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GeneralThe Nature Thread
8th Jul 2011 13:59 UTCDavid Bernstein Expert
I'll start with two mushrooms that I encountered during a rough hike to an old mining site in Oxford, New Jersey yesterday. Bonus points if you can identify the species. Oh, and if your story has an unhappy ending, like, the snake rushed me and I beat it to death with a crowbar, please leave that out.:D Just thinking of prior threads.
8th Jul 2011 14:56 UTCPeter Andresen Expert
You are so right, part of the fun going out collecting at new sites is the surprices you may encounter. I add a rather old picture, from a trip to Persberg area, where I found this orchid growing next to an old iron mine, I don't know which mine, but it wasn't the one I was looking for - Harstigen...
Platanthera chlorantha
8th Jul 2011 16:06 UTCTom Bennett
Our little group of rock hunters have a strong respect for old stuff - like that smokestack at the Golf course, David !
Great pic ! I have long thought about doing a pic filled tread about that spot.
Old buildings old train tracks old relics are always a plus.
Bugs dont bother me and I'm pretty much invulnerable to poison ivy - the only part of " Nature " that gets me is the heat.
-Tom
8th Jul 2011 16:20 UTCHarald Schillhammer Expert
Funny, when I go out collecting minerals in spring I always keep my eyes open for potentially good mushroom places to be re-visited in summer and fall :).
Peter, nice orchid!
Here's one of my best catches from Dunkelstein forest: Boletus pinophilus; cap diameter 15cm and in perfect condition.
http://www.pbase.com/rovebeetle/image/117821873/original.jpg
Cheers
8th Jul 2011 16:24 UTCDavid Bernstein Expert
Here is a nice shroom that looks like a flounder.
8th Jul 2011 16:27 UTCDavid Bernstein Expert
8th Jul 2011 16:52 UTCRoger Curry
Redback about to climb on lens.
Not my nugget.
8th Jul 2011 17:01 UTCMichael Wood
Here's a critter I stumbled upon a few years ago, at Talisker Bay on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. I came round a boulder and there it was, no more than 12 FEET away (4m). I thought it was injured at first, as it was writhing about on the rocks; but it was merely drying it's fur after a dip in the sea! It then lay back and sunbathed and I kept on taking photo's until my battery died. Then I snuck away and left it to it. It made my day.
Cheers, Mike
8th Jul 2011 17:39 UTCJohn Truax
Morels~!
8th Jul 2011 17:43 UTCHarald Schillhammer Expert
-------------------------------------------------------
> David, that first 'shroom photo looks like Panther
> Cap (amanita pantherina).
> Cheers, Mike
Mike, I am not so sure footed with N-American Amanita species - there are considerably more than in Europe - but that reddish tint on the cap is usually a good token for the Blusher (A. rubescens), Panthers almost always are conspicuously and uniformly brownish between the white velum remains even when young.
Funny thing is, here in Europe we have more edible Amanita species than poisonous ones, but one would be wise to only take them home and eat them when he is a mushroom expert :).
BTW - also nice catch of yours.
Cheers
8th Jul 2011 17:44 UTCHarald Schillhammer Expert
Cheers
8th Jul 2011 17:46 UTCHarald Schillhammer Expert
-------------------------------------------------------
> Harold, that is an amazing shot. It almost looks
> like an extension of the rock, that is it looks
> like the shroom is made of rock. Keep em
> comin'.(:D
Thanks David. Here's more:
mushrooms
8th Jul 2011 19:43 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager
Are you sure that critter was "only" sunbathing, or sleeping off a wee bit too much Talisker Scotch?? :)o
John,
As I'm sure you know, there is nothing finer than fresh morels sauteed in butter and garlic, then placed beside a nice steak; mmmmmmm!!!
8th Jul 2011 19:46 UTCAleš Tomek Expert
Those pictures are one of the reasons why is it good to self-collect. Last year I took a photo of this nice and big caterpillar (Deilephila elpenor, Linné 1758) crawling in the site in Valeč (famous opal-AN, hyalite site). The measure is my kids hammer...
regards,
Aleš.
http://www.mindat.org/photos/0463719001280789409.jpg
8th Jul 2011 19:52 UTCHarald Schillhammer Expert
-------------------------------------------------------
> Last year I took a photo of
> this nice and big caterpillar (Deilephila elpenor,
> Linné 1758) crawling in the site in Valeč
> (famous opal-AN, hyalite site). The measure is my
> kids hammer...
>
> regards,
> Aleš.
Aleš, what a beauty. I have found the moth but never the larva. Hawkmoth caterpillars can be quite spectacular, and yours is actually one of the "smaller" species :).
Cheers
8th Jul 2011 19:52 UTCDavid Bernstein Expert
Cool picture, Mike. Would love to have scratched his belly.
8th Jul 2011 19:54 UTCHarald Schillhammer Expert
-------------------------------------------------------
> John,
> As I'm sure you know, there is nothing finer than
> fresh morels sauteed in butter and garlic, then
> placed beside a nice steak; mmmmmmm!!!
Mercy!!!
8th Jul 2011 20:07 UTCRowan Lytle
-Rowan
8th Jul 2011 20:32 UTCPaul De Bondt Manager
Very interesting topic.
To be honest, when I go collecting, I always look for other things than minerals first because they can be found and observed without digging. Just look around before puting your nose into the ground. You will be amazed.
I was in Cornwall in May and found this very big firefly female ( Lampyris Noctiluca ) on the road.
Never saw a big one like this. I have some in my garden but are only the third of this giant.
My wife's hand for scale. Kenidjack valley.
I am fond on mushrooms and mostly the wild ones. I find often some but never dared to eat them.
I am looking for a natural guide who can help me identifying them.
Morels with butter and garlic are divine>:D<
Take care and best regards.
Paul.
8th Jul 2011 20:35 UTCGeorge Creighton
This is a great thread.
On my way to explore the Koksnes prospect grimstad norway got distracted by the insect life in a wild ( vivendel ) honeysuckle bush that grow in the coastal regions here.
Took this image of a fly and many others, needless to say I never got to see the prospect, maybe this year.
Regards george
PS, camera canon powershot G11
8th Jul 2011 21:15 UTCDavid Bernstein Expert
8th Jul 2011 21:16 UTCA. M.
8th Jul 2011 21:54 UTCStephanie Martin
An now for a revisit with this vivid Carpathian Blue Slug:
http://www.mindat.org/photo-385443.html
(from previous thread: http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,7,223137,223167#msg-223167)
8th Jul 2011 22:33 UTCJoseph Polityka Expert
Great thread; fascinating.
John, nice mushrooms. What type of trees are in the area? Here in Pennsylvania they grow around ash, tulip and sycamore trees.
Best,
Joe
8th Jul 2011 22:51 UTCDavid Bernstein Expert
Stephanie, I have that slug in my favorites and look at it often. My son and I just saw a large slug outside climbing up our stone wall. Pretty drab looking slug compared to Big Blue.
9th Jul 2011 01:24 UTCDr. Paul Bordovsky
http://diente.smugmug.com/Nature/Organ-Mountains-and-Hayner/i-Sj4XhkH/0/X2/P7035742xxa-X2.jpg
9th Jul 2011 01:52 UTCDavid Bernstein Expert
9th Jul 2011 02:37 UTCCorie Mattar
At least he didn't rush us... >:D<
Corie
9th Jul 2011 02:52 UTCDr. Paul Bordovsky
http://diente.smugmug.com/Nature/Ranch-Photos-11252010/PB269907xxa/1133064060_FUZof-M.jpg
Corie, that must be the leggy cousin that left for fame and fortune in Cali.
9th Jul 2011 03:23 UTCJake Harper Expert
My treasure of the day in Southern Idaho, a tame juvenile Pituophis catenifer (Gopher Snake).
Jake
9th Jul 2011 03:26 UTCDavid Sheumack
9th Jul 2011 03:56 UTCStephen Rose Expert
Here are a couple of shots of a tarantula hawk on a sage in our garden. It is about 4-5 cm long. They are not aggressive but are reported to have a stunning sting. Love the 'wulfenite' wings.
Photos by Rosegraphics.
Steve
9th Jul 2011 05:04 UTCDouglas Merson 🌟 Expert
9th Jul 2011 05:33 UTCDarren Court
Darren
9th Jul 2011 10:41 UTCDavid Bernstein Expert
Doug, that Columbine shot is gorgeous. There are two mines that I visit to see them along with Ladyslippers but I have never gotten a decent shot.
Paul, the Caracara is not yet on my life list. Amazing shot. Do you have Swallow Tailed Kites also?
David, if you have a moment, could you explain a little more about that seemingly phosphorescent plant. Never seen anything like that!
9th Jul 2011 11:35 UTCGreg Dainty
http://www.varockhounder.com/uploads/2011070903291181.jpg
9th Jul 2011 11:41 UTCMaggie Wilson Expert
9th Jul 2011 12:34 UTCDavid Bernstein Expert
Here are two favorite backyard shots of mine. The first are two Turkey Vultures warming their wings in the morning sun and the next is an adult Red Shouldered Hawk who wintered with us one year. I would throw him/her chicken or turkey parts every morning.
9th Jul 2011 14:44 UTCMichael Wood
George - excellent fly on honeysuckle photo - looks very professional.
Regards, Mike
9th Jul 2011 14:54 UTCMichael Wood
Mike
9th Jul 2011 15:25 UTCDr. Paul Bordovsky
No kite pics......I just get the random bird shot when I'm out and about. How about these BIF shots.
http://diente.smugmug.com/Nature/Colorado-Bend-State-Park-2/i-LS7NNK3/0/M/P4104327xxs-M.jpg
http://diente.smugmug.com/Nature/Colorado-Bend-State-Park-2/i-T8Jkzm5/0/M/P4104329xxa-M.jpg
I was lucky to get his feathers backlit, when he was slowing to land on the tree.
Paul
9th Jul 2011 15:54 UTCUwe Ludwig
Uwe
9th Jul 2011 16:18 UTCDouglas Merson 🌟 Expert
2. ladybug in our garden
3. wild bleeding heart in our yard
9th Jul 2011 16:33 UTCStephen Rose Expert
http://www.squidoo.com/t_hawks
David, I'm with you. I can't imagine anyone letting one of these critters sting on purpose. I pretty much stop at watching a mosquito fill up. :o
Steve
9th Jul 2011 16:42 UTCDonald Slater
9th Jul 2011 16:45 UTCPaul De Bondt Manager
Fantastic topic, I love it.
Gorgeous pics everybody, keep them coming.
In junuari 2009 it has frozen during the night. The day before it was quite warm but very misty.
This is what I discovered the next morning. A plant with a " mineral " growing on it.
A Chimonanthus Preacox knob, ready to pop open with ice crystal growing on them.
Just a few minutes to take the pic and everything was gone, how it came.
Zenjoy.
Take care and best regards.
Paul.
9th Jul 2011 16:55 UTCJohn M Stolz Expert
9th Jul 2011 17:04 UTCStephanie Martin
My husband has been away for a week caring for his ailing father, so there has been not much need to use the BBQ. A couple of weeks ago we had to remove a pesky wasp/hornet nest taking hold in the lid, not uncommon as they seem to be attracted to the smell of fat cooking (try french fries in august at a picnic, you will be swarmed!). Today my husband decided to start early to do some slow cook beef ribs (with Morels, sorry Donald). He was taken aback when he opened the lid. We've never seen anything like this on the BBQ! Obviously it is some type of small mammal, probably a rodent, like a chipmunk, that we have running around here. There is an aweful lot of moss and grassy stuff, with a deep impression in the centre. It only took a week or less to build! Anyone know what type of nest please let me know. Sorry the resolution is not that great after resizing the photo to post.
9th Jul 2011 17:13 UTCMichael Shaw Expert
Mike
9th Jul 2011 18:25 UTCDr. Paul Bordovsky
Douglas, I really like the trillium.
Paul, a timely capture of the ice crystals....very cool.....
Michael, love the colors in the congregation of the burnet moths.
A couple more. First, web construction.
http://diente.smugmug.com/Nature/Ranch-Photos-12222007/PC215430spidercrop/235373998_48ews-L.jpg
Next, a backside view of a backlit thistle.
http://diente.smugmug.com/Nature/Easter-Weekend-Wildflowers-2/P4035930b/838014606_kUT6Y-L.jpg
Paul
9th Jul 2011 18:47 UTCRob (The Rock Hunter) Shepard
9th Jul 2011 19:27 UTCSteve Stuart Expert
Steve
9th Jul 2011 19:51 UTCAnonymous User
9th Jul 2011 20:49 UTCMatthew Kimball
9th Jul 2011 21:30 UTCRay Hill Expert
9th Jul 2011 21:41 UTCStephen Rose Expert
As I recall, the eggs are about 3.5 cm long.
Cheers!
Steve
9th Jul 2011 22:24 UTCJoe Mulvey
Bats at Palermo #1
It's always nice to see winter pix in July!
Joe
9th Jul 2011 23:16 UTCDavid Bernstein Expert
9th Jul 2011 23:25 UTCDennis Tryon
Dip those morels in egg yolk, roll in flour, and fry in butter. Brings back memories for me of growing up in Indiana with a dad who was really into mushroom hunting. Enjoy.
Envious I am,
Dennis
10th Jul 2011 00:09 UTCEdgars Endzelins
10th Jul 2011 00:25 UTCColleen Thomson Expert
I came across this little tortoise crashing through the long grass in Bulgaria a few years ago - he was going faster up the slope than I was!::o
10th Jul 2011 01:27 UTCMaggie Wilson Expert
10th Jul 2011 02:06 UTCDavid Bernstein Expert
10th Jul 2011 03:31 UTCClifford Trebilcock
Cliff
10th Jul 2011 03:56 UTCDaniel Levesque
10th Jul 2011 04:12 UTCRobert Meyer Manager
This is a Sheep Moth on Paint Brush encountered near the Keystone Mine, near Coquihalla Pass, BC, Canada
A Columbine from the Silica Bell Claim, near Chilliwack, B.C., Canada
Pine Drops (a saprophyte) from near Washington Pass, Okanogan Co., Washington, USA
Bob Meyer
10th Jul 2011 04:20 UTCRobert Meyer Manager
Morels found near the Black Pine Mine, near Philipsburg, Montana, USA
The rest of the "Harvest."
Gelatinous fungi on wood in my backyard.
Bob
10th Jul 2011 08:03 UTCJohn M Stolz Expert
10th Jul 2011 11:16 UTCDavid Bernstein Expert
10th Jul 2011 12:14 UTCSteve Sorrell Expert
Regards
Steve
10th Jul 2011 13:20 UTCClifford Trebilcock
Think the mushroom in your photo is Hemlock varnish shelf mushroom, Ganodermus tsugae, non edible. Usually found on hemlock or conifers.
Cliff
10th Jul 2011 16:53 UTCMichael Otto
10th Jul 2011 21:31 UTCPaul De Bondt Manager
Thank you Paul B that you enjoy the pic.
Here are some others from the same Kenidjack Valley that I took the same day.
The first is from a bunch of purple Irisses and the second, only a few feet apart, a Fazant hen ( yummy )
Zenjoy.
Take care and best regards.
Paul.
10th Jul 2011 22:34 UTCMaggie Wilson Expert
11th Jul 2011 03:28 UTCRobert Meyer Manager
Here are a few from a trip last July to Idaho and Montana:
A Mariposa Lily from the Bayhorse District, Custer Co., Idaho, USA
A Rocky Mountain Iris, Iris Missouriensis, from the Quartz Hill District, Beaverhead Co., Montana
"Strange Creature-Flora or Fauna ?" from the Algonquin Mine, near Philipsburg, Granite Co., Montana, USA
Bob
11th Jul 2011 13:48 UTCDavid Bernstein Expert
Here is a feel good story I posted on Facebook. Involves the backyard and not an expedition but my friend deserves to be seen by a wider audience.
Two years ago, Baby as we call her, lost her mother to a car crash. She began hanging out in our backyard and following me around at a safe distance. Ultimately, I began to feed her whole wheat bread. She grew and was "adopted" by one of the other does. She now has fawns of her own but she still stops by for a snack and to relax in our yard.
11th Jul 2011 20:35 UTCAnonymous User
How about this colorless jelly fungus?
11th Jul 2011 20:51 UTCAnonymous User
As those of you familiar with the American South know, cypress (Taxodium spp.) trees grow to enormous proportions. In areas where they are more or less constantly shallowly inundated (which is where they usually grow), they develop characteristic "knees", and the lower trunks develop moderate buttresses.
However, where the water level is highly variable (very deep to dry), they do some weird things...... Like these - no knees, and extremely swollen bases. These are in a creekbed, but you'd never know during the dry season.
11th Jul 2011 20:58 UTCPeter Andresen Expert
But the pictures I took don't qualify for this great thread, with all the beauty, so I had to find an older pic from a trip in August 2009:
11th Jul 2011 21:16 UTCPeter Andresen Expert
12th Jul 2011 12:54 UTCPeter Nancarrow 🌟 Expert
Pete N
12th Jul 2011 13:48 UTCPaul De Bondt Manager
Peter, that butterfly is an Aglais io, one of the beauties of Europe.
These where plentifull in Belgium but when our politics ordered to destroy the comon nettles, they disapeared.
Here, it's on the " nearly extinct " list of butterflies, like many other species.
Many caterpilars of our butterflies feed on nettles so when you destroy the food, you destroy the species feeding on them.
But you have to be a politician for not knowing that.
Take care and best regards.
Paul.
12th Jul 2011 22:21 UTCDavid Bernstein Expert
13th Jul 2011 00:00 UTCModris Baum 🌟 Expert
A couple of years ago, three rabbits decided they liked our garden.
Bold as brass, they would eat their fill and then stretch out luxuriously in the driveway to "catch some rays".
Not a care in the world. But not too smart- as you can see. One by one they disappeared.
This last one expired with a harrowing screech the previous night. Probably the victim of an owl or a fox.
The "undertakers" showed up bright an early and were finished in an hour.
Balance of nature.
Rock connection?
Well just out of sight to the left is a large glacial boulder left embedded in my lawn by the builder.
That’s where I used to “downsize” all the rocks I carted home.
Hope that counts ;)
13th Jul 2011 00:33 UTCMaggie Wilson Expert
13th Jul 2011 00:43 UTCModris Baum 🌟 Expert
We also have a soft spot for the "uglies" - especially my son.
Bats, toads, vultures, star nosed moles - you name it. The "uglier" the better.
But of course they are not really ugly at all ...
Modris
13th Jul 2011 01:47 UTCDanny Jones Expert
13th Jul 2011 05:44 UTCDean Allum Expert
-Dean
14th Jul 2011 18:20 UTCClifford Trebilcock
Cliff
14th Jul 2011 21:27 UTCDavid Bernstein Expert
15th Jul 2011 02:40 UTCWayne Corwin
Dragonfly having lunch
Enjoy B)
Wayne Corwin
15th Jul 2011 03:25 UTCAndrew Johns
15th Jul 2011 11:39 UTCDavid Bernstein Expert
Those are Osprey you have photographed. I think it's a great photo.
I just posted this photo on my Facebook page. As we were saying goodnight to a guest, this large Root Borer flew in and scared the ^###^# out of my wife and guest. I thought it was cool as did my son as the only one we had ever seen unfortunately, drowned in our birdbath.
15th Jul 2011 15:00 UTCWolfgang Hampel 🌟 Expert
15th Jul 2011 16:29 UTCStephen Rose Expert
I went on a short dig and overnight with a couple of my grandsons this week. Beautiful, full moon with light showers and cool days. We found some good quartz crystals and then drove north, passing to the east of the famous mineral location, Majuba Mountain (Pershing County, Nevada.) There appears to be some current exploration or development activity there as we could see some faint light from our camp 10 miles south. We stopped at the north end of Rye Patch reservoir at a mine dump with lots of chrysocolla. Birds were enjoying the well-flooded shallows after a very wet winter. The kids found that the lizards were, if not smarter, at least a lot faster than they were.
Cheers,
Steve
Majuba Mountain from the east
Majuba Mountain from northeast. Pelicans (white spot) on Rye Patch reservoir. Other wildlife: Jason confronting copper-rich boulder.
collared lizard watching out for young boys.
15th Jul 2011 22:06 UTCRoger Curry
16th Jul 2011 14:06 UTCWayne Corwin
That was at the Tripp Mine in Alstead N.H., USA
It was a BIG Dragonfly and was busy eating a Bee, head first, and ate the whole thing,, even the stinger !
It's a bit hard to hear in the video, but you could hear it crunching that Bee as it ate it !
As you can see in the video, it didn't seem to mind or care that it was being filmed.
I love the "Paint Job" on the Dragonfly, so very colourful ! Like racing stripes on a race car !
KOR
Wayne Corwin
17th Jul 2011 12:55 UTCDavid Bernstein Expert
17th Jul 2011 16:39 UTCWayne Corwin
You might like this video also (and photo's)
Watch the video >> 2 Luna Moths doing what they do
They also hide well in the weeds
It can be hard working at the mine with all these distractions 8-)
Wayne Corwin