The only woodrat I've ever seen in the flesh
This is the same slime mold I've looked at in previous weeks. Today I went back with Leslie Flint, and she both pulled off the remnants of the one atop the log, and also noted a larger mass of slime mold below.
This piece of lichen had fallen off of a nearby lichen-laden rock. The first shot is from below, the second (unfortunately out-of-focus) is from above.
We were hiking at the right hour to see the soap plant bloom! We even saw one open right before our very eyes! We watched a large bee pollinate it.
This time I was hiking with Leslie Flint, so I feel more secure in *our* ID
many of the lower branches of the oaks are infested with the caterpillars this spring
Photos 2 is of the frasse or Oak moth droppings upon a spider web.
Nesting female in an Alder branch hanging over the trail. Three youngsters underneath!
Close up shot of the dorsum of a harvestman (Opiliones, suborder Palpatores), Redwood City, San Mateo County, California - July 2008.
Ruptured Twig Gall - made by a cynipid wasp (Callirhytis perdens), found on Quercus wislizeni (Interior Live Oak), Huddart Park, San Mateo County, California - September 2008.
Gouty Stem Gall Wasp (Callirhytis quercussuttoni), found on Quercus wislizeni (Interior Live Oak), Huddart Park, San Mateo County, California - September 2008.
Pumpkin Gall Wasp (Dryocosmus minusculus), gall on leaf of Interior Live Oak (Quercus wislizeni), Huddart Park, San Mateo County, California - September 2008. This tiny, 1-mm gall was induced by a cynipid wasp.
The male was hovering around the female who was flicking the water with her tail (depositing eggs?)
