robogenesis's Journal

Walked 3 miles of the 7.7 mile Little River Trail. Total 6 miles in 6 hours, 232 observations of 103 species, including 40 species without previous observations along the trail.

I went for a walk today not really intending to document anything, but decided to take one photo of each species I saw. Of course I saw more than I thought I would, including what looks like Amanita pantherinoides that something devoured.

I'm also observing a honeysuckle that's quite literally growing something like 50 feet up a Douglas Fir. I'm pretty sure it's an orange honeysuckle, but I'm waiting for it to bloom to confirm.

I set out today looking for Giant White Fawn Lilies up the Elwha, and Miniature Lupine at Ediz Hook. Took the back route down Little River Rd and stopped in the DNR land to document the Pacific Dogwood along the road, and what do I find right out my door but Miniature Lupine!

After a quick stop I'm off to Madison Falls where I find that they're doing maintenance on the trail, so I explore the trailhead instead. Then I'm off up the Elwha, stopping every 50 feet to document something new. I intended to go farther, but my phone died after 1.5 miles because of all the photos I took. Oh well, guess I'll have to come back next time with a full charge and a battery bank... and maybe a bike.

Found my first morel (and conic morel) since I started mushroom hunting last fall. Spore printed and tissue cultured both (seemingly successfully).

I wasn't prepared for a real hike but before I knew it I was half-way there. Turns out it's not as bad when you stop every 50 feet to identify another species. In the end I decided not to push myself to the top on account of the shoes I was wearing and not bringing water, but I'll be back later to finish the job.

The path less traveled and the path less maintained, the Barnes Creek trail is quiet and beautiful. Pacific Trillium are blooming prolifically, the sound of the creek and the birds, the many tiny flowers lining either side of the trail and tiny critters who pollinate them; an entire world normally outside our view, there to take in for anyone willing to take a closer look.

Checking on the progress of the early risers.

Encountered two sooty grouse and startled the second one twice while never even seeing it. In the open they look silly standing still, in the brush they don't look like anything at all.

After seeing user @ingridcarmean upload observations of some interesting nests[1][2][3], I decided to see if I could locate any of my own to help identify their makers. After several hours I was able to locate 2, unfortunately they were both already vacated as with ingrid's observations. I'll return throughout the year to try to solve this little mystery.

Spring is here. The bumblebees are bumbling, the trees are waking up, the chipmunks are showing me their secrets.