Photos / Sounds
What
Dwarf Mouse-Ear (Cerastium pumilum)Observer
bombusmixtusDescription
Small plant on disturbed soil. Sepals with narrow, scarious margins (see bud to the left of the flower in image 1).
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What
Bud-headed Groove-Moss (Aulacomnium androgynum)Observer
bombusmixtusDescription
Moss growing at the base of lodge pole pine, Pinus contorta. Note gemma-bearing shoots. Under dissecting microscope, leaf tips with small teeth.
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What
Capitotricha bicolorObserver
bombusmixtusDescription
Small fungi on rotting thimble berry (Rubus parviflorus) stem.
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Ribbed Bog Moss (Aulacomnium palustre)Observer
bombusmixtusDescription
Moss growing next to large ephemeral water puddle at edge of wetland.
Photo 1. Note two gemmiferous plants in image.
Photo 2. Close up of tuft.
Photo 3. Overview of clump.
Photo 4. Habitat. Note ephemeral puddle in background.
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What
Brown Elfin (Callophrys augustinus)Observer
bombusmixtusDescription
Butterfly on tall Mahonia flowers.
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What
Northern Alligator Lizard (Elgaria coerulea)Observer
bombusmixtusDescription
Small lizard about 15 cm in length.
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What
Earpick Fungus (Auriscalpium vulgare)Observer
bombusmixtusDescription
Likely growing out of a buried Douglas fir pine cone. Specimen found by Terry Taylor.
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Stalked Hairy Fairy Cup (Lachnum virgineum)Observer
bombusmixtusDescription
Fungi on female red alder cone. Specimen found by Terry Taylor, who indicated the fungi can be found fruiting at this time of year on alder cones. From iNaturalist postings, I see that it is also found on other material. A very attractive, small wonder to herald in spring.
Photos / Sounds
What
Square-leaved Crestwort (Chiloscyphus polyanthos)Observer
bombusmixtusDescription
Aquatic liverwort. On chunk of conifer bark sitting in slow moving streamlet.
From the British Bryological Society factsheet: "perianth lobes of C. polyanthos are undivided and hardly toothed, whereas those of C. pallescens are toothed."
Schofield (2002) notes: [Chiloscyphus] sporophytes infrequent, maturing in winter to spring at low elevations.
Photo 1. In situ.
Photo 2. 0.7x Capsule erupting from perianth.
Photo 3. 2x Perichaetium leaves.
Photo 4. 20x Cells of perichaetium leaves.
Photo 5. 2x Capsule.
Photo 6. 5x Seta.
Photo 7. 20x One elater with spores.
Photos 8 & 9. 1.9x Perianth mouth. Not toothed.
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What
Field Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)Observer
bombusmixtusDescription
Maybe this is the tip of a fertile field horsetail? Found amongst Chiloscyphus sp., collected from douglas fir bark that was lying in a small and muddy streamlet.
Photo 1. 0.7x organism overview (5 mm length)
Photo 2. 2x top view: "leaf", with "sacs"? "Leaf" = 1 mm diameter.
Photo 3. 2x bottom view: "leaf" with sacs.
Photo 4. 5x stem cross section
Photos / Sounds
What
Membranous Pelt Lichen (Peltigera membranacea)Observer
bombusmixtusDescription
Lichen growing on ground.
Photo 1. Rhizoids.
Photo 2. Overview.
Photo 3. 0.7x Upper surface of thallus tomentose.
Phot 4. 0.7x Lower surface with narrow, tomentose veins and slender, tomentose rhizoids (about 1cm long).
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What
Fan Pelt Lichen (Peltigera venosa)Observer
bombusmixtusDescription
Lichen growing in soil at roadside cutout. "Without a doubt the cutest little Peltigera" (McCune and Geiser 2009).
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What
Aerial Yellowjackets (Genus Dolichovespula)Observer
bombusmixtusDescription
Hornet (left) and Andrena (right). Foraging on willow.
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What
Frigid Mining Bee (Andrena frigida)Observer
bombusmixtusDescription
Female Andrena. Foraging on willow.
What
Red-tailed Bumblefly (Criorhina caudata)Observer
bombusmixtusDescription
Diptera bumble bee mimic. Looks like it is a mimic of Bombus mixtus. Foraging on willow.
What
Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)Observer
bombusmixtusDescription
Worker honey bee foraging at willow. Either there are hives close by or else this must be from a feral nest.
What
Black-tailed Bumble Bee (Bombus melanopygus)Observer
bombusmixtusDescription
Bombus queen. Black-tailed is also a very common species in the local area. Foraging on willow.
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What
Yellow-faced Bumble Bee (Bombus vosnesenskii)Observer
bombusmixtusDescription
Bombus queen. Yellow-faced is a very common species to the local area. Feeding at willow catkins.
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What
Sitka Bumble Bee (Bombus sitkensis)Observer
bombusmixtusDescription
Bombus queen foraging on only willow in the area producing pollen. Many Bombus, Andrena, flies and hornets at this pollen producing willow.
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What
Coastal Miterwort (Brewerimitella ovalis)Observer
bombusmixtusDescription
Small plant growing in river side channel. Just starting to flower.
Photos 1 & 2. Flowers.
Photo 3 & 4. Old leaves.
Photo 5 & 6. New leaves.
Photo 7. Habitat.
Photos / Sounds
What
Giant White Fawn Lily (Erythronium oregonum)Observer
bombusmixtusDescription
First fawn lily flower for 2024. Most flowers have not yet openned. Beautiful harbinger of spring.
Photos / Sounds
What
Mining Bees (Genus Andrena)Observer
bombusmixtusDescription
They're back! Andrena males were busy lekking at this location. Nice, sunny and warm spring day. Occasionally, the bees would briefly set down for a rest from their circling. No females observed. Photo 3 shows the habitat.
Previously observed in April 11, 2022: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/111577677
Photos / Sounds
What
Square-leaved Crestwort (Chiloscyphus polyanthos)Observer
bombusmixtusDescription
Liverwort growing in ditchwater. Located underwater.
Photo 1. In situ.
Photo 2. Overview of plants. Top view (left) and bottom view (right). Scale in cm.
Photo 3. 0.7x Top view.
Photo 4. 0.7x Bottom view.
Photo 5. 5x Underleaf.
Photo 6. 5x Underleaf with rhizoids.
Photo 7. 20x Leaf cells with oil bodies.
Photo 8. Habitat. Locations of liverwort circled in blue.
Photos / Sounds
What
Lobaria anthraspisObserver
bombusmixtusDescription
On ocean spray branch amongst the Lobularia pulmonaria. Underside with light brown tomentum and scattered white spots (pseudocyphellae). Medulla white.
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What
Pimpled Kidney Lichen (Nephroma resupinatum)Observer
bombusmixtusDescription
Lichen on Viburnum carlesii (snowball bush). Apothecia on underside of lobes indicates Nephroma. Whitish papillae surrounded by light brownish tomentum on the lower surface is diagnostic for resupinatum.
Photo 1. Overview of lichen on branch.
Photo 2. Apothecia on underside of lobes.
Photo 3. 0.7x Whitish papillae surrounded by light brownish tomentum.
Photo 4. Habitat. Viburnum carlesii where lichen was found (on right hand side of the shrub).
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What
Kneiff's Hook-Moss (Drepanocladus aduncus)Observer
bombusmixtusDescription
Moss found in ditch water on rotten wood. Leaves variable. Accidently collected with a sample of Chiloscyphus polyanthus.
Photo 1. Plant overview. Note leaves on stem short and stout; and leaves on plant tip longer and curved.
Photo 2. 20x stem cross sections. Note outer layer of stem cells small and thick walled.
Photo 3. 5x Stem leaf.
Photo 4. 2x Leaf from very tip of the plant.
Photo 5. 5x. Leaf base of photo 4 showing alar cells.
Photo 6. 5x. Leaf tip of photo 4 . Note teeth absent.
Conrad (1956) notes this species has/had "many named forms; often two branches of one plant or parts of one branch, belonging to two named forms".
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What
Jagged Notchwort (Schistochilopsis incisa)Observer
bombusmixtusDescription
Emerald green liverwort among the Scapania. Located on a very large fallen log right next to the trail.
Photo 1. In situ.
Photo 2. 2x Plant tip.
Photo 3. 2x Leaf with teeth.
Photo 4. 20x Leaf tooth.
Photo 5. 20x Oil bodies.
Photo 6. 5x Leaf tips with gemma.
Photos 7 & 8. 20x Gemma.
Photo 9. 5x plant tip with archegonia?
Photo 10. 20x Archagonia?
Photos / Sounds
What
Tree Pelt Lichen (Peltigera collina)Observer
bombusmixtusDescription
Epiphytic lichen on Corylopsis pauciflora (buttercup winter hazel).
Photo 1. Closeup in situ.
Photo 2. Same lichen shown in association with the mustard kidney lichen.
Photo 3. 0.7x underside showing veins and rhizoids.
According to Macrolichens of the Pacific Northwest (McCune and Geiser 2009), P. collina "is the only lichen in the PNW with veins below and sorediate". McCune and Geiser 2009 also state "apothecia black on raised narrow lobes", but the one apothecia present on the lichen looks orange to my eye. Do others have thoughts as to why this might be?
Lastly, I am used to seeing this lichen with more of a brown colour, but this one is more greyish than brown.
Photos / Sounds
What
Tree Lungwort (Lobaria pulmonaria)Observer
bombusmixtusDescription
Epiphytic lichen on Corylopsis pauciflora (buttercup winter hazel).
Photo 1. In situ.
Photo 2. Underside.
Photo 3. Apothecia.
Photo 4. Soridia.
According to Macrolichens of the Pacific Northwest (McCune and Geiser 2009), the apothecia are "uncommon".
Milner gardens is a good place to visit if you want to see tree lungwort in situ because this lichen covers many of the rhododendrons at eye level (as opposed to up in the tree tops).
This lichen and the three other species (Peltigera collina, Nephroma laevigatum and Sticta limbata) on the hazel are a lovely memorial to Tara (see lower right of photo 1).
Photos / Sounds
What
Mustard Kidney Lichen (Nephroma laevigatum)Observer
bombusmixtusDescription
Lichen growing as an epiphyte on Corylopsis pauciflora, buttercup winter hazel.
Photo 1. In situ. Note apothecia is on the underside of the thallose.
Photo 2. 0.7x Orange medulla.
Photo 3. 20x Apothecia with spores.
Photo 4. In situ. Nephroma laevigatum (right) with Peltigera collina (left).