by elizabeth5047 | Apr 29, 2011 | Flora, Uncategorized
I have found several bird nests in the woods this spring, each made from different materials. One is tiny and full of paper birch bark and moss, another full of wide grass blades and bark from a grape vine. The most recent one I found is made from an outer layer of the mycelium in this photo. The lining is made of white pine needles. This photo above shows the dried, branching hyphae of a fungus that was decomposing the log on which it was growing. The mycelium made a sturdy net of tiny black threads that acted like a basket for other nest material. After a winter with lots of heavy snow, the nest is falling apart and was probably blown from whereever it was...
by elizabeth5047 | Apr 22, 2011 | Uncategorized
I have spent three days this week following Ralph Charles as he inventories the Lee Trust property in Westport. I’ve seen lots of hepatica and today saw the first spring beauty and a big patch of Dutchmen’s Breeches. I also found the friendly little snake and the superbright red fungus shown. More rain expected tomorrow. The lake level is 101 ft and south winds are expected tomorrow. Last night I rode the Essex-Charlotte ferry for the first time since December and the water was over the landing on this side of the...
by elizabeth5047 | Mar 29, 2011 | Uncategorized
Sunday was a day of rest. Yvon Fortier and Eloise and I walked up Kronks through last year’s timber cut to a sunny spot perfect for napping. There is still deep snow in the shady places but warm, bare rock facing south. Eloise knows exactly how to...
by elizabeth5047 | Mar 29, 2011 | Uncategorized
This weekend the 2011 NYS Outdoor Guides Association Rendezvous proved to include all the fun of a day on trail. Saturday I took a group of visiting guides and new friends for a spectacular if short climb up Owl’s Head in Lake Placid. Pictured are Janice Joyce, Jim Zach, Donald McDonald, Dana Bol, Hank Rope and Phyllis Whittemore. Later in the day an equally distinguished group photo was taken of NYSOGA guides who were among the charter members when NYSOGA formed in 1981. NYSOGA celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2011. These guides are all special men who have given hours to shepherd the tradition of guiding in a positive direction. Thank you for your dedication, your hard work and your willingness to chat with those of us who are following...
by elizabeth5047 | Mar 27, 2011 | Living With Wilderness
Two or three times this winter when I was skiing, I jumped back when a rocket shot out of the snow where I nearly missed planting my pole on a grouse that had buried itself to keep warm. Grouse are interesting — they mark their territory and attract a mate by making a loud drumming sound, and they grow funny bristle-like things on their feet to use as snowshoes in winter. Although grouse are usually drumming by now, this year the logs in the forest where you’d hear drumming are still under snow in much of the North Country. Read the full...
by elizabeth5047 | Mar 21, 2011 | Uncategorized
Today I received a great article by Nathalie Pelletier who recently joined me for a day in Split Rock Wild Forest. Merci Nathalie.
