R: Dog Vomit Slime Mold.
Today I had about an hour for Naturing after my CAS shift. Of course, I went to find my owls. But they were not the highlight!
I started off seeing a Cross Orbweaver in the Monarch Bear Grove on my way to the CAS. It was a good sign, I feel. Because I saw A BUNCH MORE after my shift. There are many in the Lily Pond right now, along with a Shamrock Orbweaver. The good sign is that it’s now a signal for me that AUTUMN IS COMING. I love Autumn. The onset of the holidays and cooler weather and sooner sunsets. Can’t wait!
Once my shift was over, I got a bit of eye candy in the CAS Botanical Garden. Wartleaf Ceanothus and Blueblossom were blossoming again. And I managed to get a couple decent photos of a Townsend’s Warbler, that just might the same one I’ve seen recently? Since it was with a group of Chestnut-backed Chickadees like the one I saw recently?
After noting new blooms (??) on Red-flowering Currant shrubs along the East Garden, I headed to the Great Horned Owls of the East. But all I found was Junior in the owl nursery. Sleeping.
Headed to the Lily Pond, where I saw the aforementioned Orbweavers. But it was quiet at the pond. Save for a couple female Mallards and one Song Sparrow that casually ate some ripe blackberries.
Walked through the Slime Mold Lab Trail on my roundabout way back to the owl nursery, and I FOUND SOME SLIME MOLD!!! I cannot begin to express MY EXCITEMENT at seeing good ole’ Dog Vomit Slime Mold. The trusty logs that have had them in the past (along with fungi) have been covered in blackberry branches for some time. Made me wonder if there was slime mold there all along! Anyhoo, DELIGHTFUL FIND.
Also on the trail, I noticed a fallen (?) bird’s nest on the ground, past the logs. Not sturdy enough for the winds, maybe?
Back at the owl nursery, it was still just Junior. I looked and looked for the parent owls but came up empty handed. Got to watch her preen for like a minute before she went back to sleep. Eh, serves me right for showing up too early. Hopefully I can squeeze in an evening visit later this week…
