R: Black Slug?
Today I hit three different places. Had to check on two things, then wanted to find my owls.
First, I wanted to check on a MOREL found at Black Point. Someone on my work team spotted it. I got to see it last Saturday while there for a program. And so that we can better ID it, I went back today to pull it and see the bottom. Might be a Woodchip Morel?? SO EXCITING! Not as desirable as other Morels (edible-wise), especially since it likes woodchips. Which are often treated with stuff you don’t wanna ingest. And is in very urban areas. So the soil isn’t so clean. But, still. MORELS! In SF! AMAZING!!
Second, since I was in that part of town, I stopped by to check in on the female Great Horned Owl in the Presidio. She was still in the same spot. That I think must be a nest. Still giving murderous eyes. All is well.
Lastly, I ended up having a ton of time in my backyard for a change! So I started at the CAS Botanical Garden, looking for Arion Slugs since it had JUST RAINED prior to my arrival. Nope.
But saw a couple Red-cage Fungus bits in the usual spot. And Douglas Iris is blooming. And Purple Sage, I think? And there’s even Borage in a new spot there! While admiring it, I realized it looks so related to Henderson’s Shooting Stars with that downward black beak!
Stopped by Anne’s Garden, and I noticed something quite gorgeous. A handful of what might be Common Columbine? Or rather, a cultivar of it? Just adorable gradiented pink lanterns I had the pleasure of holding for a spell. I wonder if Alexis Berger could make jewelry of these blooms…
I’m just flippin’ ENAMOURED of them. Even when just in bud form!!
On my way to Blue Heron Lake, I noticed work being done on the hill opposite the CAS (West). Hm! And Western Redbud flowers, too. Oh, and those cute yellow flowers outside the Japanese Tea Garden that I’m guessing is Pacific Silverweed?
Haven’t been to this lake in SOME TIME. A Mallard couple appeared to be busy prepping a nest area in the far East end? An American Coot thought I might feed it. And the usual wintering ducks were in the distance.
I was walking along it, clockwise (of course), and it felt like such an old and familiar place. Like an old haunt of yours when you were a kid but haven’t been in a while. And I realized that the naturalist version of myself grew up in GGPark. And I have many neighborhoods from my “childhood” there. Always nice to come back.
Super fun to see Northern Shovelers and Ring-necked Ducks and Hooded Mergansers and a Bufflehead couple and what I think was a female Ring-necked Duck barely balancing but still napping on a submerged tree branch. Had to laugh when I got home and saw the photo of her up close, eyeing me!
The Dawn Redwoods are simply enchanting right now. YEP.
Saw the Black-crowned Night-Herons that Ren told me were at the lake. And, this is ODD! At least, to me. Having never seen them at this lake before. Spotted a couple at the Southwest corner island for about 10 seconds before they flew off North. Interesting development!
Crossed the pretty bridge to Strawberry Hill. Had such a hankering to visit. Had to stop along the bridge to admire the Bigleaf Maple racemes that hang like a bunch of the smallest grapes.
Walked up my favorite (and least inclined) route up to the reservoir level, then did my usual clockwise loop around the reservoir. Noting a nice specimen of what might be a Stubble Rosegill mushroom? And Alumroot blooms I don’t remember seeing around the reservoir before. Rounding out with lovely fragrant Garden Heliotrope flowers.
Unfortunately, a man was feeding wildlife in that usual spot on the lake level. Jays and Squirrels all came running for the peanuts he left. I was in my work jacket. And I was watching him take out food from his bag. He noticed me. And soon stopped and soon left. Maybe my uniform made him nervous?? Yeah, I’m ok with that.
On the way to the boathouse end, I stopped to try IDing a flowering plant along the way that has long been a MYSTERY to me. I had guessed it was some kind of Pittosporum because the fruit shape matches. But apps were always stumped otherwise. Thought I’d give Seek a chance. In case more data was now in there to match it. And it now thinks it’s Japanese Cheesewood. A Pittosporum. Still need to investigate further. But I might be getting closer to figuring out what it is! Love its bell-shaped flowers.
Didn’t get to see the Great Blue Herons that are apparently nesting on Goose Island. The Heron Lady said they were originally there, before moving to the Heron Island on the East end. She must be happy they were somewhat forced to return!
Cherry Laurel was blooming near the boathouse. Candy-scented, as always. Further ahead in the picnic area were Dally Pine blooms that I had hoped were out. YUM. And on the way to the Pioneer Trail, HEAVENLY Sagewood was out in full form. It was a Scented Tour today, INDEED.
The Field Elms on the Pioneer Trail are so pretty and are prettily littering the trail. My new phone camera turns out to be a major step up from my last one, in that it’s able to quite easily focus on bright red flowers like the Pineapple Sage there! One of MANY upgrades in the camera department. Amazing.
Horse-chestnut and Red Horse-chestnut are both in bloom. Love seeing them. And the Kwanzan Cherry tree nearby had such cute blooms, but when I went to admire closer I spotted what I thought was a moth just sitting inside one of the flowers! iNat thinks it’s a Fiery Skipper. But the coloring was so faded. Can’t wait for that ID!
An unexpected Mica Cap explosion was on a distantish branch at the end of the trail and made me laugh to see it waiting for me.
Over at the Fairy Door log, I noticed there was no more door. BOO.
HOWEVER, I happened to take notice of a thin and black Slug on a small rock near the log’s end. Got excited to see it, since I started my visit hoping to see Slugs. Then, on further inspection, the logs in a line there appeared to have SO MANY DANG Arion Slugs! Some were dark and skinny. Other were caramel-colored and short.
This is now to be known as the Slug Logs. I even saw one in the grass below. I got Slugs after all!
On my way to the GHOs, I noted some shelf-looking Fungi on a random branch in the CAS Botanical Garden. As I was now checking random logs for more slugs… And upon looking at the fungi photos up close when I got home, I happened to notice AN ARION SLUG on the ground next to the random branch! Love that they were there. And hiding. They’re too good at that.
Across from the CAS at that moment, a female GHO started hooting. Couldn’t find her. But while looking, a MALE GHO flew up (from the Monarch Bear Grove area?) and started DUET HOOTING WITH HER.
Okokok, I don’t know what’s going on. WHO is HE allofasudden?? She’s been alone and hooting in that area for A WHILE.
What’s even more interesting is that I heard NO HOOT WHATSOEVER over near the Owl Nursery. It was baffling!
So I sadly didn’t get any glimpse of my owls. Not sure what to think. Because of the rain, would Ma Owl sit on the Owlets? With a now duetting pair opposite the CAS, is that a factor? OR is it Pa Owl over there? I’m at AN UTTER LOSS right now. More intel is clearly needed. I can’t wait to figure out what’s going on over here!
