Tilden Regional Park (1/1/2025)

Today I prioritized Naturing to welcome in the new year. And I got to do this with Brian, Octodrone, and Logan!

We tried out the Grizzly Peak, Tower, and Golf Course Loop on AllTrails. As I suspected, Brian and I had actually done the second half before. But leading up to that, we saw SO MUCH FLIPPIN’ FUNGI. And despite the wet and often slick or muddy nature of the second half, it was far more interesting this time around. Thanks to the FUNGI.

There are FAR too many species to list out. And that’d be boring to type out and for anyone to read. But I must say that, as always, it was exciting to see newtome fungi. It’s comforting to know that a trail that wasn’t so intriguing at a certain time of year is very much the opposite at a different time of year. And that I now know where ALL the Common Bird’s Nest Fungus lives!

I can count on one hand how often I’ve seen CBNF. So it’s not that common. Despite its name. Maybe because it’s just SO TINY and that you have to really be looking for it to find it. But the mother lode of this was absolutely in the first part of the loop. It even had various stages of it, like what it looks like before the eggs appear. For anyone curious to see this, GO THERE NOW.

Aside from the fungi, there were a handful of birds about. I heard and saw a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. A Woodpecker of some size was making noises above us. A Band-tailed Pigeon cooed at the start and revealed itself later on. But we didn’t see many birds, in general.

As for plants, it’s pretty quiet right now. As expected. But Snowberry berries were out. And so much of the area was bright green in many places from new grasses and growth. I was also pleased to remember and recognize Crescent-cup Liverwort, which is so darling if you get a closer look.

AND, we spotted two Banana Slugs. One was munching on maybe a Yellow Fieldcap? And one was napping, all curled up.

We spent so much time looking at ALL the fungi from the start that we had to forego that pace about halfway through to just make it back to the start before it got dark. But as we approached the end, I heard two Great Horned Owls in the distance, duet-hooting. Somewhere near the golf course. Aw.

PLUS, the largest and inkiest Shaggy Mane I’ve ever seen was lying flat on the ground. A Fungi Fairy must’ve plucked it. But given all the black ink around it, it looked like it had been assassinated!

And I spotted a quite large Bolete, possibly Liver Bolete (?), coming up from the ground. Just like Fly Agarics. They look like small flying saucers rising up from the earth.

All in all, a perfect day to be outside. To enjoy all the fungi. With friends. Fantastic start to the new year!