Up a creek!
Normally in 2020, this would be a bad place to be “up a creek”, BUT today…well, we went up a creek and it was wonderful on the LBJ National Grasslands.
Also of note, I saw 100+ White Pelicans, 100+ Monarchs (most at the grasslands), and one Yellow-shafted Flicker today. House Wrens started showing a week ago.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_E4649.jpg?resize=360%2C640&ssl=1)
Most of day we could actually walk along the side of the creek, but here we had to go up and around this part of the creek.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_46422Bmaidenhair2Bfern2Bunit2B31.jpg?resize=480%2C640&ssl=1)
Maidenhair fern was abundant along the creek.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_46432Brocks2Bwith2Bdrips.jpg?resize=480%2C640&ssl=1)
Drip marks on the sandstone
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_46802Bfrog2Bunit2B31.jpg?resize=480%2C640&ssl=1)
Plenty of frogs in the creek!
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_46932Bsandstone2Bcool.jpg?resize=480%2C640&ssl=1)
Cool piece of sandstone that had fallen off the bank.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_47142Bmushrooms2Bunit2B312Bred2Bcap2Bgills2Bmaybe2BRussula2Bspecies.jpg?resize=480%2C640&ssl=1)
I believe this might be Russula species.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_47152Bmushrooms2Bunit2B312Bfunnel2Bshape2Bgills2Bdown2Bstem.jpg?resize=480%2C640&ssl=1)
This is a mushroom and that is as far as I’m willing to say what it is today 🙂
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_47082Bmushrooms2Bunit2B312Bpuffball.jpg?resize=640%2C610&ssl=1)
Puffball, maybe Peeling puffball (Lycoperdon marginatum)
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_47122Bmushrooms2Bunit2B312Bpuffball.jpg?resize=480%2C640&ssl=1)
Another puffball! I think from my reading, a lot of the whitish color puffballs belong to Lycoperdon genus BUT I could be way off on that.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_46612BGrindelia2Bsquarrosa2BCurly-cup2BGumweed2B2Bunit2B31.jpg?resize=490%2C640&ssl=1)
Curly-cup Gumweed (Grindelia squarrosa)
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_46512B2Bblack2Bdalea2BDalea2Bfrutescens2Bunit2B31.jpg?resize=480%2C640&ssl=1)
The Black Dalea (Dalea frutescens) was really going gang busters today.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_47232Bblack2Bdalea2BDalea2Bfrutescens2Bunit2B31.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1)
Closeup.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/00012B2Bblack2B2BCLOSEUP2Bdalea2BDalea2Bfrutescens2Bunit2B31.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1)
Closer-up. Notice the resin glands on the bracts (part holding the flower) and the leaves.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_46552Bsnailseed2BCocculus2Bcarolinus.jpg?resize=480%2C640&ssl=1)
Snailseed (Cocculus carolinus)
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_46692BFeather-legged2Bfly2BTrichopoda2Blanipes2Bunit2B31.jpg?resize=530%2C640&ssl=1)
This Feather-legged fly (Trichopoda lanipes) was a new for me.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_46662BFeather-legged2Bfly2BTrichopoda2Blanipes2Bunit2B31.jpg?resize=418%2C640&ssl=1)
Look at the hind legs and you can kinda see the “feathers”.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_46992Binsect2Bweevil2Bunit2B31.jpg?resize=640%2C582&ssl=1)
Weevil, Family Curculionidae (Snout and Bark Beetles)
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_46522Bmonarch2B2Bunit2B31.jpg?resize=424%2C640&ssl=1)
Monarch on Gayfeather (Liatris mucronata)
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_46852BThelypteris2Bkinthii2BSouthern2Bshield2Bfern2Bunit2B31.jpg?resize=480%2C640&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_46822BThelypteris2Bkinthii2BSouthern2Bshield2Bfern2Bunit2B31.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1)
Southern shield fern (Thelypteris kunthii). We found 8 or so plants of these along the creek bed. A new fern for Wise County and the grasslands.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_47192BChrysothrix2Bxanthia2Bneon2Bgreen2Byellow2Bunit2B31.jpg?resize=480%2C640&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_46292B2BChrysothrix2Bxanthia2Bneon2Bgreen2Byellow2Bunit2B31.jpg?resize=480%2C640&ssl=1)
You can not miss this lichen (Chrysothrix xanthia) if you come across it in the woods. It is a bright neon chartreuse. Stunning!
I love that unit! Such a great spot.
It is a favorite for sure!
I used to see that chartreuse lichen at the FW Nature Center and it was always on black locust trees.
Suzanne, Very interesting on your observation on the Black locust trees. I find it on oaks but it is hard to tell sometimes times because it is always on dead trees. I know a few spots on the grasslands that do have black locust, but have not look for that lichen on that particular species of tree.
Wow, what a jewel of an area! The lichen is amazing, I think I have run across it before. The weevils are always fascinating!
Chrysothrix is one of my favs😊