They fly to a nearby branch and break it open by holding it between their feet and pecking at it with their beaks, removing tiny bits at a time~

I enjoy so much watching the songbirds come to our various feeders, and lately they have begun to come for more visits throughout the day. many of them eat a bit and then hide the balance for another time. One of the most abundant of these is the Tufted Titmouse. They hang out with the Chickadees and flourish on the grove and beyond. They will take a seed, throwing many out, choosing just the right kind, and then fly to a nearby branch and break it open by holding it between their feet and pecking at it with their beaks, removing tiny bits at a time~

Clouded Sulphur's enjoy meadow and field flowers, as well as pasture land the best~

Clouded Sulphur's enjoy meadow and field flowers, as well as pasture land the best. The eggs of this species is laid one by one on various legumes, and their colour is a lovely shade of chartreuse. The caterpillar is bright green with lighter green stripes down their sides and a darker stripe down the back. The green chrysalis overwinters~

I saw my first ever Ravenel's Stinkhorn, also known as Phallus ravenelii, or shall I say, I smelled it's pungent odor first~

Just about the time that I was completing a walk in my side garden today, I saw my first ever Ravenel's Stinkhorn, also known as Phallus ravenelii, or shall I say, I smelled it's pungent odor first, like the worst moldy smell ever, and this "thing" was covered in flies and other tiny insects. After taking photographs, I did some research, fascinating stuff too. If I thought that it smelled bad today, while in it's infancy stage, tomorrow shall been an even worse treat, as they smell even worse as they rot and decompose. The Stinkhorn hatches from an "egg" where layers of the soon to emerge Stinkhorn is formed in a bath of sticky slime. Spores from these mushrooms are spread by the sticky slime that attracts flies and other insects. The substance sticks to the insects and then they spread the spores through their feces. This transport system is a highly advanced method of reproduction. They are non-poisonous and in fact are considered a delicacy in China, France and Germany~

Polypores Resinous Shelf Mushrooms were some of the various items found with the body of the 5300 year old "Iceman"

Two Polypores Resinous Shelf Mushrooms were some of the various items found with the body of the 5300 year old "Iceman" affectionately called Otzi by the people in the region of the Alps where his body was found. These mushrooms had been used as tinder and some of them produced what was thought to be as our antibiotics would be for us today. The "Iceman" had been suffering from disease and may have had these mushrooms on his person to ease the symptoms. These young Polypores photographed on the grove today exude water droplets when young as these are~

Will they miss the land they have thrived on, raised their young upon, probably not, though I miss their presence already~

Soon the ground shall be too frozen to listen for and peck out worms. The berries and other fruits have just about been depleted from the bushes and trees that abound. With the cooler, crisper days now and that lay ahead, there are fewer and fewer of these left to enjoy. Yet, in just a few brief months, they will most assuredly return. Where will they visit, what will they do, will they miss the land they have thrived on, raised their young upon, probably not, though I miss their presence already~

The fruit has extracts that can inhibit growth of several bacteria, that can be pathogenic~

Known as the Spiny Puffball, the fruit section while edible when young and tender, have also shown in tests to have extracts that can inhibit growth of several bacteria, that can be pathogenic, and, or cause disease in humans. When young they are white as in these photographs, turning a chocolate brown as they mature, becoming more difficult to view this time of year, as they blend in with fallen leaves~

It seems to be walking along the high branch, almost in a marching stance~

The leaves are all gone and the sheltered covering now exposes all of the friends of the forest. Many can still hide in the conifer trees. The Yellow Shafted Flicker was, as many have been before, quite interested in my camera shutter noise. Every time I took a photograph, it would look around and listen. It never did notice me standing beneath it. Got a tickle out of the photograph, where it seems to be walking along the high branch, almost in a marching stance, too cute~

Jay flew into a nearby tree and had to rearrange the nut in it's mouth~

What fun it was watching this Blue Jay play with an acorn for a bit, trying to get the thing to fit into it's mouth. Once it was finally able to get hold of it, the Jay flew into a nearby tree and had to rearrange the nut in it's mouth, throwing it's head backward a few times while
catching it just right, mouth open wide and it was once again all set to go~

The seeds look like tiny little Rubies glimmering in the sun~

I have always thought that these were Fire Bushes and now I am not so sure. Whatever they are, they are beautiful this time of year. Many of my songbird photographs are taken from these bushes. The leaves turn a luscious pink with soft shades of green this time of year. The seeds look like tiny little Rubies glimmering in the sun~