Favoritos de lumenal

On a piece of fallen bark in coastal old growth forest of Picea sitchensis and Tsuga heterophylla.

Update: I think this may be Ricasolia amplissima ssp. sheiyi

https://accs.uaa.alaska.edu/wp-content/uploads/Ricasolia-amplissima_Assessment_FINAL_2017_12_22.pdf

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/lichenologist/article/abs/ricasolia-amplissima-lobariaceae-one-species-three-genotypes-and-a-new-taxon-from-southeastern-alaska/3A3ED3C62EF522347D9963FC75804385

GenBank: MH374891

Simon, A., Goward, T., Di Meglio, J., Dillman, K., Spribille, T., & Goffinet, B. (2018). Sticta torii sp. nov., a remarkable lichen of high conservation priority from northwestern North America. Graphis Scripta, 30(6).

Clung to the beak of a Whimbrel that was foraging in the seaweed, the bird could not dislodge it, after a couple of minutes the isopod dropped off. The Whimbrel continued to feed with the isopod on board.

The otter was fighting this huge fish underwater for several minutes. Eventually it dragged the still-thrashing fish onto a small island and disappeared behind some vegetation.

This observation is for the mammal. For the fish, see: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/103728272

Rubus praecox seems to be the primary blackberry of upland habitats in HBRA, while R. armeniacus occurs in deeper soils such as on the river bottom. R. praecox is distinguished (subtly) by curved prickles on the inflorescence axis (vs mostly straight in R. armeniacus) and prickles on first year canes being the same color as the adjacent stem (in this case purple). R. armeniacus will typically have prickles on primocanes with a reddish base, contrasting with the green stem. At this time of the year, fruiting phenology is useful; R. armeniacus is well past the peak of fruit ripeness by 3 weeks or so, while R. praecox fruits are just starting to ripen.

NOTE: Dead on a sidewalk in our neighborhood. Gnarly but awesome.

GEOPRIVACY NOTE:
All my observations are posted with “obscured” geoprivacy. This means the exact location for each observation is masked somewhat within the red box that shows up on the standard browser viewer. I’m happy to provide more habitat description if requested — as the map may not be too precise in the public view.

A REQUEST:
When recommending an identification, please adhere to current standards of taxonomy as deployed by iNaturalist at this time — as opposed to identifying and classifying organisms based on personal beliefs about what taxonomy can, should, or of right ought to be in opposition to iNaturalist’s current taxonomy. Comments noting such taxonomic disagreements, however, are welcomed and encouraged. I prefer my observations to be inline with current taxonomic standards as deployed by iNaturalist (as opposed to my personal beliefs) so that this and other observations are readily accessible to iNaturalist users with greater efficiency and usability. This has been an issue in the past with some folks in the herpetological circles. Thanks!

If you have any questions regarding this observation, feel free to contact me or leave a comment below!

Janson Jones,
http://floridensis.com.

in the absence of a trunk or stone to lean on, a capybara may be an option;
I have observed these two individuals do this twice;

see also
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/nelson_wisnik/21258-the-friendly-capybara

Experts - What is going on here? This male American Kestrel sure did seem to have the hots for this female Merlin. He kept trying to get close to her and even brought her a few treats (insects?) from the grass beneath the fence. She accepted the treats but didn't seem thrilled with the attention. However, when he flew off, she followed him...