What
Fuzzy-Horned Bumble Bee (Bombus mixtus)Observer
bluehoneysugarDescription
At the center of photo, the blurry black object is the bee about to land on the white flower. It was quite large, and I'm not so sure if it was a bumblebee after all - there were two or three bees wandering around this shrub. I'm not quite sure if solitary bees could be found in threesome.
What
Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)Observer
bluehoneysugarDescription
All over campus. Fascinating how these guys do not hibernate.
Photos / Sounds
What
Turkish Towel (Chondracanthus exasperatus)Observer
bluehoneysugarDescription
Turkish towels are red when young but fades to yellow and white - so the washed up turkish towels are usually yellow-white. They have bumps that give them a rubbery feeling. The gravel beach of Lincoln Park had lots of this and wakame.
Photos / Sounds
What
Wakame (Undaria pinnatifida)Observer
bluehoneysugarDescription
I'm so sorry, I forgot to take photos of these seaweeds. But its the typical seaweed you would imagine, dark green and smooth. Wakame is crucial for Japanese cuisine.
Photos / Sounds
What
Dicots (Class Magnoliopsida)Observer
bluehoneysugarDescription
Is this azalea as well?
What
Brittlestems and Allies (Family Psathyrellaceae)Observer
bluehoneysugarDescription
A mushroom that is quite common in Puget Sound but that has a Japanese origin. The umbrella only remains open for 24 hours and then vanishes.
What
Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus)Observer
bluehoneysugarDescription
A dry, deciduous shrub with white flowers like mock orange. A bee very attracted to the flower. I believe this shrub was only about 5ft.
What
Evergreen Huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum)Observer
bluehoneysugarDescription
Grows one of the most delicious fruits that become tastier in colder weather.
What
Salal (Gaultheria shallon)Observer
bluehoneysugarDescription
Salal is one of the most common plant species that has pink flowers a little dangling.
What
Redneck Rhody (Daphniphyllum macropodum)Observer
bluehoneysugarDescription
Its scientific name is Daphniphyllum macropodum. Its Japanese name is yuzuri-ha.
Photos / Sounds
What
American Beaver (Castor canadensis)Observer
bluehoneysugarDescription
It was my first time seeing a beaver! At the very edge of the parking lot across the bridge walking from the university campus, it came on land to get a piece of wood to use in its dam. A big black object with furs wet and stuck to its body, it carried a pretty large chunk of wood, one that was maybe twice as large as its body. There were other woods around, but seeing that it came up quite a way on land, it seems to pick and choose appropriate logs for its nest.
What
Mosses (Phylum Bryophyta)Observer
bluehoneysugarDescription
Extensive layer of moss that covered a tree like a sheet of green fluffy cushion. You would find some brown and white with green, which I don't know are colors of different moss.
What
Seven-spotted Lady Beetle (Coccinella septempunctata)Observer
bluehoneysugarDescription
I couldn't get a good look at this one because he flew away just as soon as I took this photo. Lady bugs in my opinion are one of the easiest to take a photo - because they don't move as much and because they have distinctive red bodies.
What
Cowslip (Primula veris)Observer
bluehoneysugarDescription
Often found in marshes and ditches.
What
American Ipecac (Gillenia stipulata)Observer
bluehoneysugarDescription
Also called indian physic. Have a cool, sharp looking leaves. A herb, not sure whether native to Puget Sound or even North America, but it is good to study them as well.
Observer
bluehoneysugarDescription
Some of the berries could be difficult to identify without flowers or berries.
What
Mushrooms, Bracket Fungi, Puffballs, and Allies (Class Agaricomycetes)Observer
bluehoneysugarDescription
Interesting linear alignment of what I believe to be a lichen. They seem puffy but are pretty hard and must be really pollution tolerant.
What
Feral Pigeon (Columba livia var. domestica)Observer
bluehoneysugarDescription
I like the colors on their feathers.
What
Red Alder (Alnus rubra)Observer
bluehoneysugarDescription
Red alder is an early succession species and they are very good at growing in steep hills and bare land. In places like the UW arboretum, you would find this tree near water.
Photos / Sounds
What
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)Observer
bluehoneysugarDescription
I believe they were a pair of a female and a child mallard, or just two female mallards. They were taking a nap on the grass field next to a road, so I assumed that they were accustomed to cars. Even then, when I walked up close they lifted their head, so I backed off since I know how annoying it is to be awaken unnecessarily. Glad that I saw them sleeping again on my way back.
Photos / Sounds
What
Dwarf Resin Birch (Betula glandulosa)Observer
bluehoneysugarDescription
I am assuming that a dwarf birch and dwarf resin birch are the same species.
Photos / Sounds
What
Black Cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa)Observer
bluehoneysugarDescription
Cottonwoods like to grow near water. On the other side of this tree you could see the legacy of beavers carving out its bark.
What
Common Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus)Observer
bluehoneysugarDescription
Just simple opposite leaves when the berries are not there. Snowberries look like white chocolate that look delicious (to me) but in fact a little poisonous and not tasty at all. The berries linger on through mid winter after all leaves are gone, so you would see bare branches with white berries dangling.
What
Burdocks (Genus Arctium)Observer
bluehoneysugarDescription
A big leaf growing near the root of an alnus tree. So the leaves have white seeds and flowers that has fallen from the tree. I wonder if this shrub and the alnus tree are in a symbiotic relationship.
What
Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)Observer
bluehoneysugarDescription
I... got bothered because the tree was not red at all.
Photos / Sounds
What
Cotoneasters (Genus Cotoneaster)Observer
bluehoneysugarDescription
I go by the name kinnikinnick. They have alternating small leaves with red berries for most of the year, even though they surprised me because they were white right now.
Photos / Sounds
What
Shore Pine (Pinus contorta var. contorta)Observer
bluehoneysugarDescription
Also called lodgepole pine, had 3 needles per fascicle.
Photos / Sounds
What
Hackberries (Genus Celtis)Observer
bluehoneysugarDescription
Although names sugarberry, it is a completely different species than huckleberry or salmonberry. Whereas salmonberry is a shrub, sugarberry is a tree.