If you look at older copies of scientific journals, particularly regional publications, you can find papers that summarize observations someone has made in a particular area in a particular time frame. Such observations are now largely extinct. But, seeing as I have observed a bunch of stuff recently and not quite got around to publishing it in a bucket here are some miscellaneous observations from November 2011, in Leon and Wakulla counties, Florida.
A drop in the bucket. Enhanced picture of a tiny insect attracted to the black light on Nov. 9. Mesh background is a sheet. Not completely sure if it is a Hymenoptera or Diptera. See below the squiggle for a bit more.
Tallahassee, Florida November 19
As reported earlier in Dawn Chorus I saw two rafts/flocks of pied-billed grebes on Lake Jackson, just north of town. It seems unusual to see this species in large groups, at least based on my experience and the other Dawn Chorusers. Each group contained about 40 birds and was moving about in a tight clump.
On the way back to our house we encountered a burying beetle (family Silphidae, genus Nicrophorus). It was attempting to dig into the ground in a crack in the road. I moved it onto the grass. For some reason, taking a picture didn't occur to me. They are fascinating insects that find and bury the corpses of small animals and use them as food to rear their offspring. The largest North American species, N. americanus is endangered. This was the first burying beetle I've seen in 20 years.
A bit further back in time, Nov. 12. Leaving and departing migrants.
Monarchs posed to head south - one that has been tagged (note - still a few Monarchs at St. Marks on Nov. 22).
pintail on Wakulla River.
Nov 21. More black lighting. Like the Nov. 9 mostly attracted small flies (Diptera, primarily Chironomidae (midges)) as well as a few moths. Here is a closeup of a midge that is infested with mites.
There were a handful of other insects at the sheet including this bug (probably Miridae).
Nov. 22. Bike trip to St. Marks (will diary full details separately). Winter bird life is in full swing despite lack of water. Here is one example, a Wilson's Snipe.
And from back around the start of the month (I only have the online picture hear at work so I don't have a record of when it was taken). A male sheepshead minnow displaying at a spawning site at Picnic Pool in St Marks NWR