What a crisp and delightful day out with the First Wed group today.
Sunrise! And a perfectly clear sky. It was going to be enjoyable day for the first First Wednesday outing of 2023. To be clear, group did not meet at sunrise. Gracie just needed her walk before I headed over to the grasslands. 😉
Our first stop was at the Hairy Cap Moss (Pogonatum brachyphyllum). This time however, the sun light was not falling directly on it as it had done for me the week before.
After the Hairy Cap Moss, we headed out. Indeed, the gnarly old tree captured everyone’s attention.
While looking at some lichens, the Common Split Gill (Schizophyllum commune) mushroom took center stage.
As we neared the edge of a pond, Jeanne spotted a second group of the Hairy Cap Moss! This one was a certainly a bit more accessible.
I spotted the mud casting. Then Rosie saw the hole! Thank you Rosie. No clue what critter made it. Perhaps a beetle or maybe a wasp excavated it.
Does this remind you of someone in your past? Could it be a ghost from the LBJ Grasslands? Certainly seems to be looking back at us. LOL
The First Wednesday group of nine had a wonderful morning at the grasslands. Indeed many tidbits of new information were shared. Thank you all!
Update! Do you remember this photo from the “Its the law” post? So I reached out to BugGuide and Dr. Keng-Lou James Hung (Assistant Professor Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory & Oklahoma Biological Survey). Both sources had suggestions. James wondered if it might not be a Miner Bee (Anthophora abrupta) or perhaps in that genus. If it is this bee, it has a similar appearance to the bumble bee but smaller. James sent me to this site to learn further about the aforementioned species. Certainly looks like I need to go back in the spring to check who it might be. (pun intended 😉 Thanks to BugGuide and James!
Miner bee article interesting – the first reference in that article from Florida has even more info on how they build the cells and emerge. Will definitely be looking out for nest sites along the south ditches here.
It was indeed a very lovely start to the new year.
Love the hairy cap moss. How great so many people showed up today. Looks like it was fun day.
A beautiful day! Neat on miner bee possibility!!
Miner bee article interesting – the first reference in that article from Florida has even more info on how they build the cells and emerge. Will definitely be looking out for nest sites along the south ditches here.
I just read the article. Did you notice the nest building was in the afternoon? Seems to be the time to go visit a site, eh.