R: Great Horned Owl.
Today I managed to have just enough time after errands to go look for my owls!
It’s possibly the last time I’ll be able to visit them before the new year, so it was imperative that I make it out. And, as always, so glad I did.
Started my short bit o’ Naturing walking along Pelosi Dr. Where I spotted three trash spiders, aka Metepeira. They were close together in a large bush. And miraculously, my digital camera got one in decent enough focus! Nice way to start, YEP.
Given how infrequently I’ve been able to visit the Great Horned Owls of the East, I am lately at a loss on where to even start. So I went to my default and walked by the Owl Nursery. Wasn’t expecting anyone there, and I expected right. No sign of any GHO along the Slime Mold Lab Trail, but the area was quite wet. Guess they’ve been watering?
And while looking along the trail edge for signs of fungi, I FOUND ONE! It was a small piece of tree branch on the ground, with tons of white stuff on it. I thought maybe Slime Mold. But when I got home and blew up the photos to see detail, it turns out there were all these neato holes in many spots! I’d never see this on my own!
iNat didn’t really know what to make of it. Hoping Alan on iNat takes a look?
SPEAKING OF ALAN. OMGOMGOMG.
Okokok, so we went to the Mycological Society of San Francisco’s 52nd Fungus Fair on Sunday. Can’t remember how it came across my radar exactly. And after going to one many years ago (pre-pandemic) at the County Fair Building, I wasn’t so sure it was up my alley. Maybe because it was so crowded. And so much of it seemed to be focused on edible mushrooms?
But however this DID come across my radar, I noticed they had several workshops. And Alan was doing one! So I had to go. See him in person. Ya know.
ALSO, I’m participating in the Fungi Fair we’ll be doing with the Parks Conservancy on February 1st at Tunnel Tops. And I thought some re-con would be helpful!
He was doing a session on photographing mushrooms. Which is not something I prioritize, but I wanted to see the man behind the identifications. And I learned some neat things. Even about my phone camera. And because he recommended flipping the phone camera to get the lens as low to the ground (and thus, mushroom), I remembered to try that on the first mushroom I spotted today. Which might be a Scurfy Twiglet? Not that I’ve never done that before, but it was a good reminder to try when it’s a good opportunity.
He also said something that was really awesome. Apparently, he allows his fungi photos to be public on Wikicommons. So anyone can use it. He’s even seen his work on stuff at TARGET. But he DOESN’T CARE. He said that the more people that can see how cool fungi are, the better. They may just take an interest. Get into it. Help protect the environment, even. Love it.
For the longtime readers that know me well from this blog, you’re probably wondering if I met him after the workshop? NOPE. I thought if it was easy I’d go up and just simply thank him for all the fungi IDs he’s done for me on iNat. But the workshop ended with lots of practical practice. And since I’m not itching to get into that so much, I opted to head out early to check out the rest of the fair.
Glad I did! Candy Cap Mushrooms, YUM. Plus, Brian bought me some try out in a recipe… AND, we even got to see a bit of David Arora speak. He wrote the first Mushroom Bible. He’s legendary for it. Had no idea he’d be there. So that was a treat!
Ok, back to Naturing.
Just after spotting the photogenic maybe Scurfy Twiglet, I noticed a small bird bopping around in the tree in front of me. Hm. What was it? Mostly whiteish blouse. Bit of black around the eye. YELLOW STRIPE on top of the head! WHA?
Didn’t get good photos, but I got some good enough to ID. A Golden-crowned Kinglet! Now, it’s POSSIBLE I’ve seen it before, but I don’t recall. And since it’s not on my bird list, I didn’t get a good look at it if I have seen it before. But I definitely saw it today! Wish I’d gotten ONE good photo, but ah well. That yellow stripe was exciting!
I started heading up the path when I noticed something large swoop down to the ground to my left. HAD to be a raptor, and it WAS! A Red-shouldered Hawk had swooped down and was being quite still. Looked like it had caught something in its feet. But maybe didn’t have a perfect grasp on it? By the time I got to a better vantage point, it swooped up and out of sight.
Over at the Lily Pond, a Hermit Thrush (perhaps the same one I keep seeing there?) popped up onto the fence. Out in the open! Just like the one I’ve seen there before. It then flew up to the top of the palm tree there and appeared to be eating. Pretty close to me! This Hermit Thrush is easily the bravest one I’ve ever encountered.
While standing there, looking up at the Hermit Thrush, a man walked past saying, “The owls are on the move” to me. I said, “Oh, yeah?” To which he replied, “They’ve been seen around here.” Apparently I don’t scream “Owl Witch” in my Cotopaxi jacket?
Just below on the ground, a baby Abutilon plant had one bloom on it. So THAT’s what they planted there, where tons of White-ramping Fumitory used to be. Hm.
The pond was still clear of algae all over the top. And the winter resident Hooded Mergansers and Ring-necked Ducks were huddled in the middle. Almost all were snoozing but the male Merganser. Who kindly posed for me. Such a cutie.
After taking the South Ridge Trail back, and not hearing or seeing any GHOs, I decided to head to the AIDS Memorial Grove’s West End to listen. No sign of them. But someone walking past me said, “That couple over there were looking up at an owl,” in case my binocs meant I was interested in such a thing. It was indeed a spot I planned to check, so that was a good sign. Especially since I didn’t hear or see any GHO in the AMG’s West End.
Walked to the hills across from the CAS (that really do now need a name…) to look up. After stopping to inhale the glorious new Blueblossom blooms at the trail’s start, I heard A HOOT. Kind of a higher pitch, though not quite THE High Hoot. Found it high up in a Monterey Cypress. All by herself.
She soon flew to a tree at the edge of the Monarch Bear Grove Meadow. Looking East. Then flew into the AMG’s West End and disappeared.
I followed her. But couldn’t find her.
After walking down alongside the creek, I stopped to listen. Heard nothing. So I ventured up the staircase. Planning to head out. It was after sunset. And no other hoots. Weird.
Just as I was crossing Pelosi Dr. to get to my car, I heard ANOTHER HOOT. A low one.
Back to the South Ridge Trail, and there he was. His silhouette on a euc. Watched him for a bit. Then a female allofasudden was hooting back. She then swooped near him but headed back East. It was getting pretty dark, so I headed to the street to just listen. And I ended up hearing THREE GHOs.
Guessing the male and female near each other were Ma Owl and Pa Owl, though I never got a good look at her face. If only I’d found them earlier! And the third is …?? Owlet?
It’s always guesses. But, WHATEVER. Got to see and hear THREE GHOs in what’s likely my last time with them this year. Unless I can manage something before the 1st? We shall see…
