14-NOV-2017
grey squirrel, black phase
It is nice to see that the squirrel roosting boxes are being used. Not that we ever thought they would sit idle. Squirrels are adept at utilizing anything they think presents a good home.
Fungi
The little puffball on the left is dwarfed by the larger mushroom whose ID I don't know.
Puffballs
Quite possibly these puffballs photographed by Barry, are Lycoperdon species. At any rate, you can see that they have released their spores through the opening on top.
Lemon drops (Bisporella)
A great collection of tiny sac fungi known, not surprisingly, as lemon drops. There are various species within the genus, but this one may be B. citrina as it is apparently the most common one.
14-NOV-2017
Red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)
I often see red squirrels sitting like this. Not sure why, or maybe there is no particular reason. One of my cats often sits with her head against something too!
14-NOV-2017
Mourning dove
A single mourning dove hanging around the feeder in the Backyard Garden component of the FWG. I definitely don't see as many doves as I used to, even a few years ago, especially at the garden where we'd often have 30-40 in winter time.
14-NOV-2017
European starling
One of hundreds of starlings that were around the garden for a few hours before dispersing. They are now in their handsome winter plumage.
14-NOV-2017
Tinder polypore (Fomes fomentarius)
Growing on a dead birch. The other polypores are Purple-toothed polypore (Trichaptum biforme).
14-NOV-2017
Mallards
The old turtle raft in the amphibian pond is much used by ducks. They haul themselves out of the water and preen vigorously, after which they sit and rest for awhile. Later on this morning, I counted 11 mallards swimming around the pond.
14-NOV-2017
Downy woodpecker, female
A very common woodpecker and usually fairly cooperative about having its photo taken. Elsewhere at the Fletcher garden there was a pileated woodpecker but I was unable to get a photo of it.
14-NOV-2017
Downy woodpecker, male
In the old field I noticed this male downy woodpecker scouring the goldenrods and asters for insect eggs and investigating the goldenrod galls.
14-NOV-2017
Cedar waxwing with crabapple
A small flock of waxwings actively searching for food around the garden, landing here and there for brief periods before flying off to another food source.
14-NOV-2017
Common milkweed seeds (Asclepias syriaca)
Hopefully these seeds, and the others I saw at the garden, will find fertile ground and grow well next year, providing a food source for monarch butterfly caterpillars.
Puffball
Barry photographed this very attractive mushroom which looks like a puffball, though which one I don't know.
Carbon balls (Daldinia)
A composite of three images taken by Barry of the carbon balls, AKA King Alfred's Cakes, so named for their charred appearance.
14-NOV-2017
Black knot fungus on prunus (Dibotryon morbosum)
This is a plant pathogen that affects Prunus species (plums, cherries). Unless the tree has numerous black knot fungi, it doesn't usually negatively affect the tree. We usually only see a few on the prunus at the garden, and it has not caused a problem thus far anyway.
14-NOV-2017
Backyard Garden at FWG
A view eastward over the Backyard Garden (BYG) component of the FWG. There were numerous birds around the garden today, and many were at the feeder here in the BYG. The large juniper on the left attracted big flocks of starlings and a few cedar waxwings, feasting on the berries. At the feeder were:
dark-eyed juncos,
black-capped chickadees,
american goldfinches,
mourning dove,
downy woodpecker,
white-breasted nuthatch,
northern cardinal
14-NOV-2017
White-breasted nuthatch
The peanut feeder at the BYG (previous photo) is very popular with nuthatches and woodpeckers.
14-NOV-2017
European starling
Huge flocks of starlings numbering perhaps 300+ birds were around the garden for an hour or so, including a smaller group who came to the BYG to feed on the juniper berries.
14-NOV-2017
European starlings
A small fraction of the many starlings that visited the garden for an hour or so today.
14-NOV-2017
Feeder birds
A chickadee, house finch and white-breasted nuthatch on the feeder in the Backyard Garden (BYG) today.
14-NOV-2017
More feeder birds
In addition to the birds in the previous shot, here they were joined by an american goldfinch.
14-NOV-2017
Northern cardinal
Another feeder visitor in the Backyard Garden.
14-NOV-2017
American robins
Flocks of robins were feeding on any available fruit including crabapples, buckthorn, prunus, and were joined at times by smaller flocks of cedar waxwings and huge flocks of starlings.
Coprinus
Barry also found this large cluster of Coprinus mushrooms. The next photo shows a couple almost completely withered, but this stand is still largely intact though beginning to decay.
Coprinus
The same mushrooms as in the previous shot, but these ones are almost completely decayed.
Mushroom
Barry found a number of interesting mushrooms this month at the Fletcher garden, including this large specimen.
Carbon balls (Daldinia)
Barry found these intriguing round fungi on a log. The next photo shows a larger cluster of them. Another name for them, from the UK, is King Alfred's Cakes.
Carbon balls (Daldinia)
Barry found these intriguing round fungi on a log. The next photo shows a larger cluster of them. Another name for them, from the UK, is King Alfred's Cakes.
06-NOV-2017
Turkey tails (Trametes versicolor)
A profusion of fungi on the old ash stump in the old woods section of the garden.
06-NOV-2017
Stereum species
Barry photographed this crust like fungus which Victor Swan has identified as a Stereum sp.
06-NOV-2017
Turkey tails (Trametes versicolor)
Turkey tails are fascinating because of their profusion, their shape and the various colours they exhibit.
06-NOV-2017
Turkey tails (Trametes versicolor)
Another view of turkey tails growing on an ash stump at the FWG.
06-NOV-2017
Turkey tails (Trametes versicolor)
These polypore fungi, which can be found globally, come in various colours. Their comparison to the tail of a turkey is sometimes apt!
