April 29, 2012 |
So perhaps that's why I didn't see the red fox earlier than I did. The fox was just off the left side of the trail and was climbing over a log and rock. I stopped dead, expecting the fox to bolt. Amazingly it did not. It kept coming towards me, no more than 15 feet away for at least another 4-5 steps. Finally, it did see me and faster than I could blink it disappeared into deeper the woods.
I went over to the spot where I first saw the fox, wondering if there was a den there. No den. I believe the fox was napping, though, in the sheltered area under the log that was resting atop a good-sized rock. Perhaps it heard my footsteps and got up to investigate, not realizing in those first moments that I was Right There. A few seconds later and from just across the stream, I hear the fox bark. The poor thing was probably complaining to its mate, "I had to move! I'm over here now!"
Jack in the Pulpit |
Jacks-in-the-pulpit (or is that jack-in-the-pulpits?) are up this week, too.
I found these odd fungus on my walk. At first I thought they were "expired morels," but photos I've seen of fading morels don't look like this, so I don't know what they are. Interesting fungus is about the best I can come up with.
I'm glad I took good advantage of the superb weather to traipse down along the stream this past weekend. The rest of this week has been foggy and humid, with spates of much-needed rain and occasional thunder. The rain is appreciated, but it's not the kind of weather that makes for great photos!
6 comments:
Lucky you, girl!! All those wonderful sights! The "odd-looking fungus" is, I believe, Foxfire, said to "glow in the dark" and spooked many a nightstalker! Don't know if you have to shine a light on it to get it to glow....maybe bring in a stem or two of it if it's quite common where you are, as it is here, and see if you can find it's reputed bioluminescence. (sp?)
Elora
Elora--Funny that the Foxfire fungus was right near where I saw the fox! I'll have to see if I can get a piece of it to glow!
How lucky, to find both Showy Orchis and a pretty fox! I can tell you what that "fungus"-looking thing is, and it's not a fungus at all, but a parasitic plant called Squaw Root, related to Indian Pipes and Pinesap. I think it feeds off the roots of oak trees.
Woodswalker: Gee, who would have guessed this fungus-lookig thing was not a fungus after all. Well, there's certainly plenty of oak trees around for it to feed on.
Just discovered your blog! Always nice to find fellow York County birders! I myself had an encounter with a red fox yesterday,but it ran before I was within 50 yards.
thebirdingjournal: Cool! Glad to "meet" you. My blog is bird-heavy but really covers anything that happens in the forest around my cabin!
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