Otter Water

Day 110: Mineral Lake is one of the more popular fishing destinations in the area surrounding Mt. Rainier and even hosts a Fishing Derby on Opening Day, an overpopulated event locals know to avoid. The lake is stocked heavily by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, a circumstance the River Otters have learned to turn to their advantage. One has only to sit for an hour or so on the shore to appreciate what efficient fisherfolk these sleek creatures are. You seldom see them dive without coming back to the surface with a nice trout. In the time these two passed from the boat ramp to the public dock a few hundred feet to the south, they each had most certainly caught what would be a human's legal limit, devouring the evidence as they swam along. But there must be plenty to go around, because I seldom come home from Mineral without my allotment of five as well!

Red-Breasted Merganser

Day 109: Red-Breasted Merganser males are easy to distinguish from Common Mergansers, but the ladies...well, that's another story. The two identifying features birdwatchers use to tell Mergus serrator females from Mergus merganser are the shape of the bill and the patch of white beneath it. Red-Breasted Mergansers have a longer, thinner bill than those of their cousins, and the female's throat patch has indistinct edges as opposed to the sharply defined margins seen in female Common Mergansers. That said, it's equally difficult to tell young males from females. I am classifying this bird as a female based on the darkness of the area in front of the eye, but I could be wrong.

In birdwatching, the observer in the field must have a quick eye, a camera or both. When you are photographing birds for documentation purposes, you must try to include as many identification points as possible. These include such things as beak shape, presence of facial markings, and barring or spotting on wings, back or breast. Keep your field guides handy! Spring is on the rise!

Badge Moss, Plagiomnium Insigne

Day 108: Badge Moss (Plagiomnium insigne), also known as Leafy Moss, is at its best during the cool months of winter and early spring. It is quick to dry out in warmer temperatures, forming brown and unattractive mats atop rotting wood. It is a common sight in mixed forests, frequently growing in patches among sword ferns. Individual leaflets are approximately 1/4 inch in length, stems trailing two to three inches.

(Somehow this entry failed to upload on the date it was submitted. I discovered the error on the 31st and corrected the omission.)

Bushtit

Day 107: Psaltriparius minimus (Common Bushtit) is a tiny little round bird who loves hanging out in open woodlands where there is a lot a brush. Normally a fast-moving grey blur is all you'll catch at the tail of your eye when you're in their territory, so I was surprised when this one zipped across the trail in front of me and lighted behind the protection of crossed blackberry vines. At first I thought he might have been injured, but as I watched him through the lens, I realized he was only newly fledged, a baby not quite sure of his wings. He's a little early. Bushtits normally breed in February here, but he was fully capable of flight, as I discovered when I tried to edge closer. With a single "Tzzeeek!" he dived into brush, following the call of mom from deep within the tangle.

Icmadophila Ericetorum

Day 106: A few weeks ago when hiking in Mt. Rainier National Park, I noticed the barest hint of apothecial "buds" arising on this plate lichen, a common Icmadophila species. Each "button" is comprised of thin tissue which will open at the center top as a single pore. If you look carefully, just to the right of the penny, a couple of "buttons" are beginning to dimple prior to bursting.

It's A Frog Pelt!

Day 105: Don't blame me! That's what this unusual lichen is called. Its Latin name is Peltigera neopolydactyla and those funny little brown tips are its apothecia (fruiting bodies). Frog Pelt occurs in several color variations: dark blue-grey (shown here), pale blue-grey and olive green. Its name derives from a local Native American word meaning "frog's blanket." The brown apothecia are approximately 5 mm. in length.

I discovered this specimen and two others in Charles L. Pack Experimental Forest near LaGrande, WA. Pack Forest is one of my favorite places for short hikes and it frequently provides me with natural curiosities such as this.

Fascinating Fungi

Day 104: On a rainy day a few weeks ago, I discovered a newly-developed trail system within a nature area administered by Cowlitz Wildlife. I was not prepared for a hike that day, although a brief walk of a few hundred yards provided me with a photo of Tremella mesenterica (see Day 75, please). Today, I went back for a further exploration and, much to my delight, discovered these two specimens.

The top image shows a Clavariadelphus species I have not been able to locate in any reference material. It is possible that the coloration is due to its age, however, it felt fresh. The fruiting body was approximately three inches long, white near the base.

The bottom photo shows easily identifiable Sarcoscypha coccinia, also known as Scarlet Cup. The ear-shaped specimen measured approximately one inch across the long dimension.