Here are some of the mushrooms I have spied over the last few days.
After an exceedingly hot and dry summer, it has cooled a bit and has even rained some.
For the first time in ages, I'm linking with Lisa'a Chaos for Macro Monday.
-Susan
Showing posts with label Macro Monday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Macro Monday. Show all posts
Monday, September 10, 2012
Monday, October 17, 2011
Oyster Mushrooms
Lately, the weather has been really dry. We had one day of rain in the last couple of weeks, but it's still mighty dry. So there have been very few mushrooms to find when I have made my trips into the woods.
But there have been oysters. Lots of oysters.
Pleurotus ostreatus is the Latin name for these lovely mushrooms.
They are all over this poplar log.
The "babies" are simply adorable.
To me, at least.
After noticing all the mushrooms springing forth from this log, I brought a jug of water for them.
The creek the log is over is completely dry.
Oysters are supposed to be really tasty mushrooms, but after Hen-of-the-Woods, I wasn't impressed.
I'll try them again another time.
I know this is an obvious warning, but
DO NOT EAT ANY WILD MUSHROOM THAT YOU ARE NOT 100% SURE WHAT IT IS!
Stop by Lisa's Chaos to see what other macros this Monday brings.
As always, click on any photos for an enlargement.
-Susan
Monday, August 8, 2011
Macro Monday
I've been absent a bit lately.
Our whole family has been travelling abroad for the last two weeks.
NOT!
Actually, I have hardly left Shakerag. And what's more, I have hardly left the house! It's just been too hot and humid to do anything.
So, no blogging, no photo-taking, no nuthin'.
Yesterday, I braved the heat, humidity, and ticks to take a walk in the woods.
A very small toad crossed my path. He was about half an inch long.
Yes, I irritated him.
He really didn't seem that bothered by the flash. I didn't like the way it turned out with the flash,
but the light was low enough almost all my flash-less shots were blurry.
It was my looking at him that he seemed to object to most.
Mushrooms, on the other hand, don't mind me bothering them at all.
These were even smaller than the toad.
It was humid enough that my glasses fogged up on me several times. I came in covered in sweat and teeny ticks.
But it really was nice to get out into the woods again.
It was especially nice after a shower.
Happy Monday!
Our whole family has been travelling abroad for the last two weeks.
NOT!
Actually, I have hardly left Shakerag. And what's more, I have hardly left the house! It's just been too hot and humid to do anything.
So, no blogging, no photo-taking, no nuthin'.
Yesterday, I braved the heat, humidity, and ticks to take a walk in the woods.
A very small toad crossed my path. He was about half an inch long.
Yes, I irritated him.
He really didn't seem that bothered by the flash. I didn't like the way it turned out with the flash,
but the light was low enough almost all my flash-less shots were blurry.
It was my looking at him that he seemed to object to most.
Mushrooms, on the other hand, don't mind me bothering them at all.
These were even smaller than the toad.
It was humid enough that my glasses fogged up on me several times. I came in covered in sweat and teeny ticks.
But it really was nice to get out into the woods again.
It was especially nice after a shower.
Happy Monday!
Monday, July 18, 2011
Macro Monday
The other day while in the woods, I saw a spider unlike any I had ever noticed before. I took some pictures. (I know that is shocking!) I then walked about ten feet and found another of the same kind!
Spider photos follow!
These female Spined Mucrathena Spiders (Micratthena gracilis) were easy to identify because nothing else looks anything like them.
Only the females have the black and white spines. I saw the male on the web of the first spider, but he was so small and non-descript, I couldn't get the camera to focus on him.
Even the females were less than half an inch long.
The spines are supposed to both act as camouflage and
make them look unappetizing.
The web was perfectly round. Click to enlarge to actually see the web.
Spider photos follow!
These female Spined Mucrathena Spiders (Micratthena gracilis) were easy to identify because nothing else looks anything like them.
Only the females have the black and white spines. I saw the male on the web of the first spider, but he was so small and non-descript, I couldn't get the camera to focus on him.
Even the females were less than half an inch long.The spines are supposed to both act as camouflage and
make them look unappetizing.
The web was perfectly round. Click to enlarge to actually see the web.Monday, July 11, 2011
Mushroomy Macro Monday
Well, it would seem I have been on a bit of a vacation the last week. In truth, I've just been insanely busy and a bit uninspired. But, I'm back and enthusiastic! Part of my enthusiasm comes from discovering simply the coolest mushroom blog ever! If you like the stuff I photograph, but with a fungal-emphasis, then you will love Mycologista! I wish I knew how I found it, but the important thing is I did.
So here are just a few of the mushrooms I found yesterday on my walk in Shakerag Woods.
The above mushrooms seemed to be on every fallen log.
I liked the light coming through this one.
It was a good day for orangey-yellow mushrooms.
Below is the underside of the same mushroom.
The following were inside a hollow log.
My mom thinks it looks like meringue that is browning. It sort of does.
More merunigue?
Above and below are the same mushroom.
I haven't identified any of these mushrooms partly because I haven't really had the time to try yet and partly because it can be really hard.
So here are just a few of the mushrooms I found yesterday on my walk in Shakerag Woods.
The above mushrooms seemed to be on every fallen log.
I liked the light coming through this one.
It was a good day for orangey-yellow mushrooms.
Below is the underside of the same mushroom.
The following were inside a hollow log.
My mom thinks it looks like meringue that is browning. It sort of does.
More merunigue?
Above and below are the same mushroom.
I haven't identified any of these mushrooms partly because I haven't really had the time to try yet and partly because it can be really hard.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
Macro Monday Critter of the Day
It must be a turtle-y time of year. Saturday, while out and about in town, I saw two or three turtles of differing kinds. Today, we have had two in our front yard. The first, and only one I got to see personally, was this Eastern Box Turtle. I love these little turtles! As a kid, we would often find and play with these turtles. If the dogs found them first, we'd rescue them and drive them down the road a piece and release them.
One thing that makes Eastern Box Turtles easy to identify is that, unlike every other turtle in this area, they can completely close themselve in their shells. They close so tightly, in fact, that they frequently a knife cannot be admitted- not that I would try that!
Is it safe to come out?
It's usually simple to tell the sex of these turtles, too. Males have red eyes, females have yellow eyes. At first I thought this was a female turtle, but looking closely at the photographs, I think it may be a young male.
See the red starting to show in his eyes?
Box turtles are slow to grow and slow to reproduce.
It takes ten to twenty years to reach sexual maturity.
They are also quite long lived. Fifty years is about average;
one hundred years is not unheard of according to some sources.
The primary things to shorten their otherwise long lives are cars, dogs, and raccoons, all of which we have around here.
Box turtles are omnivores in the truest sense of the word.
If they can get it into their mouth, they will eat it.
Favorite foods are fruits, slugs, bugs, and mushrooms.
They can even eat some mushrooms that are poisonous to humans.
I think this individual is rather young because his shell is in such good shape. Many I have seen have chips out of their shells or significant scratches.
Their patterns are highly variable. I suspect that I could recognize this particular turtle again, based on these photos.
One thing that makes Eastern Box Turtles easy to identify is that, unlike every other turtle in this area, they can completely close themselve in their shells. They close so tightly, in fact, that they frequently a knife cannot be admitted- not that I would try that!
Is it safe to come out?
It's usually simple to tell the sex of these turtles, too. Males have red eyes, females have yellow eyes. At first I thought this was a female turtle, but looking closely at the photographs, I think it may be a young male.
See the red starting to show in his eyes?
Box turtles are slow to grow and slow to reproduce.
It takes ten to twenty years to reach sexual maturity.
They are also quite long lived. Fifty years is about average;
one hundred years is not unheard of according to some sources.
The primary things to shorten their otherwise long lives are cars, dogs, and raccoons, all of which we have around here.
Box turtles are omnivores in the truest sense of the word.
If they can get it into their mouth, they will eat it.
Favorite foods are fruits, slugs, bugs, and mushrooms.
They can even eat some mushrooms that are poisonous to humans.
I think this individual is rather young because his shell is in such good shape. Many I have seen have chips out of their shells or significant scratches.
Their patterns are highly variable. I suspect that I could recognize this particular turtle again, based on these photos.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Macro Monday
I saw quite a few turtles last week. In addition to the usual Eastern Box Turtles, I have seen two or three Snapping Turtles crossing the road.
June is the peak time for egg-laying for Snapping Turtles. Based on that, this may be a female trying to get somewhere to lay her eggs.
As long as I can remember, I have been a turtle crossing guard. One time I assisted a large Alligator Snapping Turtle who was in a rather good mood.
I didn't even come close to getting bitten.
This snapper, on the other hand, was a rather ill-tempered. I still managed to help the turtle cross the road, but it wasn't easy. And I had one narrow escape.
Don't try to move these guys without a rather long, sturdy stick. They can reach out of their shell and bite nearly to their tails!
Doesn't she have pretty eyes?
Sorry, but I don't have any other macros. This was close enough.
Here's a blurry action shot:
June is the peak time for egg-laying for Snapping Turtles. Based on that, this may be a female trying to get somewhere to lay her eggs.
As long as I can remember, I have been a turtle crossing guard. One time I assisted a large Alligator Snapping Turtle who was in a rather good mood.
I didn't even come close to getting bitten.
This snapper, on the other hand, was a rather ill-tempered. I still managed to help the turtle cross the road, but it wasn't easy. And I had one narrow escape.
Don't try to move these guys without a rather long, sturdy stick. They can reach out of their shell and bite nearly to their tails!
Doesn't she have pretty eyes?Sorry, but I don't have any other macros. This was close enough.
Here's a blurry action shot:
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Macro Monday
Mrs. Killdeer on her nest of rocks. Isn't she pretty?
Here are her eggs. She lives at the local airport. The folks there said she stayed on the nest through all the storms we've been having.Here are some photos from a trip to the local city park.
I'm linking to Macro Monday at Lisa's Chaos.
Stop by and see what macros you can see today!
-Susan
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