As we heading down the creek, we had a decision on which way to go, right or left. I knew if we went to the right we would hit the boundary of the grasslands unit. Still no creek branch should be left unexplored. In this case, it was not far to the boundary. Of course, off we went to the right.
Here is a tunnel of the first unknown and hidden critter. It was interesting because of the two bumps. Was something walking upside down or what?
We checked to see if had a space. Jeanne found it did! However no creature ;-( Maybe another day.
A wet acorn cap highlighted the browns.
The spalting (the black lines) in a dead cottonwood. The spalting is caused by fungi.
Here in this section, I can see a pair of dolphin heads. What do you see?
The shelf fungus tries to blend in.
A close look at the fallen log.
I found a sand covered tiny grasshopper.
A knot was highlighted with algae.
Find the moth!
Here is a close up of the Sad Underwing (Catocala maestosa)!
Another Sad Underwing!
I got a close up its front. The hairy upper tufts on its legs were neat. The checkered front part of the leg blended in until Jeanne pointed that out to me. It ended up there were 4 to 5 Sad Underwings on this one cottonwood. I have never seen so many in one place at one time. It was cool! So going to the right at the fork was the right decision!
A very small roller dung beetle had a tough job, however it sure was trying! Also when you watch the video at one point there is another hidden critter. It lifts it lid for a half second as the beetle goes by. No clue what it was and I didn’t see it until I was home looking at the video again.
Keep looking!
The more you know, the more you see and the more you see, the more you know.
8 Comments
It always amazes me how much more you see in all the photos and videos – that trap door is such a surprise!
Mary, I misspoke. Steve sometimes comes across spalted areas while working on projects (he’s shown these to me), but he’s not specifically bought or intentionally used spalted wood in projects. He said guitar builders do use it in building, almost always maple as that makes the best guitar bodies.
It always amazes me how much more you see in all the photos and videos – that trap door is such a surprise!
In the photos, I guess our brains have time to think and not be so focused. The surprise was cool!
I love it when Steve uses spalted wood in his projects.
That kind of wood is just beautiful. Steve ever use it for the guitars?
I saw a bear walking to the right after i saw the dolphins. And the knot looks like a crater seen from the air. That spalted wood is most interesting.
It is fun to look at it, isn’t it. I see a dog too.
Mary, I misspoke. Steve sometimes comes across spalted areas while working on projects (he’s shown these to me), but he’s not specifically bought or intentionally used spalted wood in projects. He said guitar builders do use it in building, almost always maple as that makes the best guitar bodies.
An example: https://www.amazon.com/Electric-Guitar-Spalted-maple-Okoume/dp/B0855RTQH3/ref=asc_df_B0855RTQH3?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80539341570434&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584138870478420&psc=1
Suzanne, very interesting. I had only seen woodturners use spalted wood before.