Obviously the following photos were not taken today. (It was cloudy and wet today). I had gone back to a unit where I thought I had left my knife a few days ago.
What I did find was more of the unknown moss! I marked the location with a stick in the ground so I could re-find it easier.
Then while admiring the above moss, I found the emerging leaves of a Ladies Tresses orchid (Spiranthes)!
Doesn’t look like much here. Maybe some scattered cowpie bits.
Nope, it was a lichen with the appropriate name of Cowpie Lichen (Diploschistes muscorum)! These clumps were scattered unlike the first time I had seen this species. The first one was more in the shape of an actual pile of cow dung.
With some of the Cowpie Lichens was Yellow Scale (Psora icterica). The Cowpie Lichen was trying to take over the Yellow Scale. It is a battle for survival. đŸ™‚
And just FYI, the Yellow Scale is UV positive yellow!
Another find on that sunny day, a Salt Marsh Moth (Estigmene acrea)!
Still searching for the elusive knife, I paused at a branch covered in lichens.
Since I had my UV torch I shone the light. Yep several were UV positive!
It had been a nice day to come back.
However, I didn’t find my knife. Moreover yesterday I was searching my pack for another thing and I found my knife. LOL.
Funny about your knife but great excuse to return to the scene. And what a beautiful sea slug.
And now I have spare knives because I brought two more because I figured I would lose it again. đŸ˜‚
Funny knife saga but what cool finds in the search!
And that is a really cool slug.
Cowpie lichen! That’s one I’ll have to look for!
I look forward to
Seeing the cow pie lichen on a different trip!