Favoritos de jenniferf4

I arrived at the Mother Lake Overlook area (26th Ave S) to get some plant and, hopefully, bird observations for CNC. As soon as I arrived, someone leaving said 'Are you here to see the Cattle Egret?" I had no clue one had been sighted here but lots of other birds had! Someone let me look through their scope and this is my very distant picture from a modest Canon camera.

There was also a Great Egret present in another portion of the marsh and the size difference between the two (even with different distances) was distinct.

There has been at least one other observation of this bird uploaded to iNat (more may come) and numerous eBird reports. Originally found by Steve Metzger

Surprising find on Park Point! First briefly seen roughly 1.25 miles to the southeast nearer the end of Minnesota Point, then relocated in a grassy area between buildings at the airport (photographed from the other side of the fence as the airport is private property). Few records of this vagrant in Minnesota, and most/all of these are from the southern half of the state; perhaps came north as a result of the record-high early October temperatures and southerly winds.

I haven't seen the species in this county in about two years! This one is in my yard!!!! First time I've seen it in my yard!!! This is the 11th (maybe 12th) species of bumble I photographed in my average suburban yard.

It was a little dry when I found it so I didn’t try a spore print. I chopped up some gills and water and got a picture of spores. I measured one spore at about 5 µm long by 3 µm wide. It doesn’t show very well in the picture, but I think there’s a pore on the spore, or some tiny knob.

Located in sandy area with pines, growing gregariously; caps up to 4cm, convex, finely hairy, purplish/tan; gills attached, nearly distant, dark purple; stems up to 6cm, enlarged base, scurfy, color like the cap; purplish basal mycelium; flesh pale purplish; spore print white.
See https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/140793477 for gill images and rosecomb malformation.

aka blue-pored polypore - found under hemlocks and boy was it ever...tons of them dotting the mossy side of the trail mixed in with boletes and other little mushrooms. A lovely blue-gray color. Less than 1 inch high - one of the biggest in the group. OM 90mm at f8 or so

Every time I walk down to the Co-op, I walk by this large patch of old rugosa roses. I always circle it slowly a could times, checking out the bees. Today it paid off.

@zportman @chanmmmm @fuzzybumblebee