Jonathan Snyder photographed an anhinga perched in a red maple tree near the lake at Stumpy Lake in Virginia Beach. Anhingas are related to cormorants and look similar but lack the hook on the end of their beak.
Susan Gurganus sent photos of a family of Muscovy ducks with babies in the Indian Lakes neighborhood in Virginia Beach.
Joyce Hearn was surprised to see a wild turkey perched on her townhouse railing bordering a marshy creek near the Oceanfront in Virginia Beach. “Not too long after the turkey appeared, a red-headed woodpecker stopped by,” wrote Hearn. “I’m now wondering what might show up next!”
Joe DiGeronimo photographed a turkey vulture soaring overhead showing the distinctive “V” shape of the wings along the James River in Surry. Vultures clean our environment, feed on dead and decaying animals, and protect communities from bacteria and disease.
Kristin West took a photo of a Song sparrow in Sandbridge in Virginia Beach. “It was wonderful to hear it sing!” wrote West.
Reuben Rohn observed a veery at the Tidewater Arboretum in Virginia Beach. Veeries are medium-sized thrushes that hop on the forest floor foraging for insects and fruits.
Laura Joksaite photographed a blue-gray gnatcatcher in her backyard in the Robinhood Forest area of Virginia Beach.
Pauletta Anglin had a common yellow throat visit her 11th floor balcony at the Oceanfront in Virginia Beach. “He is much too cute to be called common yellow throat,” wrote Anglin.
Benjamin Gerber had a close encounter with a mockingbird posing on a sign in the Western Branch neighborhood of Chesapeake.
Pat Nottingham spotted a bald-headed cardinal in the Deep Creek section of Chesapeake. A bald-headed cardinal is fairly common among cardinals when the weather gets warm as a result of mites. The feathers grow back when the weather cools.
George Schmitt photographed a female bluebird feeding mealworms to her baby in the Arrowhead section of Virginia Beach. “They can eat their weight in mealworms,” wrote Schmitt.
Ed Obermeyer sent photos of male and female hummingbirds at his backyard feeder in the Castleton neighborhood of Virginia Beach.
Jane Hughey sent photos of a female hummingbird at her feeder in the Indian River area of Chesapeake.
Mike Poirier photographed a honeybee gathering pollen from a magnolia flower in the Riverwalk neighborhood in Chesapeake.
Robert Rhodes sent a photo of a dew-laden spiderweb that he spotted while kayaking in Bennett’s Creek in Suffolk.
Connie Owen spotted a little green treefrog sitting on a leaf beside her front door in the Robinhood Forest area of Virginia Beach. “They are so loud when they ‘bark,’ wrote Owen. “It is amazing how such a small creature could create that sound.”
Terry Zawacki sent photos of a brown water snake sunning itself on a dock at Stumpy Lake in Virginia Beach.
Steve Daniel photographed a red-bellied water snake poking its head up through the wild roses at Stumpy Lake in Virginia Beach.
Cindy Morrison photographed a squirrel having lunch on her back patio in the Ridgely Manor neighborhood in Virginia Beach.
Anne Kane sent a photo of a squirrel hanging upside down on a hummingbird feeder in the Alanton neighborhood of Virginia Beach. “The squirrels enjoy getting a sugar rush to go with all the seeds they steal from the bird feeders,” wrote Kane.
Joseph Robbins photographed a ghost crab peeking out of his burrow on the beach in the northern portion of the Outer Banks in North Carolina. Ghost crabs have eyes on stalks that allow them to see in all directions.
Vickie Shufer, [email protected]
