woodpeckers. weird fungi. spider & buzzards.

just a nice relaxing weekend.

cooler weather. 

flannel shirt weather! i want to be outdoors weather!

we picked up some fresh oysters...

steamed...shucked...and gobbled 'em up

with HOT cocktail sauce (mostly horseradish with just a little ketchup) & crackers!

cooler weather also means no mosquitoes or ticks,

so we wandered out back...into the woods...

following the trails made by the deer and smaller critters.

i'm no mushroom expert...but i think a good name for this one would be the

Umbrella Mushroom.

one day closed...next day...open!

first we heard...then spotted a woodpecker.

we can usually find the Red-headed, Red-bellied and the Pileated.

we thought it was a young woodpecker...smaller than the ones we normally see.

but when i put the pic's on the computer, and looked it up...

we realized this is a new one we've never seen here before.

A Downy Woodpecker.

(pic's not too clear. he was very fast!!)

Downy woodpecker

a    VERY    fuzzy   'shroom

Cinnamon fern

the Cinnamon fern first sprouts as a green curl...

then opens & straightens in a cinnamon color...

and then opens to a full bright green fern.

another woodpecker. the BIG Pileated. going from tree to tree.

tapping away.

Pileated woodpecker

Pileated woodpecker

LOOK at this SPIDER!!  have you ever seen one like this?
i hadn't!!!!!  it was a first!!  see how it hangs by its back legs, head down?!! 

Arrowhead spider

very weird looking fungi. i think it might be the kind that turns into

these puffer things. if you poke them with a stick, dust, that looks like smoke,

comes out the center hole in top!

oOo

walking out of the woods...crossing the yard...

shadows across the ground. 

i look up.  a few buzzards (black vultures).

more are circling in...

and more...

a bunch of buzzards is called a wake. i can see why. they move in a wave across the sky.

the wave is climbing. higher and higher...scanning the woods...looking to eat.

i know they can't be waiting for this guy, 'cause he literally has no meat on his bones...

not anymore!

Mr. bOnes perched on a mushroom

have a good week.

stay cool and be safe.

laura

moon 7:18 AM ~ oct 18, 2011