Hey everyone, I figured I should probably share some of the work I've been doing here on the forum. I have started a facebook and instagram account (Link to facebook page can be found in my signature) to showcase the amazing beauty and diversity around us. I apologize if I've shared any of these photos on the forum before, but I figure not everyone is a facebook user, so maybe if no one objects I'll try to keep this relatively updated as I post stuff.
Grumpybass is a distant relative of the online phenomenon Grumpy Cat. Unfortunately, cold blooded animals just don't get the same attention, thus highlighting the need for my page in order to show people the charm our less appreciated critters have. While I'm speaking about Grumpycat...
I recently had an opportunity to meet the real Grumpy Cat and I was indeed star-struck.
While we of course all appreciate the fish around us, I'd just like to remind people that the world of aquatic invertebrates can be fascinating and beautiful too. I've been told this is a mayfly in the Leucrocuta genus, probably Leucrocuta juno.
While in KY this past fall I was pleased to finally meet an Ammocrypta. Confusingly, this is an Eastern Sand Darter. I had originally been very confused, because in a tiny portion of Virginia, we have a population of the Western Sand Darter, which actually occurs farther east than the Eastern does.
A beautiful scene from last year's spawning season in the upper Roanoke River drainage. I went snorkeling and had the good fortune to stumble upon a chub mound full of stonerollers, rosyside dace, mountain redbelly dace, white shiners, crescent shiners, rosefin shiners, and a few fish probably just hanging around for a snack. In my laziness, I actually am still sitting on probably 150-200 photos from this very day (Exactly a year ago, on 5/25/14 actually) that I need to clean up in photoshop, as well as a good bit of video.
The stunning Candy Darter is always a crowd favorite, and with its red white and blue color scheme, it is appropriate for celebrating Memorial Day.