Nature

    Seen on the trail today, a zebra swallowtail! Saw a red spot purple on the walk yesterday. And the small flowers are starting to pop up above the leaves.

    Rue anemone A light pink flower grows near a leaf on the forest floor and is sunlit from the back


    A perfect afternoon visiting the bees as they collected pollen from a flowering plum tree.

    A honeybee collecting pollen from a white flower. in the background a branch of blurred flowers is on the right side of the image and a bright blue sky behind the bee and flower.
    A honeybee is collecting pollen from white plum flowers.
    A honeybee is collecting pollen from white plum flowers. A bright blue sky is visible in the background.

    #nature #bees #spring #flowers


    A variety of bees, flys and butterflies were busy pollinating the plum trees today - the western honey bees especially!

    A closeup of two honeybees, one is flying above white flowers, the other is resting on a flower as it collects pollen
    A honey bee gathering pollen from white flowers set against a blue sky
    A macro image of a furry honeybee collecting pollen from white flowers

    With the recent rain the moss and lichen are looking very lush.

    A close-up image of green moss that consists of cedar-like tendrils with an orange tint.
    A mix of various species of moss in a very close-up photo. At least 3 different species are visible.
    Cups of brownish green are set against a larger mass of pale green lichen on a branch.

    #moss #mosstodon #lichen #lichensubscribe


    An interesting patch of moss and lichen near the trail on my morning walk. The lichen appears to be taking over the moss.

    A patch of moss and lichen. A small purplish leaved plant is growing in the bottom right corner.
    A patch of moss and lichen, the lichen seems to be covering the moss, growing over it
    A patch of moss and lichen, the lichen seems to be covering the moss, growing over it

    A gall induced by Atrusca quercuscentricola, Spotted oak apple gall wasp. An egg is laid and after hatching the larvae signals the tree which produces a protective gall which contains a nutritious food source. At maturity in late November to early December it cut's a tiny hole and exits the gall.

    A small, light orange sphere with many dark red circles sits on a brown leaf in a forest. It is made by a gall wasp. The sphere has a small hole in the top right that reveals that the sphere is a very thin material.

    Seen on my morning trail walk. From top to bottom: The gall of a Atrusca quercuscentricola Spotted oak apple gall wasp.

    Cladonia portentosa Lichen

    A small, light orange sphere with many dark red circles sits on a brown leaf in a forest. It is made by a gall wasp. The sphere has a small hole in the top right that reveals that the sphere is a very thin material.
    pale green lichen with many very tiny branches that looks like a kind of sponge. The lichen grows atop a darker green patch of lush moss on the forest floor with a background of winter woodland
    pale green lichen with many very tiny branches that looks like a kind of sponge. The lichen grows atop a darker green patch of lush moss on the forest floor with a background of winter woodland

    Broom Forkmoss, Dicranum scoparium with a little cedar berry appearance. A macro photo of a mound of lush green moss. Each cluster of hairs

    Thuidium delicatulum, delicate fern moss or common fern moss. A macro photo of lush green moss that resembles a small forest of fern leaves

    A macro photo of lush green moss that resembles a small forest of fern leaves

    ID uncertain, possibly Entondon cladorrhizans flattened entondon moss Long tendrils of cedar like moss grow along a tree branch


    I almost missed this fallen branch covered in Luminescent Panelus, Panellus stipticus. Such a fascinating world if we take the time to see it.

    A macro side view of cluster of Orangish cream colored mushrooms grow from a fallen tree. In the background green moss and more mushrooms are visible.
    A Top down view of a cluster of Orangish cream colored mushrooms growing from a fallen tree. The mushrooms are in the shape of a Half circle and are irregular in texture and variations of color. In the background green moss, lichen and more mushrooms are visible.
    A bottom up view of a cluster of Orangish cream colored mushrooms growing from a fallen tree. The mushrooms are in the shape of a Half circle and are irregular in texture and variations of color. As the photo is taken from below the underside of the mushrooms with gills or ridges are visible. In the background green moss, lichen and more mushrooms a

    With last night’s rain and the soft light this morning the fungi, lichen and moss really popped out at me during my morning trail walk.

    Luminescent Panellus, Panellus stipticus and Eastern speckled shield lichen, Punctelia bolliana Small off-white to peach colored fungi near a cluster of cup-like lichen and green moss

    Sternum ostrea, false turkey-tail Fungi, dark brown at the center attachment to a tree. Rings outward gradually become lighter with the outer edges a light orange and white. They are in the shape of a semi-circle, somewhat resembling sea shells

    Tremella mesentercia, witch’s butter A bright yellow, semi-translucent, gelatinous fungi grows from a tree branch. Pale green lichen are also growing on the branch.


    While out on a trail walk yesterday, I saw something small and white moving around in the leaves and met this cute, furry moth, Artace cribrarius, the dot-lined white.

    a furry white moth is perched on a brown leaf set against a blurred forest background. The image is taken from the side.

    a furry white moth  set  against a blurred background of brown leaves. The moth has faint, delicate black specs on its wings.

    a furry white moth is perched on a leaf. Is taken from the underside, showing its belly and its legs holding onto the stem of a leaf. The background is a blurred forest.


    Seen on a morning walk, Campanula americana, American bellflower

    A blue flower with five pointed petals. The center is a white circle with a long, curved center pistil


    This morning I discovered a small group of pawpaws growing just 150 feet from my cabin! 🤗 I planted 2 in a different spot last spring but these volunteers are growing in the other spot I was considering. Which leads me to think there must be more in the area that I have yet to discover. 🤗

    A small tree/shrub about 2 feet high with very large, dark green leaves. The leaves are smooth, elongated coming to a point at the end. Leaves are each 2-4


    On my morning walk a couple days ago I came upon an Eastern Towhee singing in some cedar trees. Same again this morning but a different song. I took a few minutes to listen to the other songs in Merlin Bird ID and am reminded, yet again, that learning about my feathered neighbors is a never ending process. For every bird song I learn there are so many others that I do not know. And of course, as I learn some I sometimes forget along the way. I’ll only ever know a tiny fraction and even then I’m not learning what the song is about.

    Acknowledging the depth and complexity of the natural world is truly humbling.


    From a recent morning walk. Some beautiful sun rays and a tiny little wildflower. The sun shining behind several trees casting light rays onto a gravel road that is bordered with a mix of trees and grass

    Dianthus armeria, the Deptford pink A very small 5 petaled flower. The petals are darker pink on the outer portions, gradually becoming lighter and almost white at the center. The background is blurred greed leaves of the forest floor.


    A nice morning dog walk with all of the usual characters. I'm getting better at identifying bird song. Today: White-eyed vireo, yellow breasted chat, northern parula and cardinals.

    Also, flowers: Queen Anne's Lace A cluster of very tiny white flowers with a deep red magenta flower at the center

    Chicory and a green bee, perhaps Agapostemon virescens.

    A tiny green bee is collecting pollen from the center of a vibrant blue flower set against a blurred green field


    Half of the world’s 10,000-odd bird species are in decline. One in eight faces the threat of extinction. This problem has been worsening for decades, which means scientists have been able to estimate roughly how many fewer birds are around today than, say, half a century ago. The numbers are startling.

    Bird Populations Are in Meltdown | WIRED


    Orcas disrupt boat race near Spain in latest display of dangerous, puzzling behavior | AP News

    The behavior defies easy explanation.

    Yes, it’s the Orcas with their dangerous behavior that we should focus on.

    In other news, these are some of the whales that may go EXTINCT due to the actions of human beings:

    1. North Atlantic Right Whale (fewer than 500 left)
    2. North Pacific Right Whale
    3. Atlantic Humpback Dolphin
    4. Sei Whale
    5. Blue Whale
    6. Western Gray Whale
    7. Vaquita (a species of porpoise)
    8. Baiji (Possibly extinct)

    But, yes, let’s do go on about the Orcas.


    Based on these findings, the authors warn that more than a fifth of ecosystems worldwide, including the Amazon rainforest, are at risk of a catastrophic breakdown within a human lifetime.

    “It could happen very soon,” said Prof Simon Willcock of Rothamsted Research, who co-led the study. “We could realistically be the last generation to see the Amazon.”

    Ecological tipping points could occur much sooner than expected, study finds | The Guardian


    From my archive, a buffet of Purple Coneflowers being enjoyed by pipevine swallowtail, Battus philenor and monarch butterfly. Native wildflower gardens always bring the prettiest critters. 🥰

    A black butterfly with white and orange spots along the edge of its wings rests upon a purple coneflower gathering nectar. Other purple coneflowers surround it and woods are visible in the background

    A monarch butterfly with its predominately orange and black wings rests upon a purple coneflower gathering nectar. Other purple coneflowers surround it


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