Decided to go and see if I could find some cougar tracks yesterday. No go. Whole bunch of Vanilla Leaf (Achlys triphylla) a natural insect repellent. Just some spring forest sounds. Audio is a tad quiet. Accidental photo, thought it turned out kinda neat. Just showing how I carry my kit. Full kit list: *On person* ~Paramilitary 2 ~Thrunite Ti3 ~Phone (picture/video) ~Winkler Field Knife ~Heavy leather belt ~Ferro rod ~Walking stick *In haversack* ~Counter Assault bear spray ~Shemagh ~Basic IFAK ~Large ferro rod ~Full fire kit ~Tru Nord compass ~75' tarred twisted #12 bank line ~Fenix HL60R headlamp ~Bug spray ~Bahco Laplander My tools for the day. Multiple Maple trees growing from a now mostly buried nurse stump. My waxed Finn gas mask bag from @5col The way the sun was illuminated the center of this grove was kinda neat. ~Continued...
There was something in that dark spot right above my stick, breaking twigs. I was alerted to it by a bunch of really pissed birds being spooked in that area just moments before. As I crouched down and watched, I could see whatever it was moving the evergreen branch that concealed it. Bear? Cat? Either way, it backed off as I began speaking loudly. Some random macro photography. Found some cool fungi. Perhaps @Stone has some idea what it is? I accidentally walked up on this Robin nest without knowing it. Mama bird was pissed! Right after taking a picture, I cleared my throat, and didn't think that it would sound more like a growl than anything... Literally scared the poop out of her. I never thought a robin could look homicidal... And with that, I left mama bird in peace and headed home.
Nice thread! Thanks for the heads up. I've only scanned it so far -- just got back in from an afternoon in my backwoods; shower is next, then dinner -- I'll be back to look at pics and comment later tonight ...
Didn't get back here last night. I got back in so late from my "afternoon/evening" walk -- summer day length at this latitude makes the cold, darkness of winter (more) tolerable -- and by the time I ate dinner and had a couple of gin/oj's, I hit the sack early. Today, I'm back in the studio all day -- launching a hugely important video series for my project (details elsewhere ) -- so haven't surfed here yet. But I will! Tonight? Tomorrow? ... I will. And address your fungus question. Short answer for now: I haven't a clue. Of the five kingdoms, my knowledge of fungi ranks dead last, even below bacteria. If it weren't for strong, nearly-incontrovertible DNA/RNA/metabolic evidence to the contrary, <joke> I'd swear they're from another planet in a galaxy far, far away, brought here during a psilocybin/DMT trip by Terrance McKenna or somebody like him. </joke> I can tell you a few generalities about their biology -- structures and stuff -- but ID? You'd be better off asking a pine tree. However, I've got a few things to say about those critters growing near it, that I think are hornworts. But I'll get back to you ...