In coastal scrub habitat. Burrows were positively associated with scrub oaks along the upper ridge and negatively associated with rosemary and lichens at lower elevation in the scrub. This individual was gently excavated from the entrance of her burrow and remained in torpor while I photographed her and then returned her to leaf litter near the burrow.
An entirely black female bee, 9.5 mm, found on yellow thistle (Cirsium horridulum). There were many Osmia chalybea, the host bee for Stelis ater, feeding on the same thistle and other neighboring thistles.
Found by Stephanie & Kristy on early-blooming Rusty Staggerbush on Riviera Trail. FYI, same plants still in bud on Upland Trail.
A trip targeting Duke's Skipper (that eluded us) with Clint Gibson and John Lampkin (in one vehicle) and Don Fraser and me (in a second vehicle).
We drove Main Grade to Tannic Road, then turned around at a serious wash-out, then headed east to Powder Road, which is just inside Lake County. These observations are for Sumter County.
The weather at the start was sunny and 83 degrees with mostly calm winds. We entered Lake County at 1008.
With Don Fraser and others (including Juli deGrummond, Brian Cammarano, Holly & Mark Salvato, and Debbie Grimes): an unsuccessful chase of the First-Florida-record Couch's Kingbird. The weather at the start was sunny and 70 degrees ("feels like" 70) with a light breeze. We mostly hung out at the southwestern corner of the park, with 20 minutes spent along the railroad tracks immediately to the south, but I made two complete loops of the park to avoid boredom and to look elsewhere for the kingbird. We left at 1725 and enjoyed a delicious dinner at Chompers in Fanning Springs before heading home.