Our first survey of the year, delayed one week due to icy conditions, included sixteen volunteers who enjoyed a cold, sunny morning. It is not normal for an armyworm caterpillar to perch on an exposed dry grass stem, as in the image shown below. The dark patch at the rear indicates that this specimen is almost certainly parasitized and will not survive to maturity. Select Photos and Complete List of Sightings: Sialia sialis (eastern bluebird) photo by Bill Boyd Thryothorus ludovicianus (Carolina wren) photo by Bill Boyd Pooecetes gramineus (vesper sparrow) photo by Bill Boyd Melanerpes aurifrons (golden-fronted woodpecker) photo by Bill Boyd Coccinella septempunctata (seven-spotted lady beetle) photo by Joe Fernandes Ophraella communa (leaf beetle) photo by Sofia Maass Lactista aztecus (Aztec bandwing nymph) photo by Val Bugh Eritettix abortivus (Texas short-winged slant-faced grasshopper) photo by Rad Decker Unknown sp. (midge exuviae) photo by Val Bugh Mythimna unipuncta (armyworm) photo by Joe Fernandes Mythimna unipuncta (armyworm moth) photo by Val Bugh Homaemus proteus (shield bug: color variations) photo by Val Bugh Neotephritis finalis (fruit fly) photo by Val Bugh Unknown sp. (braconid wasp) photo by Val Bugh Plethodon albagula (western slimy salamander) photo by Val Bugh Dictyna sp. (meshweb weavers) photo by Joe Fernandes Hogna carolinensis (Carolina wolf spider) photo by Val Bugh Birds: American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) American Robin (Turdus migratorius) Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) Black-crested Titmouse (Baeolophus atricristatus) Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) Golden-fronted Woodpecker (Melanerpes aurifrons) Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) Ladder-backed Woodpecker (Dryobates scalaris) Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria) Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) Meadowlark (Sturnella sp.) Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) Woodhouse's Scrub-jay (Aphelocoma woodhouseii) Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata) Mammals: Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger) White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Amphibians & Fish: Western Slimy Salamander (Plethodon albagula) Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) Misc.: Julid Millipede (Aniulus sp.) Stone Centipede (Unknown sp.) Symphylan (Unknown sp.) Striped Bark Scorpion (Centruroides vittatus) Earthworm (Unknown sp.) Insects & Spiders: order family genus/species common name lepidoptera   nymphalidae   Vanessa atalanta   Red Admiral    pieridae   Nathalis iole   Dainty Sulphur       Colias eurytheme   Orange Sulphur    noctuidae   Galgula partita   The Wedgling       Mythimna unipuncta   Armyworm Moth (adult & larva)       Unknown sp.   Moth (pupa)    geometridae   Digrammia pallidata   Moth       Phigalia strigataria   Small Phigalia    crambidae   Udea rubigalis   Celery Leaftier Moth    gelechiidae   Unknown sp.   Moth    ypsolophidae   Ypsolopha ochrella   Agarita Slug Moth coleoptera   chrysomelidae   Diabrotica undecimpunctata   Spotted Cucumber Beetle       Ophraella communa   Leaf Beetle       Phaedon sp.   Leaf Beetle    coccinellidae   Coccinella septempunctata   Seven-spotted Lady Beetle hemiptera   berytidae   Jalysus sp.   Stilt Bug    scutelleridae   Homaemus proteus   Shield Bug    pentatomidae   Chinavia hilaris   Green Stink Bug homoptera   cicadellidae   Graphocephala hieroglyphica   Leafhopper    cercopidae   Lepyronia quadrangularis   Spittlebug hymenoptera   apidae   Apis mellifera   Honey Bee    formicidae   Solenopsis invicta   Imported Fire Ant       Camponotus festinatus   Carpenter Ant    cynipidae   Unknown sp.   Gall Wasp    braconidae   Unknown sp.   Braconid Wasp diptera   anthomyiidae   Unknown sp.   Root Maggot Fly    tephritidae   Neotephritis finalis   Fruit Fly    chironomidae   Unknown sp.   Midge (adult & exuviae) orthoptera   acrididae   Eritettix abortivus   Texas Short-winged Slant-faced Grasshopper       Chortophaga viridifasciata   Northern Green-striped Grasshopper (adult & nymph)       Lactista aztecus   Aztec Bandwing (nymph)    tetrigidae   Paratettix mexicanus   Pygmy Grasshopper    gryllidae   Gryllus sp.   Field Cricket (nymph)    raphidophoridae   Ceuthophilus sp.   Camel Cricket (nymph) neuroptera   chrysopidae   Unknown sp.   Green Lacewing araneae   dictynidae   Dictyna sp.   Meshweb Weaver    uloboridae   Uloborus glomosus   Feather-legged Orbweaver    oxyopidae   Oxyopes salticus   Striped Lynx    lycosidae   Schizocosa sp.   Wolf Spider       Hogna carolinensis   Carolina Wolf Spider