JRBP on Presidents Day

We were out at the Ridge today and had a great hike after all the recent rains. Our trail route was 12 - 10- F - 3 -1 for a two and a half hour walk. One special note: I am certain I heard that special 'chittering' produced by Golden Eagles. We were near the junction of Trails 9 and 10, with the sound coming from the south, up the next ridge. This was the same area where we saw a Golden flying early last month.

Back to the walk. In addition to Goldfields, Trillium, Zigadenus and Shooting Stars we saw the red, white and blue of spring (Indian Warrior, Milkmaids and Hound's Tongue). There were few tracks except for one individual we nicknamed "Big Foot" for the size of the hiking boots he/she was wearing.. Our focus became the fungus family so here are a few we saw (and looked up):
Turkey Tails, Crown Cups, Witch's Butter, Earthstar, Candy Caps, Scarlet Waxy Caps, Chanterelle and Split Gill. This last one I termed a Turkey Tail at first but it was truly different. Shaped like a Turkey Tail it was hairy white on the upper surface but gilled underneath. The gills were grooved and radiating out from the stem attachment region. There was also a shelf fungus which may have been an Oak Conk or and Artist's Conk (the latter I think).

Twenty minutes or so after leaving the Preserve it began to rain gently but we no longer cared for we were safe in our home.

Posted on February 23, 2011 05:13 AM by bob-dodge