Celebrating the ordinary
I’ve seen these mushrooms before and called them “little brown ruffles.” I was recently surprised to find them in the backyard and learned they are called Turkey Tail mushrooms (Trametes veriscolor).
Maxine Stone’s Missouri’s Wild Mushrooms and the Mushroom Expert were helpful in identifying them. The amusing name refers to the mushroom’s design and colors that resemble the tail of a strutting wild turkey.
Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) are our favorite backyard birds. They are often referred to as “redbirds” thanks to the male’s vibrant red feathers. Since it’s Valentine’s Day, I’ll focus on the male. However, I think the females with their subtle coloring are just as beautiful and I’ll focus on them another time.
It’s easy for me to be wishing for spring about now. However, when I go out and look around, I’m often reminded that I don’t have to wait to make new discoveries in the backyard. Last week all I had to do was look up and enjoy the low-lying clouds.
While attending the Sandhill Crane Weekend at Barren River Lake State Resort Park recently, we also enjoyed getting a good look at a Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). According to park officials, they are winter residents and are often seen near the dam.
This past weekend, Harry and I thoroughly enjoyed the Sandhill Crane Weekend at Barren River Lake State Resort Park – about thirty-five miles southeast of Bowling Green, KY.
Greater Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) spend the winter in Florida, Tennessee and Georgia. Some of them stop in Kentucky each January and February as they head north to their breeding grounds in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Canada, and Alaska. Park officials estimated the current population at 4,600 birds.
