The fungus which are now vertical: | grew when this was a standing snag. Those which are growing horizontal ___ grew once it fell over.

I ❤️ this bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) in my woods. I call it the keyhole tree.

This stuff covers vast tracts of land here in the Pacific Northwest. It's ecological role is nuanced; it's considered invasive, but actually beloved by most wildlife and pollinators. My goats love it, it grows back vigorously = infinite goat food. Nasty thorns, delicious berries.

Wow! Just found this beauty out in the yard. My phone app tells me it's a Rosalia funebris: Banded Alder Borer.

My yard is starting to cross the line from nearly wild into really wild. I'll use a scythe to tidy it up soon, and then let my goats browse it back in another month or so.

Had to pull over and snap a pic of this 1/2 ac+? wildflower field planted adjacent to the railroad tracks. Humming with bees. The owner has put up "NO SPRAY" signs between field and tracks to keep the RR co. from herbiciding their creation.

Find of the day; what I believe is a Western toad, in a client's flower bed.

Initial consult on a native plant riverbank erosion mitigation design for a new client today, I saw one of the biggest garter snakes I've ever seen. Hard to get a sense of scale but this was a monster, by garter snake standards.

Other interesting finds on my river walk yesterday: ghost pipe, red baneberry, purple lupine, a leaf fossil.

Went to the river today, found this cool river viewing / salmon fishing structure. Yes, you walk on the log to get out there. More cedar waxwings than I could shake a stick at; beautiful birds which won't sit still for a photo. The blurry blob perched on top of the stick is the best I could get.

HEY!

Just found my first ever Northern Alligator Lizard on my property. Actually I saw it's tail twitching on the driveway, and then found the lizard under a plantain...escaped from a brush with death, the lizard lives on.

Have you read the book?

Snack time for the piranhas. #goatsky #herbivores

Just me? or...Otzi the iceman resembles Wim Hof the iceman?

Most of the native bigleaf maples (Acer macrophyllum) in the PNW are found in dense forests where they grow tall with few low set large side branches. This one grew up in a farm field, notice the different structure. The farm was abandoned and is now protected by a land trust.

Side by side comparison, exact same location as the photo with the stump last summer vs. one I took just now, May 5th. the stump is barely visible under new growth. Grazing does not have to be over-grazing, or harmful. In moderation, plants LOVE it.

For about a week at the end of the summer I give my goats access to the native "scrub" at the edge of the forest, this adds structural complexity, fertilizes the soil, and opens access and paths for wildlife. The native plants enjoy the pruning and grow back healthier and bushier than ever.

And...We have lift off. I repeat: We have lift off. #goatsky #herbivores

This is supposed to be a video of 2 pileated woodpeckers in a massive maple tree calling out loudly to one another, but what I got was a photo of one flying away in front of some power lines. This is often how my wildlife photography goes.

Up until 3 a.m. last night helping to bring these 3 baby goats into the world. First photo session was mostly snoozy time, ...which is also how I'm spending my day. #goatsky #herbivores

Earth Day dinner last night was nettle goat-milk cream sauce pasta, side of garlic oil fried nettles, side of garlic oil fried wild oyster mushrooms. For dessert: tempura fried big-leaf maple blossoms, dipped in maple syrup of course. Thank you planet Earth!

You don't have too many slugs... you have a duck deficiency. #permaculture

Good morning Blue Sky.

Ran Merlin Bird ID on a morning walk through my woods. Cedar Waxwing Hermit Thrush Northern Flicker Pacific Wren Black-capped Chickadee Raven Hutton's Vireo Ruby-crowned Kinglet Orange-crowned Warbler Robin Bushtit Chestnut-backed Chickadee Golden-crowned Kinglet Song Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco

Sorry to get nerdy, but to clarify: Lynx are rarely ever found in California, they have bobcats; a different species, although the genus name is also "Lynx". The Canada Lynx look quite different, with silverish fur and ear tufts. Both are not the same species as Eurasian Lynx. All are awesome.

I probably shouldn't be rewilding my truck?

Here are some nice flowering PNW native plants. Red Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguinum) a favorite early nectar source for hummingbirds. Theoretically, bears like the tiny plums of Osoberry (Oemlaria cerasiformis)"oso" is Latin for "bear". First spring flowers used by native bees. Good bird food.

Today I picked up my order of native plants from the local conservation district to boost diversity on my property. I'm a believer in natural regeneration, but I also like to add species which are rare or absent in my woods. I do this every year compulsively.

I couldn't get a photo for evidence, but I saw a flicker drilling a nesting cavity in the side of my client's home. When he hired me to bring more wildlife to his property, I doubt he had this in mind. I also saw a nuthatch raiding it for pink fiberglass insulation; resourceful, but not ideal.