Ryan Y
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green-fly.bsky.social
Ryan Y
@green-fly.bsky.social
64 followers 50 following 63 posts
Naturalist ◇ Birder ◇ Botanizer ◇ Queer
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green-fly.bsky.social
Recently got to see both of our Burmannia species for the first time! B. capitata and B. biflora. These are very hard to spot plants, I was shocked by how tiny they were. #nativeplants #botany
The yellowish flower cluster of Southern Bluethread (Burmannia capitata) Burmannia capitata flowers with my fingers for scale. Each flower is about the size of an uncooked grain of rice The blue and yellow flowers of Northern Bluethread (Burmannia biflora) Burmannia biflora flowers with my fingers for scale
September 26, 2025 at 3:01 PM
green-fly.bsky.social
I got my lifer Lincoln's last winter. It was hanging out with a million Song and Swamp Sparrows so it was a bit of a hunt for it
September 12, 2025 at 2:12 PM
green-fly.bsky.social
I went to an absolutely amazing pitcher plant bog last week. It was the most pitchers I had ever seen in one place.

Photo descriptions in alt text

#bog #bogs #orchids #carnivorousplants #pitcherplants #nativeplants
A view of the landscape. Much of this bog was within the power line right of way. The right of way being cleared regularly probably contributes to the sheer number of pitchers here. Yellow Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia flava) was the most common at this sight. They are tall thin pitchers with a bright yellow green color. Some were almost waist high. The mouth of each one is covered with an upright hood to keep out rain water. There are some darker bronze colored ones mixed in. They are the same species, I assume it's some kind of genetic trait. The other species local to the area was also present here, but less common. Hooded Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia minor). They are much shorter in stature, usually a reddish color, and have a down-turned hood that covers the mouth. You can also see the white light windows on the neck. This species was in full bloom, the large yellow flowers are fully open and face downwards(nodding) A species of orchid commonly found in pitcher plant bogs. Rose Pogonia (Pogonia ophioglossoides). The flower is delicate and pink. It is one of our larger terrestrial orchids.
May 6, 2025 at 3:10 AM
green-fly.bsky.social
Got a new orchid for me recently! Spring Coralroot (Corallorhiza wisteriana)

This orchid is a parasite and lacks leaves and chlorophyll. It parasitizes mycorrhizal fungi

This species is known for seeming to dissappear from a site for multiple years before flowering again

#orchids #botany
The tiny flowers of Spring Coralroot. The lip petal is white and covered purple spots. The other petals and sepals are purplish-brown and are grouped together at the top of each flower and form somewhat of a hood. There are small yellow grains of pollen all over the flowers that is probably from pine, it's currently pollen season for us. A view of the flower spike. Multiple individual flowers are arranged around a central stem Multiple flower spikes push up from the surrounding leaf litter Another group of flower spikes
March 29, 2025 at 1:36 AM
green-fly.bsky.social
Got to see Trillium pusillum in bloom finally today

#nativeplants
A Least Trillium in bloom among the leaf litter of the forest floor. The trillium has three long leaves arranged radially around the flower. The flower has three green sepals and three white petals. The petals have undulating edges. In the center of the flower are yellow anthers.
March 2, 2025 at 4:19 AM
green-fly.bsky.social
My first lifer of the year this morning! A handsome little Lincoln's Sparrow hanging out with a bunch of Song and Swamp Sparrows.

#birds #birding
A Lincoln's Sparrow sitting in a tangle of dead branches and logs. It's diagnostic buffy chest and fines streaking are fully visible. The same bird but from the side. It is looking down with its tail pointing up in the air
February 23, 2025 at 5:41 PM
green-fly.bsky.social
Spring is here! Got to see some rarities today.

Saw TONS of Southern Twayblade (Neottia bifolia) either in bloom or about to bloom.

And also some Dwarf Trillium (Trillium pusillum) popping up! Can't wait to see them in bloom.
#orchids #nativeplants #wildflowers #trillium
A pair of Southern Twayblade in bloom. Two flower spikes with minute purple flowers. The two projections from each flower is the forked petal that gives this orchid its common name A clump of four Southern Twayblade. Each plant has two leaves with crinkled edges. Three have developing flower spikes. The developing flowers are a dark wine color A young Dwarf Trillium sprout. Three narrow leaves arranged radially around the stem with a flower bud in the center.
February 22, 2025 at 3:59 AM
green-fly.bsky.social
Cranefly Orchids right in the parking lot at work. I've never caught this species in bloom before despite how common it is. So hoping I can catch these ones

#orchids #nativeplants
February 7, 2025 at 2:42 PM
green-fly.bsky.social
Some more non #warblurs thats are contenders for #worstbirdpic

White-tailed Tropicbird
White-throated Swift
Wild Turkey
Marsh Wren
December 11, 2024 at 5:39 PM
green-fly.bsky.social
A collection of my #warblurs

Common Yellowthroat
Magnolia Warbler
Black-and-White Warbler #worstbirdpic
December 11, 2024 at 5:24 PM
green-fly.bsky.social
A rare surprise lifer in the salt marsh today. A Saltmarsh Sparrow!

Look at those gorgeous oranges and greens!

Unfortunately this species is projected to become extinct by 2050 due to habitat destruction in its nesting range unless there's a major change in its conservation.
A sparrow sits in the middle of the frame looking to the right over its shoulder. It is gray and brown overall with orange stripes on the face and some olive green on the back. It is surrounded by marsh grass A sparrow sits in the middle of the frame looking to the left over its shoulder. It is gray and brown overall with orange stripes on the face and some olive green on the back. It is surrounded by marsh grass The same sparrow. This time facing the viewer and showing its white throat and breast. The breast has streaks in it. The same sparrow. This time showing a side view and showing its white throat and breast. The breast has streaks in it.
December 2, 2024 at 10:46 PM
green-fly.bsky.social
Got a Barred Owl today. I hear/see these guys pretty frequently out in the swamp.

#birds #birding #owls
A Barred Owl sits at the entrance to a hole in a tree. It blends in very well with the tree bark. It is facing the viewer. A Barred Owl sits at the entrance to a hole in a tree. It blends in very well with the tree bark. It is facing the viewer.
November 30, 2024 at 4:09 AM
green-fly.bsky.social
Here we have a warbler called the Common Yellowthroat where the males are a spitting image of your Yellow-throated Scrubwren. Not sure where yours lives but ours like grasses and tangles near water.
A male Common Yellowthroat sits in a tangle of plants. Its a small olive colored bird with a yellow throat and belly, and a black mask bordered by gray above. It sits in the center of the image. A male Common Yellowthroat sits in a willow tree. Its a small olive colored bird with a yellow throat and belly, and a black mask bordered by gray above. It sits in the center of the image. A male Common Yellowthroat sits in a tangle of plants. It is out of focus deep in the center of the image
November 29, 2024 at 3:53 PM
green-fly.bsky.social
Got to see a pretty rare bird today! Henslow's Sparrow. Its such a pretty little bird. We flushed it out of a grassland towards a tree line and got to see it pretty clearly.

Another lifer!

#birds #birding
November 27, 2024 at 3:52 AM
green-fly.bsky.social
I went birding at a place I frequent and got 62 bird species including 5 lifers!

Lifers were:
American White Pelican
Orange-crowned Warbler
Northern Shoveler
American Coot
Common Gallinule

#birds #birding

Some highlights:
Some White Pelicans coming in for a landing. A Little Blue Heron posing for a glamor shot A group of Wood Storks preening in the marsh grass A White Ibis wading in the water
November 27, 2024 at 3:50 AM
green-fly.bsky.social
On Sunday I got my first ever Brown Creeper. I had been hearing them for a month, but hadn't gotten to see one. Their calls are almost like a cricket.

#birds #birding
A Brown Creeper clings to the bark of a tree. It is a small, mottled brown bird with a white underside and a thin decurved beak.
November 27, 2024 at 3:47 AM
green-fly.bsky.social
The leaves of T. discolor sometimes have this cool corrugated look to them.
Multiple orchid plants. Their leaves are the green teardrop shaped leaves coming up from the leaf litter.
November 23, 2024 at 11:56 AM
green-fly.bsky.social
Recently found a new to me location to see Tipularia discolor aka Cranefly Orchid.

discolor refers to the leaves bing two colors. Green above purple below.

The plant is always a single leaf unless in bloom when it's just a flower spike.

I haven't caught one in bloom yet.

#Orchids #nativeplants
Multiple orchid plants scattered in the leaf litter. One orchid leaf is being turned over to show the purple underside.
November 23, 2024 at 11:53 AM
green-fly.bsky.social
Went to a new place to bird today and saw a bunch of birders crowded around on the path having a look at this guy. A chunky looking Red-shouldered Hawk fluffed up for the cold. It was very calm and didn't seem too bothered by us all having a look at it. #birds #birding
A fluffed up Red-shouldered Hawk is perched on a small leaning snag. It's breast and belly is a warm orangey brown.
November 23, 2024 at 12:47 AM
green-fly.bsky.social
Last month I got to see my first Shadow Witch Orchids (Pontheiva racemosa)

This species is pretty rare and only grows in scattered localities. It's considered imperiled here in South Carolina.

This patch was pretty beefy. It had to be at least 50 plants.
#orchids #botany #nativeplants
The small green and white flowers of Shadow Witch Orchid Many flower spikes are scattered around, surrounded by leaf litter The rosette of leaves below the flower spike Another close up of the flowers
November 22, 2024 at 7:28 AM
green-fly.bsky.social
I haven't really birded in the fall or winter before this year.

My November lifers so far:

Swamp Sparrow
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Northern Harrier
Savannah Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Eastern Meadowlark
Winter Wren

Total for the year so far:
130 Species
42 Lifers
#birding #birds
A Savannah Sparrow sits perched on some dead weeds. It is a small bird with a distinctive yellow brow and streaky breast A Swamp Sparrow facing away. Its gray nape and unmarked, buffy flanks are good identifiers for this species
November 22, 2024 at 7:19 AM
green-fly.bsky.social
Me communicating with a Pond Cypress while visiting a Carolina Bay.

Boyfriend took this photo
A photo of me touching a Pond Cypress while standing in water. The expanse of Pond Cypress in the Carolina Bay can be seen behind me. I am surrounded by Savannah Iris and Carolina Redroot that is currently out of bloom.
November 22, 2024 at 7:15 AM