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...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLkSHttdPV0By4hRGhKvsws8RiwZs2F7WbK7l2fLEDdA7730vjFdw842o2HiFiZC43oHqXMv1XlU4ZGLmJ9Nrbn0_LkJqioub6RpQiN-tnNPf5OvCt9ymzLxDIrlGgZzaJqPC6fUoGtcIW/s280/IMG_3512.JPG) |
Boxelder Maple (Acer negundo) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXyuw9wxoZ_j9OfRBFJjz8fuUJp9x_NPMPptRvve9TPCvv044iIGBbZX2E6ETwFXyJaxyE-NZfjbFri37AZNuiWnSmo3CAO1df_-Ux7w9cLxiTskPZY2P6EnBszMVRNTWp8WxJBrqHFHkF/s280/IMG_3543.JPG) |
Butternut (Juglans cinerea) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupp_f1P_xnTy2VSu1zP4QI8XiUgICzWWTu4VIpnHgn_m6ko5603cNbqR0qmHvnVwLnlcI0Sr2H9Vm4z0EMy5O-JWM_6S2psJ7O5tBsZ768Ojc761aH4ki1LXZeac1O3oyCbMHV_-5Y6Wp/s280/IMG_3525.JPG) |
Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1UTnBVQ9tBoqA0qbkxnHhInEcs59RGJmBpKtPH02tvBajZJmiX_t24yCJGtYSu0QXnJllHwHbmV3LdfHrgcALABoJ6GZI6LiLzBZdMc6a2afh0rYj_LSj3pExY0YEW6dY1Mn3rGra3Wfh/s280/IMG_3589.JPG) |
Basswood (Tilia americana) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirskqYiSay_vcSzYnAi4vEVyydv8mD89hlZdsIQNEuw6sjgLEM6aMLc8FWTL9zgX58v4jXEfemFnvOsIwXQOFMGAdkKIWwQVqkXSfGTo_wKs-wHyNu0JRX7ruOgG0W4YddmV5ojml5CiOc/s280/IMG_3652.JPG) |
Bitternut Hickory (Carya cordiformis) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE8y4HYFdE8aKF1n9A07j_D9CO390wKOKyImTiLIyKHwApO9qmjiyopSWnJYVncDktOEeBfGBr64exVQCHWMCwCN7Lv0EfGc2DragrTWM2FTHBoBakyrotg2drFQMDYbObjPlmN269ArT-/s280/IMG_3701.JPG) |
Eastern Hop-Hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpc9BPRdRobsHe_ySp9JqSD8bSi8wryn7rtzQXQMP6zoh8ZgcW42bqVnTn3DIcUk8odMda7Rk7E0e9T4CEujiL7UPAwD9zyRuYGznvrSc96W-LICoqrP1scEa8lW9oCp2VZQs3kcB5_WV/s280/IMG_3877.JPG) |
American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) |
I enjoy the challenge of mosses as well. Found a few species today.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1IPt6KEOWqZUvQare8t5xNFyS0LvX6IGxIvZ5Za3XuR9YkjjcMBm8LkTobFtSRn5JR91BupJGZUhdMclhDICzbRiUcHlHAYEad7eAxUEeCfASt3wXgjGVxRwLZjgYfoD58nxHGiEwRYRe/s280/IMG_3764.JPG) |
Atrichum sp. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMkclulQHZGTt4burDzPEh2ov5PyeO-oHvUby_Uq2UMbwp0ZjtdwubWd_csNwBoigWlCaqnMWbgAHrjWt3Es9i5UMEVjeSwiToplk7Zd0CoYw8vyOX_bB6dxXMNDe44kIbkmgAstW-s5_n/s280/IMG_3634.JPG) |
Sword Moss (Callicladium haldanianum) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILfwodW8q5aWuhoMz7JODx1CD8nKItaKpLCv6rxHwp1PLh8E6M5LWnOIelCVDXyQvoRMA7l60ip2uobV4_umsfLwabiRXqB6w8vXdUl3_D8TJfAzqsMeC9shTVFK_d-Ap_ix3vuycGtd9/s280/IMG_3624.JPG) |
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!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfkPz3cfIFdz3KNNh4umJq8VIIFa5XsaLNZ1gwBsrKiQZmUptgrFiRmJ9kCK9_djYOsM9OLDw0yCz2wcpUyAxVBoENX083p4tp2L1FeMnZk5Po9oreY42tcntAhezieVMrK6e1Ck8sDiAQ/s280/IMG_3582.JPG) |
Exidia recisa |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5OYS_087Q5Rl9ugRin6Gp6F7YdGQBCjvS3rxQpwnfhaxP0HipxWejZzpPpY_QeFIMcGEnkOvHCuDN6vdh3MWsuzUSIKnZRr-Y2UdN8oAeXBmwlGnRKCkZO61TUse3Z7chIFy_AAEhRlx_/s280/IMG_3653.JPG) |
Phomopsis sp. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdF7Yy9aUqFTs3cjYym2Zmr4AQ6jbrsNeiV_CnDFpSVEuS2kA962ek053HORsvoTYjuCliHhO_27EPoVhRGnuCVskNM75gCra_gsKLHBnVXz9VUYr7pUYdYMBu8yTk-kkF6KGUoXDIUVC4/s280/IMG_3716.JPG) |
Stump Puffball (Lycoperdon pyriforme) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvvSyUSBMM3paOnznED8Lzo8mwQPNPv8WmWwpRWIw-_Jr5RwoNIXcKgjNOczuNTbqZzWQ6Bok8V91CCFoe8ilDYpdrY_Y5vI-MDKyPyDXjCrIPrUUvBjlcpKm2UTz7zyFH7Ewx_xqwi44c/s280/IMG_3882.JPG) |
Candelariella sp. (likely C. aurella) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xhrG23BzLqHpKcxpUlgR0xOC7Ddlo6R69au_7gQD2ZKV1RuhsNFP90EO9fC-FPcH-f6_pg9VCVlS_HREGYmZ_JeTifZ655EC5E27-PG5cnv2rE42kXtf3eUg6e_oIvoXBa5yY259M8TX/s280/IMG_3848.JPG) |
Ceramic Parchment (Xylobolus frustulatus) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-t5IZNQw9UckPvyXtJ63Xu0xA7QAW_2ve8nP1yrbAvtMFo_PQyu1GBjILgVMhup3lySBnyb23S7xadrIlQC5ErmnmlVNAYU7VeEkJ7PFSVeQDr91IOERyXSKOHzDSGSKRIVZSn6DeFgIl/s280/IMG_3677.JPG) |
Splitgill Mushroom (Schizophyllum commune) |
A few miscellaneous finds...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1FK3FEGlOcBVAoirvhTupuIG8KWq_Dzy2mFhQ-jmDl76EE4cOleesJDwICYW3iGGKWfoWDH8B7OBDOjsu3szk08BSpBIBxUOQmv6abO6LEDUHFZv3X_DppvNtfESuzRomr8PJxk-6g48/s280/IMG_3638.JPG) |
American Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEUdxneYXrPek0sqsNXWeubBP-yNs6F2flZmtJIayblpTEkf5oRIquhZSkw8azmL0gj36w_G1efhs0bio9Ckg6EVqNyNCqtfGcS8Tgg_4NUF5zVJEfMSk8TCLoWP5RRtCjcta6RPyP70e/s280/IMG_3831.JPG) |
Red Bartsia (Odontites vernus) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpGJ7az4BQRCSh9SB9H1LxksqBCeY4OCOZDY-xwlZz0XDLNLlt2GKT2NS8Nx_-xJ68uWZnJPgz5se8OvnA5nNNPsc0I8wsy7ZKf8I2rKVNrd_LwXAcFqhCR1mbaBHjVKqronJqJ3dlZzV/s280/IMG_3769.JPG) |
Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylum americanum) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-w6dIWXSiIhmdvTKPpEh5G5pVa3ryjH0IK6BmLXEp9VPVsMgP4ZvzyhTCRYAJOsdhmy0_8WcPLMqnwIvdIYYAxVTqdV-GIhi9Cg2zb3YgUZAEbAF8m1X5ICjTO6O0vPQc17VCa3Ai3i_p/s280/IMG_3860.JPG) |
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!
Delete😄
DeleteI'm so proud of you, Quinten! 😀
ReplyDelete