Author: Brenda Clements Jones

Brenda is a certified Virginia Master Naturalist, a Habitat Defender for Shenandoah National Park, and a devoted fan of Mother Nature. She lives in a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Shenandoah National Park, and hikes up to the higher elevations of her mountain often to see what nature is up to. Her constant hiking companion is a camera that captures nature as it unfolds through the seasons. It’s her goal to share the natural world around her through her photographs.

Nitrous Bonnet Mushroom

It always surprises me when I discover a mushroom growing in late autumn, but as you can see by my photos, it does happen. This one is Nitrous Bonnet (Mycena leptocephala). A fungus with a conical cap that can get to be just a bit over an inch in diameter. That cap has a raised center which in the mushroom world is called an umbo.

This species of fungus is sabrobic which means it feeds on dead or decaying organic matter, and in this particular case it feeds on conifer needles, cones and sticks on the forest floor. And indeed, if you look very carefully, you’ll see that these mushrooms have emerged among pine needles.

This look at the gills pleased me with its gray color. Not a color that I would have expected.

This blog gives no information about the edibility or toxicity of any of the mushrooms that are written about.

This Morning A Hermit Thrush

A faithful winter resident. This morning a Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) appeared at my birdbath reminding me that soon I’ll need a water warmer out there to keep the water from freezing. These photos, above, are my visitor the Hermit Thrush this morning.

Perhaps you’ll remember that just a week ago I thought my first Hermit Thrush had stopped by to say hello. But it was another Thrush. The first time for me to see a Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus ustulatus). A learning experience. Such subtle differences. These two lower images are the Swainson’s Thrush from last Friday. The most striking thing I notice (though still subtle) is the color difference. The Hermit Thrush has a cinnamon color on its wings and tail. The Swainson’s Thrush is gray-brown with no hint of cinnamon.

Now that I know the difference between these two birds, I’m hoping I’ll notice right away when another Swainson’s Thrush comes migrating through.

White-tailed Deer

Wondering when the Black Bears (Ursus americanus) will return in their usual numbers. Their population has dropped dramatically due to mange in this area.

In their absence White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are taking advantage of the situation. Under normal circumstances I see way more bear than deer. But now deer seem to be ubiquitous.

More Traffic On The Road

Last night I posted a blog about a turkey on my road, but I didn’t mention that this sort of “traffic” is not unusual. Last night’s turkey, and these, above, are Domestic Turkeys.

There’s another sort of turkey traffic too. Wild Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo). Though the Domestic Turkeys tend to stay away from the woods further up the road, the Wild Turkeys are more often seen up here in the woods.

And then there are chickens that cross the road. I have no idea why they cross the road. Other than to get to the other side.

But my very favorite traffic crossing the road, over all the years I’ve been up here, these little pigs that decided to take a stroll. I’ve only seen them once, but I’m so glad I was able to capture an image.