March 28 – My Nature Journal
March 28, 2026 Nature Journal
Ring-necked Duck
Aythya collaris
These two female Ring-necked Ducks were part of a larger flock of about five females on the lake today. Strangely, I didn’t see any males around anywhere.
Female Ring-necked Ducks look very similar to the females of three other species of waterfowl: Greater Scaups (XXXX), Lesser Scaups (XXXX), and Redheads (XXXX). Because of this, I can’t be absolutely sure that these birds were female Ring-necked Ducks but I believe them to be for a few reasons.
First, they each have a pale band around their bills, which is a characteristic not shared by the other female ducks.
Second, these ducks have a thin white eye-ring and a white line extending back from the eyes, which is another characteristic that distinguishes Ring-necked Duck females from other species.
Third, I’ve seen Ring-necked Ducks more often on this lake over the years than any other duck species (based on the presence of drakes, which are much easier to distinguish between species). I’ve seen scaups only once, and I’ve never seen a Redhead.
While I know this last reason isn’t exactly scientific, I think it’s OK to use “likelihood” to identify these birds in this case.
It can be a lot of fun to spot “vagrant” birds (wayward travelers that appear outside the usual range of the species; also called “accidentals”). But I like applying the quote from Dr. Theodore Woodward to challenging identifications: “When you hear hoofbeats, think horse, not zebra.”. Dr. Woodward was referring to the diagnosis of infectious diseases in humans.
But I think it can apply to ducks as well.
American Wigeon
Mareca americana
Hybrid Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos x Anas rubripes
Today’s Nature Journal Snapshot
|
Time of Day |
Around noon-time through early afternoon |
|
Setting |
Large lake |
|
Temperature |
50° F / 10° C |
|
Weather |
Mostly sunny with passing clouds |
|
Humidity |
38% |
March 28, 2025 Nature Journal
Brassy Blister Beetle
Lytta aenea
This Brassy Blister Beetle is one of many blister beetles crawling around the landscape, quietly living their own lives.
Like many animals, these beetles are completely harmless to humans—until we mess with them.
Blister Beetle manufacture a caustic chemical called cantharidin and release the chemical onto their exoskeletons through special joints when they’re physically threatened. Cantharidin causes bare human skin to blister on contact; thus the common name for this group of beetles.
As always, the best, kindest, and smartest approach to wildlife to is admire them from a safe distance only and never, ever pick them up or harass them in any other way.
This beetle may not look very threatening. But anyone who makes the mistake of picking up one of these insects with their bare hands will live to regret it.
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
Flat Jumping spider
Platycryptus undatus
This mottled gray and brown spider is a Flat Jumping Spider.
Flat Jumping Spiders often live near humans, especially on weathered wood fences and buildings. Their coloration camouflages them beautifully against a variety of backgrounds; they’re practically invisible against tree trunks and weathered wood fences.
Thankfully for me, this spider clung to the side of a white building, where it stood out visually. I could see that it was missing a leg on both sides. It seemed to move around just fine on the vertical surface, but I wondered how well it would be able to hunt.
I suspect it will not live long. First, because jumping spiders launch their leaps on prey with their two back pairs of legs; missing the third leg on each side would be a major disadvantage for successfully attacking prey. And second, because its mottled camouflage failed against the white background.
If I could spot it so easily, so could something that eats spiders.
Today’s Nature Journal Snapshot
|
Time of Day |
Mid-afternoon |
|
Setting |
Suburban neighborhood |
|
Temperature |
76° F / 24° C |
|
Weather |
Sunny with high clouds |
|
Humidity |
27% |
