Monday in Nature May 23, 2016

<p>Happy birthday! This is an oldie, but I couldn't resist the rainbow...</p><div></div>

<p>Mary Doo, I haven't seen morels recently but used to get them often when I lived in Connecticut. I don't know the species here either, but second the general opinion that they are very tasty and that one of the best things you can do with them is put them in an omelette.</p>

<p>Knowing this to be a hot bed of mycological expertise, I'm posting a photo of a mystery fungus. A good friend and mushroom hunter couldn't identify it either. Found on a hillside going up to Mount Ashland in southern Oregon. Any ideas? Thanks for three years of great photos.. </p><div></div>

<p>Two bald eagles have been hanging around a boat dock on the Snake River near Idaho Falls on their way north. They tend to stick around for a couple of weeks in the spring and then move on. They also visit in the fall on their way south. I have been walking the dog on the riverbank in hopes of photographing them. I finally succeeded this morning. Here is one of several dozen shots.<br>

Shun - I love the symmetry of the egret's head above and it's reflection below the circular water ripples. </p><div></div>

<p>Perhaps not the finest capture for me, but I am sure the Heron enjoyed his captured "Lobster" breakfast. Acquired at the Cosumnes River Preserve, Galt, California.</p>

<p>Canon EOS 7DII & Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM / Contemporary @ 600mm. Technicals = 1/2500 sec; f/10; ISO 800. With a severe crop!</p><div></div>

<p>Great images today, as always. This ship isn't sinking.</p>

<p>John Farrar, I loved your image from across the room, and loved it more the closer I got. </p>

<p>Steve Henry, I'll go out on a small limb here. I think your mushroom is <em>Calvatia sculpta. </em>I'm glad you mentioned the location, because this is known from western mountains. It's a spectacular mushroom, especially for a puffball!. You great image shows some important details. In case you have the book, it's on p. 684-685 of Mushrooms Demystified. Also check <a href="http://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/194565-Calvatia-sculpta">here</a> and <a href="http://www.mykoweb.com/CAF/species/Calvatia_sculpta.html">here</a><br>

Now, here's a tip about photo ID of fungi and your mushroom presents a big hole that's easy to find oneself in. It also looks like it could be the emerging cap of <em>Amanita magniverrucata,</em> another mushroom with huge white pyrimidal warts. It would be easy to say, oh yeah, it's that Amanita, and be done, and probably wrong. The key is location, and season.</p>

<p>Gordon, ah yes, <em>Morchella</em>. Since you mentioned it, why, yes, there are a LOT of morels. I had to look, but in Ascomycete Fungi of North America there are 11 species with photos and descriptions, with 21 total in the index. You're fine, go get more butter. ;-)</p>

<p>@Laura Weishaupt - Thanks for the ID. I'll let my friend know as well. I do have a mushroom book, but it's packed for a move. <br>

Another Happy Monday. </p>

 

<p>Life after death!</p><div></div>

<p>Happy 3rd Monday in Nature! Dressed up for the occasion, here's a 3-colored grasshopper from Orocopia Mountains Wilderness :)</p>

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<p>Male Purple Finch</p>

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<p>Happy Birthday Monday in Nature! I needed a Patterns in Nature shot, and I photographed this Tomato Hornworm. It looks like fish lined up.</p><div></div>

<p>Joyeux Anniversaire MIN! Yesterday visited the Sweetwater Wetlands Park and caught this large male 'gator warning off a younger male with an impressive growl that caused the water to vibrate.</p><div></div>

<p><img src="/photo/18235985" alt="" />Mine was taken in the Caribbean island of Grenada a couple of months ago</p><div></div>

<p>What a superb set of birthday images! It seems invidious to pick just a few but I really liked Christoph, Mary Doo, Gordon B and Leszek's. And I've never seen anything like Steve's <em>Calvatia</em>.</p>

<p>A day late to the party, but here is my contribution:</p><div></div>