Monday in Nature Weekly Photo Sept. 28, 2015

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<p>Monday Morning Greetings,<br /> No matter how much we learn about a subject in nature, the unknown shows up. There's a lot out that's not in field guides. Something may be common in one location, but not on your side of the mountain, or state, or country, so you don't see it. You don't know anyone who has seen it, so that unknown thing never comes up in conversation. You don't even know that you're happy in a state of ignorant bliss. Then, one day, some how, you cross paths with the unknown. And, oddly, being ignorant and unknowing doesn't seem to matter. That stuff is really cool, and the world seems to stop turning while you greet the stranger and hope it sits still long enough for a photo or two.</p>

<p><em> Phlebia coccineofulva</em> was unknown to me until we met on a walk in the woods with a group of mycologists. We marveled at the intense colors and fragile texture. In this 1:1 image it looks like a gassy nebula, but it's really paper thin. Pretty cool stuff.</p>

<p>Let's see what you've seen in nature, whether unknown or well understood. You just might meet something new for Monday in Nature.</p><div></div>

<p><em>Daedalea </em>pores</p><div></div>

<p>Went apple picking this weekend. After an hour we had about a 5 gal bucket of small, sour semi-wild apples soon to be enjoyed as hard cider.</p><div></div>

<p>Green bug on sunflower.</p><div></div>

<p>Well spiders are hardly unknown, but what the sun does to their webs never fails to surprise and intrigue me.</p><div></div>

<p>Portrait of a long-legged fly (aka Dolichopodidae)</p>

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<p>Not new to me but nonetheless I am always happy to find these in my woods every fall.</p><div></div>

<p>I can only contribute a 'loony" image today. We were cloudy but for about three seconds the 'Super-Blood Moon was viable so I got off a few images.</p>

<p><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/18098132-lg.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="641" /><br>

Carmel, IN 'Super-Blood Moon'. Pentax K3, 600mm f5.6 </p>

<p>Shot from clear skies in Vermont</p><div></div>

<p><strong>Tiger Swallowtail</strong> seen at Pedernales Falls SP in central Texas. </p><div></div>

<p><strong>Blood Moon/Super Moon/Harvest Moon</strong></p>

<p><a title="Blood Moon/Super Moon/Harvest Moon" href=" data-flickr-embed="true"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/649/21762018942_aae6d97410_c.jpg" alt="Blood Moon/Super Moon/Harvest Moon" width="800" height="800" /></a></p>

<p>A hawk, near a pond, Iowa.</p><div></div>

<p>I've just returned from a few weeks on Canada's PEI. This shot was taken with a new P&S from aboard the ferry coming back to Nova Scotia. The sandy spit was dotted with hundreds of migratory birds assembling for the long flight to their winter homes.<br>

This camera is a Fuji XP85 purchased for its ability to take a beating, to perform under water and also because it was sold with a floating strap. It replaces a very capable Canon Elph that was not sold with a floating strap... that now resides at the bottom of the Saugeen River (the river claimed two cameras from two upturned canoes on that trip alone). So far I am more of a fan of the smaller Canon although both have their strengths and weaknesses. Shooting either from this particular ferry on this particular day required some experience. The wind made for a very unstable platform and bracing against the railings or bulkheads induced a tuning fork-like experience into the mix.</p>

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<p>Here's my unknown. It appears to be a moldy mushroom - shown before and after a rain storm. It seems odd that the mold would be washed off so easily, so maybe this is some mechanism for dispersing spores?</p><div></div>

<p>Tule elks (<em >Cervus canadensis nannodes</em>) at the Tomales Peninsula at the Point Reyes National Seashore.<br />

Nikon D750 with 200-500mm/f5.6 zoom @ 500mm.<br /></p><div></div>

<p>Spider's web after a foggy morning.</p>

<center><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/18098263-md.jpg" alt="_E6A4294A" width="680" height="453" border="0" /></center><center>Canon 7D + Sigma 105mm macro + Kenko 1.4X TC</center>

<p>Horseshoe crab. In Maine we are near the northernmost part of their range. Used to see them by the thousands in southern Delaware as a kid.</p><div></div>

<p>Belly side of a labyrinth orbweaver</p><div></div>

<p>Edwin,</p>

<p>Love the image. I didn't have a clue what it was until I read the bottom, great photo. Thanks for sharing. </p>

<p>Edwin - don't know if it's the low resolution limit of photo.net but I really don't see a horseshoe crab there. Not sure what it is. Here's one from a local museum, and it has a long spike for a tail...</p><div></div>

<p>Shun, a nice demo of your new lens! <br>

M. Mehtar, what beautiful webbed pearls! <br>

Rick Bortnick, is that microscopy? <br>

And the mushrooms look so delicious, especially when I haven't had lunch yet.</p>

<p>Anyhow, while you guys are doing all these cool things, I ran into Big Foot in the forest - and I am lucky to be alive! ;-)</p><div></div>

<p> Lovely harbingers of fall, Bittersweet.</p><div></div>

<p>Edwin, great image. I didn't know that horseshoe crabs had compound eyes until I saw your post.<br>

Limestone shoals on Lake Huron at the base of the Bruce Peninsula. Look out boats!</p>

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<p>When I lived in New Jersey, I used to see lots of horseshoe carbs in Cape May (southern tip of New Jersey) around the middle of May, across the bay from Delaware. They have a shell and a long tail. Maybe Edwin accidentally uploaded a different image from the one he intended.</p>

<p>Patrick and Shun, Edwin's shot is a closeup of the crab's compound left eye plus left side of the carapace ... it had me puzzled too for a while :)</p>