More mushrooms... 8/31/2013

A walk in the woods this morning produced these mushrooms. :

A better view of a cluster of Smooth Chanterelle

I have no idea.  Keep thinking I should come across a slime mold, maybe this is it. Will watch over next few days.

One of the most unusual mushrooms I've come across.  Will research.

A few pictures.  

First, a small Spotted Salamander.Ambystoma maculatum, I found under a rock on our property in late July.  Posed it on a rock, but left the dirt intact.  These widespread salamanders can grow to over 9" long.  More info at http://srelherp.uga.edu/index.htm or wikipedia.

Thirsty?   This is Yahoola Creek next to the old water plant.  I took this picture while checking out a construction site for inadequate erosion controls, July 29,2013. This is Dahlonega's main source of water.

Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa)  thoughtfully posing by Yahoola Creek.  They are sexually dimorphic  (different markings on male and female)  This is a male.  For a comprehensive page on the Dragonflies and Damsel Flies (Odenates) in Georgia, or nearby southeast the go-to website is Giff Beaton's Dragonflies and Damselflies of Georgia and the Southeast:  http://www.giffbeaton.com/dragonflies.htm

Caridnal Flower, Lobelia cardinalis.  I luckily recognized it when small so I didn't mow it.  Popular with hummingbirds.

Bluish tinged mushroom.  8/30/13  on our property.

Large bright orange mushrooms popped up in our lawn.  Possibly a Smooth Chanterelle, Cantharellus lateritius.  Supposed to be edible, but without using a biological key consumption may be hazardous.  

August 30,2013

Time to resume blog...

Just a few notes:

Found two Crane Fly Orchids, Tipularia discolor, at different locations on our property in the past couple of weeks.  Mid August.

Encountered a robust Black Rat Snake, Pantherophis obsoletus. while working on my trail.  Ripper the dog didn't notice it. There are a large number of subspecies of this large and common snake including Grey Rat Snake, Yellow Rat Snake, Corn Snake to name a few.  48" +/- 8/26/13.

Found a little grey worm like snake under a rock today, trail work.  Most likely a Smooth Earth Snake, Virginia valeriae.  Grey color, belly not markedly different from dorsal, about 8" long +/-  8/27/13

I use the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecological Laboratory website, http://srelherp.uga.edu/index.htm as my primary resource for all things herpatological.

Spring 3.27.13

Spring continues…

3.27.13

Boston Fern sprouts or “fiddleheads”

 Yellow Buckeyes sprouting leaflets.  (One of the earliest)

Boston Fern sprouts or “fiddleheads”

Little Brown Jugs wintered over

          Spring 

             Spring at last, spring at last….

After enduring four months of winter starkness of the southern Appalachian 

woodlands,   the first signs of  life poking up through the leaf litter: 

Fairy Wands

Wood Anenome

Great Chickweed

Trout Lily

Wildflower Identification Site

Here's a lovely wildflower identification website I came across with photos of North Georgia wildflowers.  This appears to be a personal collection representing quite an effort by Frankie Abercrombie and Mildred Norrell.  It is as good as any localized Field Guide I've seen.  Most of the pictures are of flowers taken in Lumpkin and Union Counties in the North Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains.

                                          http://imageevent.com/milfranvideoandphotography

Take an armchair safari…

A nice way to feed the need for foreign travel.  Find a site and leave it on while you’re doing something useful and something interesting just may turn up.

Africa:  

Several cameras in Southern Africa:   http://www.africam.com/wildlife/multiview_safari_popup.php
Djumo Water Hole cam in Botswana:  http://www.ustream.tv/djumacam

Our favorite is Tembe.  http://www.tembe.co.za/   Best viewing is in summer (their winter) during the dry season.    Our morning is their afternoon. (they are 6 hours ahead)

Greater Kruger/Sabi Sands  http://www.wildearth.tv/djuma-gowrie-waterhole-wildlife-big-game-africa-live-webcam-01

South America:

http://www.worldlandtrust.org/webcams  Hummingbird/Bird feeder cams in  Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina

North America

http://birdnote.org/nest_cams   An assortment of bird/nest cams.  Some in Europe,  Australia.  A couple I like are: 

http://birdnote.org/nestcam/southwest-florida-bald-eagle-nest-cam

http://birdnote.org/nestcam/great-horned-owl-nestcam-oklahoma-city

(Thanks to Patty for these) and

Australia

http://birdnote.org/nestcam/australia-galah-webcam   This one is really nice.  I’m viewing it in March and seeing Rainbow Lorikeets and Sulfur-crested Cockatoos.  View full screen at night for Aussie daytime.