patterning and red eyes do make them stand out but I agree that they’re not always the easiest to photograph. Took this photo four years ago and still haven’t managed to get a better one of the species.
Had a couple of neat life list additions from observations submitted over the past week but my favorite might have to be this female Pseudocopera tokyoensis, a species of white-legged damselfly. It’s the only record for Korea on iNaturalist and I spotted it not far from the DMZ/border with North Korea.
Because of the location, while taking photos I could hear a soldier in a nearby guard post issuing directions to motorists not far away –
– Please do not slow down or stop. Do not slow down, I repeat, do not slow down.
– No U-turns in this area. You must continue through and follow all road advisories.
– To the person taking photos, please approach the guard post and DO NOT delete any of the pictures you took.
That last one wasn’t directed at me, fortunately. 
Thanks. I Absolutely agree!
Is this definition of ‘lifer’ right? i.e. first observation of a species? Even it’s usage in the prev iNat obs of the week stumped me.
Lifer is a species/taxon you saw for the first time in your life, in context it can be used as first photo or first observation of it.
@fffffffff Gave a good explanation of what a ‘lifer’ is but I also thought I’d point out that you can see when you get a new ‘lifer’ from checking the Calendar dates for your account. For example, it looks like you recorded a recent ‘lifer’ (life list first) on March 25: https://www.inaturalist.org/calendar/muddytortoise/2021/3/25
Well, I was never aware of the Calendar utility! It is very cool. Thank you for demonstrating it’s use. :)
Most phytoparasitic fungi are rather host specific. So typically, you identify the host plant first. Then you identify the general group of fungus (smut, rust, mildew) and once you are at this spot, there are only a few species left over. In the case of Elymus, the hyaline, thick-walled spores only left over Ustilentyloma brefeldii.
Gosh, I’m going to cheat, I think.
This meter-long bristle worm is my fave for the month of June:
http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/82769632
It may be my favorite for all of 2021!
As a birder, my favorite was a Snowy Plover and her two eggs at the Great Salt Lake.
My first ever UV light trap had this crash lander, a Grapevine Beetle. I love this photo of its eyes flashing back at me. This species has not had a new observation posted in my state in almost a year.
At this point in my iNatting, most things are lifers for me !!
This is a great week for answering this post. I got two new species that I’m very excited about.
I think the number one will have to be this Sperm Whale, which is my first ever whale (that I’ve seen at all - not counting dolphins and porpoises), and we were spoiled with quite a lot of minutes where it was breathing calmly in the water next to the boat until it fell asleep (apparently that specific individual is known to be quite snoozy):
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/84248811
But the other one that I’m really happy with is this Northern Giant Petrel. Both because it’s an exciting and impressive bird, but also because I’m quite proud of the quality of photos I managed to get on my phone through my binoculars as it glided past the boat :D (I know it doesn’t compare to what someone with a “real” camera would have gotten)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/84245284
… I also got my first ever shark observation this week, but it somehow doesn’t feel as exciting at this life stage :P
It’s a very pretty dragonfly, caught in that rare moment when it stands still if a wicked breeze doesn’t turn its perch into a swing.
I saw this type of wasp twice so far. They did not have the tip of their abdomens black like yours. They were crawling on the ground as if they were possessed by demons. What about yours?
The one I saw just ran across the trail in pretty much a straight line. Didn’t seem too erratic
What a combo! I have never seen a 100% white orchid before. I would change its common name from phantom orchid to “bride orchid” and those aphids should be called “phantom aphids”.
Maybe the difference was that there were a lot of small holes on the ground. Solitary bee or wasp nests? Or the presence of males made them so hyperactive.
