Melissa McMasters
@melissamactn.bsky.social
Naturalist, writer, photographer, non-profiteer, Memphian. If it flies, I probably love it (unless it's a mosquito). Words and photos mainly at https://www.overtonpark.org/naturezen
I recently had these jewels officially accepted as Tennessee state records 2 & 3 of the ceraunus blue. The previous record was from 2016, but this more Southern species made a push north this year, with several sightings in Missouri. I was delighted to find two individuals two days apart! #BugSky
October 4, 2026 at 7:30 PM
I recently had these jewels officially accepted as Tennessee state records 2 & 3 of the ceraunus blue. The previous record was from 2016, but this more Southern species made a push north this year, with several sightings in Missouri. I was delighted to find two individuals two days apart! #BugSky
Last week I visited Oregon and learned that golden hairstreaks exist! I'm very fond of their little black tap shoes. #InverteFest
August 31, 2026 at 11:21 PM
Last week I visited Oregon and learned that golden hairstreaks exist! I'm very fond of their little black tap shoes. #InverteFest
I recently got to watch a black swallowtail dry its wings after emerging from its chrysalis, and it was both moving and educational! (Did you know butterflies show up into the world with forked tongues?) Come with me on this journey: overtonpark.org/2026/08/03/n... #butterflies #insects #BugSky
NatureZen: Metamorphosis | Overton Park Conservancy
Watching swallowtails transform from caterpillars into butterflies.
overtonpark.org
August 5, 2026 at 8:33 PM
I recently got to watch a black swallowtail dry its wings after emerging from its chrysalis, and it was both moving and educational! (Did you know butterflies show up into the world with forked tongues?) Come with me on this journey: overtonpark.org/2026/08/03/n... #butterflies #insects #BugSky
It's been a rainy couple of months in Memphis and I've been endlessly fascinated by the variety of #fungi in the forest where I work. The Stereum heart may be my fave, but if anyone wants to help me ID the others, my @inaturalist.bsky.social handle is mmcmasters! 🍄
#fungifriends
#fungifriends
June 27, 2026 at 3:06 PM
It's been a rainy couple of months in Memphis and I've been endlessly fascinated by the variety of #fungi in the forest where I work. The Stereum heart may be my fave, but if anyone wants to help me ID the others, my @inaturalist.bsky.social handle is mmcmasters! 🍄
#fungifriends
#fungifriends
Best things about last weekend:
1. Finding a bunch of Diana fritillaries.
2. Noticing that if a piece of grass was available, they would take a load off and perch there while sipping nectar.
#butterflies #PollinatorWeek #BugSky
1. Finding a bunch of Diana fritillaries.
2. Noticing that if a piece of grass was available, they would take a load off and perch there while sipping nectar.
#butterflies #PollinatorWeek #BugSky
June 22, 2026 at 11:17 PM
Best things about last weekend:
1. Finding a bunch of Diana fritillaries.
2. Noticing that if a piece of grass was available, they would take a load off and perch there while sipping nectar.
#butterflies #PollinatorWeek #BugSky
1. Finding a bunch of Diana fritillaries.
2. Noticing that if a piece of grass was available, they would take a load off and perch there while sipping nectar.
#butterflies #PollinatorWeek #BugSky
When your sibling eats the entire snake Mom brought for a snack. 🪶
June 6, 2026 at 10:01 PM
When your sibling eats the entire snake Mom brought for a snack. 🪶
News you can use: if you catch a swamp milkweed leaf beetle while he's tucking his wings under his elytra, you can see his swimming trunks. #BugSky
May 31, 2026 at 3:21 PM
News you can use: if you catch a swamp milkweed leaf beetle while he's tucking his wings under his elytra, you can see his swimming trunks. #BugSky
A few months ago our local red-shouldered hawks were causing so much drama I wrote a soap opera about them. Now they've all had babies, so it's time for The Bold and the Buteo: Episode 2. Cue dramatic theme music! overtonpark.org/blog/naturez... 🪶
NatureZen: The Bold and the Buteo, Episode 2 | Overton Park Conservancy
What happens when two red-shouldered hawk pairs nest in the Old Forest?
overtonpark.org
May 28, 2026 at 11:12 PM
A few months ago our local red-shouldered hawks were causing so much drama I wrote a soap opera about them. Now they've all had babies, so it's time for The Bold and the Buteo: Episode 2. Cue dramatic theme music! overtonpark.org/blog/naturez... 🪶
I met this glorious canyon wren in the Hill Country of Texas last week and now I'm SO MAD Memphis doesn't have any canyons 🪶 #BirdOfTheDay #RockSolid
May 3, 2026 at 9:19 PM
I met this glorious canyon wren in the Hill Country of Texas last week and now I'm SO MAD Memphis doesn't have any canyons 🪶 #BirdOfTheDay #RockSolid
April 22, 2026 at 11:44 PM
A delightful thing I've noticed is that #butterflies of the Callophyrus genus often flock together. In California recently, I saw lotus hairstreaks alongside brown elfins, and previously in Tennessee, I've seen juniper hairstreaks with Henry's elfins. Such cheerful pals. #Inverts #BugSky
April 19, 2026 at 7:26 PM
A delightful thing I've noticed is that #butterflies of the Callophyrus genus often flock together. In California recently, I saw lotus hairstreaks alongside brown elfins, and previously in Tennessee, I've seen juniper hairstreaks with Henry's elfins. Such cheerful pals. #Inverts #BugSky
Reposted by Melissa McMasters
We teamed up with Texas Civil Rights Project today and sued U.S. Customs and Border Protection for withholding public records on plans to build border walls through the #BigBend region of Texas.
More info: biodiv.us/4dzdxv4
More info: biodiv.us/4dzdxv4
April 7, 2026 at 6:39 PM
We teamed up with Texas Civil Rights Project today and sued U.S. Customs and Border Protection for withholding public records on plans to build border walls through the #BigBend region of Texas.
More info: biodiv.us/4dzdxv4
More info: biodiv.us/4dzdxv4
This absolutely has to be stopped. @natbutterflycenter.bsky.social is priceless for both wildlife and its community (and anyone who loves butterflies).
CBP: Border wall will go through National Butterfly Center
CBP: Border wall will go through National Butterfly Center
U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed to Border Report on Tuesday that they have awarded a contract to build 34 miles of border wall through the Rio Grande Valley from Rio Grande City to Wes…
www.krqe.com
April 1, 2026 at 10:21 PM
This absolutely has to be stopped. @natbutterflycenter.bsky.social is priceless for both wildlife and its community (and anyone who loves butterflies).
Birds attacking mirrors, a thread. Tufted titmice are constantly attacking my car window, but this is the first one I've seen that's taken up smoking. 🪶 🪞
March 25, 2026 at 1:33 PM
Birds attacking mirrors, a thread. Tufted titmice are constantly attacking my car window, but this is the first one I've seen that's taken up smoking. 🪶 🪞
A great blue heron and a little blue heron, when juxtaposed, prove that sometimes bird names are just and correct. #BirdOfTheDay #MixedPairs 🪶
March 5, 2026 at 2:42 PM
A great blue heron and a little blue heron, when juxtaposed, prove that sometimes bird names are just and correct. #BirdOfTheDay #MixedPairs 🪶
Reposted by Melissa McMasters
Today's a good day to get up close with an Orchid Mantis (Hymenopus coronatus). ➡️
March 4, 2026 at 7:40 PM
Today's a good day to get up close with an Orchid Mantis (Hymenopus coronatus). ➡️
These Atlantic puffins are Up to Something. No razorbills, murres, or humans allowed in the club! #BirdOfTheDay #FourOrMore
March 1, 2026 at 3:19 PM
These Atlantic puffins are Up to Something. No razorbills, murres, or humans allowed in the club! #BirdOfTheDay #FourOrMore
For #BirdOfTheDay, my favorite primary-colored bird has to be the painted bunting. I rarely get to see them, so that makes their rainbow of colors even more exciting when I do. 🪶
February 28, 2026 at 10:03 PM
For #BirdOfTheDay, my favorite primary-colored bird has to be the painted bunting. I rarely get to see them, so that makes their rainbow of colors even more exciting when I do. 🪶
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #BestOfTheMonth, and for me that was the experience of finally seeing an American woodcock. We get a short window this time of year to find them before they head north to breed, and in the past I've only heard a distant peent. This one, though, was a real sweetie! 🪶
February 27, 2026 at 3:08 PM
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #BestOfTheMonth, and for me that was the experience of finally seeing an American woodcock. We get a short window this time of year to find them before they head north to breed, and in the past I've only heard a distant peent. This one, though, was a real sweetie! 🪶
There are so many red-shouldered hawks in our little forest screaming bloody murder at each other that a couple weeks ago, I said, "This is a total soap opera." So today I wrote about it. I give you: The Bold and the Buteo. 🪶 overtonpark.org/blog/naturez...
NatureZen: The Bold and the Buteo | Overton Park Conservancy
The lives and loves of Overton Park's red-shouldered hawks.
overtonpark.org
February 27, 2026 at 1:00 AM
There are so many red-shouldered hawks in our little forest screaming bloody murder at each other that a couple weeks ago, I said, "This is a total soap opera." So today I wrote about it. I give you: The Bold and the Buteo. 🪶 overtonpark.org/blog/naturez...
For today's #BirdOfTheDay I submit this Hudsonian whimbrel, who's hoping to find a tasty crustacean in that glob of sand. #BirdsInTheirElement 🪶
February 22, 2026 at 2:34 PM
For today's #BirdOfTheDay I submit this Hudsonian whimbrel, who's hoping to find a tasty crustacean in that glob of sand. #BirdsInTheirElement 🪶