October 15, 2020

Plant Walk

I had a very relaxing walk through the Chestnut Hill Reservation this past week. There's a neat little trail that takes you right through the forested area along Commonwealth Avenue, and it has plenty of great plant specimens to see! I spotted some of the typical oaks, maples, and pines, and I enjoyed seeing that many deciduous leaves were already starting to turn dark red, orange, and brown. Really nice fall colors!

These past few days have been unseasonably warm, with temperatures in the 70s (degrees Fahrenheit). I have included a picture of the parasitic Black Tar Spot fungus eating away at maple leaves, and also of a friendly small squirrel that allowed me to get rather close so I could photograph it.

Posted on October 15, 2020 08:41 PM by lfaitar lfaitar | 9 observations | 0 comments | Leave a comment

October 8, 2020

Fungi Walk

I took a long walk around the Chestnut Hill and Newton area this past week. We had some great weather, about 65 degrees Fahrenheit. The sun was out, the birds were chirping, and we had an excellent breeze going by. I was very surprised to find so many types of lichen on the trees in the area! Normally, when we think of lichen, we just think of crusty green blobs on tree bark. However, on closer inspection, I was able to find Common Greenshield Lichen, Sunken Disk Lichen, Gold Dust Lichen, and Fluffy Dust Lichen. They all appear slightly different both in color and texture. In addition, the sunken disk lichen is found mostly on rocks, which is exactly where I found it. Someone had left a muffin out in the Newton woods near the cemetery, and it was full of trichoderma fungi... A little gross, but still worth noting.

I included the Crisped Pincushion even though it is a plant. I was pleased to find lots of moss examples on my walk as well.

Posted on October 8, 2020 08:26 PM by lfaitar lfaitar | 6 observations | 0 comments | Leave a comment

October 1, 2020

Chestnut Hill Reservoir

I took a lovely walk around the Chestnut Hill Reservoir and some of the surrounding wild spaces. These observations span a few different days, because you just never know when interesting animals will appear! I was fortunate enough to spot a Great Blue Heron resting by the rocks in the reservoir. It was pacing around, definitely looking for something to eat-- perhaps a fish or other water-dwelling organism. I've seen what appears to be the same heron individual on numerous occasions in the reservoir. It always appears around dusk and begins to hunt!

The mallards and mute swans are regular visitors at the reservoir, always bobbing their heads in and out of the water, searching for food. I was also lucky enough to get the chipmunks on camera. They're very fidgety and energetic-- you can't ever get too close to them! They seem to prefer hiding in rock crevasses. Overall, a very pleasant evening and mild weather, around 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Posted on October 1, 2020 02:17 AM by lfaitar lfaitar | 5 observations | 0 comments | Leave a comment

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