Fox Sparrow
Passerella iliaca
I tend to assocciate Fox Sparrows with spring and fall migration, but I think that has more to do with the fact that this is when they show up around the neighborhood. They do nest in the area (the nest shown below was near treeline on Mt. Verstovia), but do not typically spend the winter here.
(Flower) Rove Beetle
Eusphalerum sp
This species of beetle is easy to find on many different species of flowers during the summer in Sitka. They are quite small, I would say less than .5 cm long. When I have observed them, they never seem to be in any hurry. Even after they have landed, it takes them a little bit of time to get themselves all tucked in under their elytra (the hard outer wing covers).
(Thanks to Francesco Vitali via bugguide.net for help with the identification.)
Sweet-scented Bedstraw
Galium triflorum
This is a fairly common plant along Indian River. I also noticed it growing abundantly along the road between Herring Cove and Bear Cove. It’s common name comes from the sweet smell it has when bruised. The smell comes from coumarins the plant produces.
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Melospiza lincolnii
I mainly notice these birds in the muskegs and in other open areas around town such Starrigavan Estuary, Swan Lake, and the airport runway. They have a nice song. I was able to get a recording of a bird singing last summer, but I’ve not yet managed to find motivation to work with sounds too much yet. Perhaps in the next year I’ll get better at that.
Hoverfly
Meliscaeva cinctella
This fly was apparently eating the pollen from the Cow Parsnip flowers. It is a species of hoverfly, but I don’t know of any more specific common name. Thanks to Martin Hauser via bugguide.net for the identification.
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