R: October Thorn.
Today was A DAY. To be OUTSIDE. By myself. It was a mere twoish hours, but it was GLORIOUS. To be in my backyard.
Even though I’ve been dying to go Naturing as of late, I was not expecting much given the coolish weather. But I knew I wanted to check in on any Great Horned Owls of the East. So I headed there and decided to visit in on the AIDS Memorial Grove before sunset.
And I saw newtome things!
Okokok, but FIRST. I ventured in from the West and went East, as I always like to do. And it’s been so long, that I stopped to notice things I don’t think I’ve noticed before?
Like Thimbleberry. Maybe I’ve seen it there before? But I don’t think I’ve seen it blooming? Maybe? I saw a bloom. In early November. Thanks, October?
And one of those tiny magenta Fuchsias had FRUIT. A ripe-looking berry, kinda like a Huckleberry? Really don’t think I’ve seen that before.
I started to make my way down alongside the creek when I spotted a small bird bopping around in a Maple tree, which had lovely Fall colors. Ruby-crowned Kinglet! Thought I’d heard its dolphin noises when I first came into the AMG, but I wasn’t certain. And there it was! Appearing to be eating (or trying its darnedest!) bugs from the leaves’ undersides. It spent tons of energy flying in one spot in order to eat some of those bugs while hovering below a leaf. Must’ve tuckered it out!
I watched it for some time. Trying hard (and FAILING) to take its photo. And then an Eastern Gray Squirrel did something from high above, and the Kinglet darted. Into an area where another solitairy bird was also working its way through the trees there.
Wilson’s Warbler! I was surprised to see it, given the lateness in the year, but I know what I saw. And my crap photos are IDable. Checked Merlin, and indeed it’s surprising that it’s here right now. Hm!
A couple of the Squirrels kept messing about above and spooked both birds away. Boo.
So I kept on down the trail and stopped to hear another Kinglet. And noticed SO MANY Coast Live Oak acorns below on the hillside. This must happen every year. And yet, it’s not quite overrun with Oaks. Hm. Maybe there’s so much else planted and thriving in the area that it doesn’t end up reproducing much on its own?
I paused to admire one of the Oaks in front of me. Love how their trunks often look like elephant legs!
And then I noticed a round Fungi type thing below the Coast Redwoods. Like a Puffball. I moved it a bit with my shoe, as I thought MAYBE it was a fallen Gall from one of the Oaks. But, nope! It held firmly into the ground.
I gently pulled it out, and it had such a long stem that seemed to reveal mycelium? Seek and iNat think it’s a Leopard Earthball. Newtome Fungi! Wish I’d known that cutting it in half would’ve shown some super cool black stuff inside!!
I passed the Redwood and found a pretty Moth just sitting on the earth next to it. It thankfully didn’t move one bit while I took photos. Maybe it was no longer alive? Wish I could’ve gotten a photo of its face, as my photos later revealed that it likely had a super cute face! Newtome October Thorn! Is that an awesome name or what?
I was almost to the plaza area when I saw movement in the trees to my right. I waited and saw a Robin-like bird pop out for a second. But that wasn’t an American Robin! Looked entirely like a Varied Thrush!! But MORE SQUIRRELS above kept making a mess below and flushed it out and across the creek and out of sight.
But I was QUITE CERTAIN! Tried looking for it but couldn’t find it again. BOO.
However, while looking for it, I noticed something odd. Something that looked like a Gall. But seemingly WAY TOO HUGE for a Gall?? It was on a Lemonwood tree branch, I think. And it was larger than the largest grapefruit imaginable. Seek and iNat think it’s a Bacterial Crown Gall. Newtome! And WOW!!
On my way through the rest of the AMG, I stopped to admire a couple of the wee flowers in bloom, like the dainty Silver Spurflower (whose name I can never remember). And a newtome (I think?) large pink-white double Sage thing that Seek thought was Baby Sage. Also noticed lots of Fern-looking plantings over on the Southeast hillside.
Made my way out of the AMG and faced the Lily Pond East area, which was across the street from me. I looked up for some reason. And saw a Robin-like bird high up in a tree. But that AGAIN did not look exactly like a Robin! And, IT WASN’T! It was that dang Varied Thrush!!
Even though it was quite far away, I was thrilled to get to just stand there and take photos and watch it with my binocs. Been so long since I’ve seen one. Wish I could see them so much more often.
After crossing Pelosi Dr., I startled a Hermit Thrush that was on the ground. But not enough to scare it completely away. It settled after a second. Bopped around. Even paused to look at me quizzically. Aw. Love them.
Over at the Lily Pond, I noticed what I’m pretty sure is newtome Lobster Flower at the South entrance. Blooming close to another newtome Succulent of some kind that had yellow-orange pointy blooms. The newish plants there are maybe going to hang in there?
Golden-crowned Sparrows and the sound of a Northern Flicker greeted me as I approached the pond. Which had a sign indicating herbicide treatment. Wish I’d been able to spot the Flicker, but, alas.
Made my way along the pond, and two plump mushrooms were proudly growing in fresh-looking soil. Agaricus of some kind. Oh, and Mountain Grape was blooming its yellow flowers and fruiting its purple berries.
A newtome plant was also blooming over on the West end of the pond. An intriguing thing with yellow spots on its leaves and daisy-looking flowers. Hm!
It was time to start heading more West to find any GHOs. But I saw and heard nothing for a bit over on the FakeNestTree Trail. Waited a bit. And then I thought I might’ve heard a faint hoot to the North. Walked in that direction but turned up empty.
It was after sunset. And I was close to giving up. But then I heard a female HOOT. Somewhere near the trail. Couldn’t figure out where it came from.
And then I heard A MALE HOOT.
OMGOMGOMG!
Found the male a bit away from the trail but in the area, then the female flew out and landed near him. And they DUET HOOTED.
Okokok, if you haven’t been following the saga or can’t remember the saga, I forgive you. But this is MOMENTOUS. I haven’t heard nor seen a male GHO in the East in SOME TIME.
Who’s this guy? How long has he been around? Has she bonded with him? Are they currently courting? WHAT IS HAPPENING?!?!
I was GIDDY. And very excited that he flew away from her and into a tree above the trail so I could see him better. She continued to hoot from where she was. He then flew Northeast. And she soon flew in a similar direction.
!!!!!
The very idea of her finding a mate this year is BEYOND THRILLING. I can’t hardly wait to keep track of these two and see what develops…! AMAZING DAY in GGPark!!
