Photos / Sounds
What
Lady Amherst's Pheasant (Chrysolophus amherstiae)Observer
ridgeDescription
Very surprised to see this wandering through the area. Must be an escapee either from a backyard or a pheasant farm somewhere.
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What
Genus LentinellusObserver
ridgeDescription
Growing on downed log in oak/bay woodland
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Elegant Tern (Thalasseus elegans)Observer
ridgeDescription
Apologies for the lousy through-the-binos photo. Thinking elegant terns based on the thinnish yellow beaks.
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What
Common Milkcaps (Genus Lactarius)Observer
ridgeDescription
Growing in leaf litter under coast live oak and California bay laurel woodland.
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Brownit (Collybia brunneocephala)Observer
ridgeDescription
Growing in a landscaped area of a city park. Clitocybe brunneocephala maybe?
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What
Silverleaf Fungus (Chondrostereum purpureum)Observer
ridgeDescription
Little fungus growing in the bark of a live tree. Maybe a Hydnellum of some sort?
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Mushrooms, Bracket Fungi, Puffballs, and Allies (Class Agaricomycetes)Observer
ridgeDescription
Growing about eight feet up the trunk of an oak. Marasmiellus candidus?
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What
Genus StereumObserver
ridgeDescription
False turkey tails were present in abundance in the oak-bay woods here, but this was distinctly different from anything else growing that day. Phlebia radiata? Stereum complicatum?
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What
Oak-loving Elfin Saddle (Helvella dryophila)Observer
ridgeDescription
Not sure of ID. In oak leaf litter. Lots of Lactarius alnicola nearby.
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Chip Cherries (Leratiomyces ceres)Observer
ridgeDescription
Growing in grassy open area between Eucalyptus trees.
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White-footed Slime (Diachea leucopodia)Observer
ridgeDescription
Minute black-capped fungus on decomposing Eucalyptus branches and leaves. These had a max height of maybe 2 millimeters.
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Mulch Maids (Leratiomyces percevalii)Observer
ridgeDescription
Growing in an open area next to mixed oak/pine/eucalytpus trees. Not sure, but looks like Leratiomyces to me.
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Porcini and Allies (Genus Boletus)Observer
ridgeDescription
Boletus mirabilis? Under redwoods.
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Common Gilled Mushrooms and Allies (Order Agaricales)Observer
ridgeDescription
I'm guessing Tricholoma equestre? Under a mat of pine needles.
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Amanita Mushrooms (Genus Amanita)Observer
ridgeDescription
Some little brown mushroom or other, in mixed conifer forest.
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Brittlegills (Genus Russula)Observer
ridgeDescription
Maybe Russula queletii? Under mixed redwood/pine.
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Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni)Observer
ridgeDescription
I'm thinking that this is a dark morph rough-legged hawk, but I'd like a second opinion.
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What
Genus HypholomaObserver
ridgeDescription
Found a bunch of these growing on a log. I tried running it through the key in Mushrooms of Western North America, but didn't get very far. The gills are notched at the base, I can tell you that much.
Photos / Sounds
What
Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)Observer
ridgeDescription
Apologies for the lousy photos, but all I had with me was my phone. I saw this Cooper's hawk hit a pigeon directly over the roadway, which then landed in this left turn lane. Fortunately, the traffic was fairly light and I was able to herd it off the road and onto the adjacent sidewalk. It picked up the pigeon and made a labored flight across two lanes, then kept eating its hard-earned kill.
