Big Buck and Does

Lots of does very agitated. 

 

Buck in the Preserve

The buck was following this doe.

 

Bear Eating Apples

Apple tree in August.

Huge pile of yellow scat full of apple pieces.

Apple tree today, apple branches gone. 

Licorice Ferns

Polypodium glycyrrhiza, commonly known as licorice fern, many-footed fern, and sweet root, native to western North America, where it is found in shaded, damp locations. Spores are located in rounded sori on the undersides of the fronds, and are released in cool weather and high humidity.  In the wild Polypodium glycyrrhiza grows on maple or red alder trunks, or on mossy rocks, old stumps or on the ground where they landed after falling out of a tree.  They lose their fronds as the season dries and grows new ones in summer, keeping them through winter.

 

Flock of Migrating Geese

I often hear them but don't often get a picture. 

Deer in the Preserve Today

Saw a total of 5 near Schmitz entrance. 

Young one behind doe. 

Doe very vigilant. 

Native Hawthorn Tree

I saw some birds in this tree by the fence.

Noticed berries.

Native Washington Hawthorn. (no e) ?

Shelf Fungus, False Turkey Tails

White shelf fungus on piece of log.

False turkey tail fungus are back.

These are on the log by the corral. 

Chocolate Lily Seeds

These seed pods are still hanging on but seeds are gone. 

 

Eight Deer in the Preserve

One after the other crossed the trail in front of me.

Several were this year's fawns. 

 

Praying Mantis

The brown one was in the brown leaves of the iris.

The green was on the trim board of the cubby.

They are very friendly. 

 

Wasp Nest

This little wasp nest is near the entrance at Schmitz.

It hangs over the trail. 

Shelf Fungi, Conks

Should I remove fungus from tree?

When you see mushroom conks growing out of your tree's wood (on the trunk or branches), DO NOT knock them off or disturb them. A mere jostle could cause a single conk to release billions of spores into the air, potentially infecting and eventually killing other trees, shrubbery, and plant life.

 

The Preserve Late Summer

Fred and Kristina walking.

So many pretty views. 

 

Honeysuckle Seed Pods

I checked on the native honeysuckle and found these darling seed pods.

There were at least 6 or 7 on this vine. 

Great Horned Owl August

Taken by steps August 23 2023

Wendy Simmons Ploegman

 

Pretty Moth

Don't know if this is a moth or butterfly.

It was in the bedroom.

Found this one on the windowsill in the bedroom, dead. 

Fall Colors in the Preserve

On the back stretch colors seem to change first here.

At the Schmitz Ct. Entrance.

Blue sky, but smoke nearby also. 

Apple Tree in Preserve

Apples are plentiful. 

But not ripe. 

Mardon Skipper Butterflies

 Skippers are a group of butterflies placed in the family Hesperiidae within the order Lepidoptera. 

The mardon skipper population size is low and declining. This skipper is currently found at only four, small, geographically disjunct areas in Washington, Oregon, and California. It is one of five butterflies in the Skipper Family recognized as "Species of Greatest Conservation Need" throughout their ranges due to the small number of isolated populations, specialized and restricted habitat, and known threats to their habitat. Research is needed to better understand threat factors and specific habitat requirements, such as vegetation structure, food plant size and density, and other key habitat features.

Reported to WA F&WL Today. 

Native Grass, Forbs and Epiphytic Species

 

An epiphyte is a plant or plant-like organism that grows on the surface of another plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water or from debris accumulating around it. The plants on which epiphytes grow are called phorophytes.

Wasp Nest

Finally spotted this wasp nest in the Preserve.

These look like black wasps.

 

Acorns

These are all from the tree in the triangle. 

The tree at the end of Eagledale is loaded with large acorns.

August 7. 

Trees along the trail August 8.

One Owl Today

I saw this great horned owl this morning. 

I heard alarm calls, saw it at #1, it flew to #2.

Took the picture at #2 but as I moved closer it flew to #3.