School was cancelled today, so I went out on a hike to enjoy the nice weather. My destination of choice for today was Fanshawe Lake in London.
My main focus today was plants, but found a couple other things as well. Lots of migrant Horned Larks today, as well as a Pileated Woodpecker. Found this friendly little Striped Skunk, apparently unconcerned with me being less than 10 feet away.
I am a newbie to winter tree ID, but here are a couple that I have been able to identify. I must say, it seems tricky (and is), but I could see how this could become addicting...
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Boxelder Maple (Acer negundo) |
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Butternut (Juglans cinerea) |
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Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) |
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Basswood (Tilia americana) |
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Bitternut Hickory (Carya cordiformis) |
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Eastern Hop-Hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) |
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American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) |
I enjoy the challenge of mosses as well. Found a few species today.
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Atrichum sp. |
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Sword Moss (Callicladium haldanianum) |
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Delicate Fern Moss (Thuidium delicatulum) |
I am a person who is easily distracted, and today was no exception. I, of course, had to stop and look at some fungi and lichens!
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Exidia recisa |
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Phomopsis sp. |
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Stump Puffball (Lycoperdon pyriforme) |
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Candelariella sp. (likely C. aurella) |
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Ceramic Parchment (Xylobolus frustulatus) |
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Splitgill Mushroom (Schizophyllum commune) |
A few miscellaneous finds...
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American Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) |
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Red Bartsia (Odontites vernus) |
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Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylum americanum) |
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Unidentified tree disease (?) |
A fun afternoon out, and got a good hike. Seems like a good place to visit in the future!
Oh, and just for fun, I'll make my prediction that the first Red-winged Blackbird of the season for the pond down my street will show up either tomorrow or Saturday. If I average out my spring arrival dates for that location, I get February 22, which, low and behold, is tomorrow. It is supposed to be warm the next few days, so maybe that'll give them a little extra push.
Good for you, Quinten, on continuing to 'branch' out into more areas of natural history.
ReplyDeleteI'm really 'lichen' it!
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DeleteI'm so proud of you, Quinten! 😀
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