Big Cypress National Preserve part two

[urbpan]

There came a point in the "trail" where the palmetto crowded in providing an obstacle which I was happy to avoid. Some of the plants were sharp and pointy, and pushing through those palmetto fronds was one step more adventuresome than I wanted. My friend maintains hiking trails in Massachusetts and took a picture to share with her supervisors.


It was a hike unmarred by litter, but here I found a tiny spot of oil, highlighted in my shadow.


It was a few days before winter, but there some wildflowers in bloom. Anyone recognize this one?


This mushroom is one I've seen far north and far south of Florida, it's Pycnoporus cinnibariunus, the cinnibar polypore, one of my favorites.


This fly landed on my friend and held still long enough for a few pictures. Although tentatively identified as a tabanid--the horse fly family--it was quite small (<1cm) and did not bite her.


Another fly, also from a biting fly family (culicidae) posed without feeding. My friend waved this mosquito along without harming it.


This leaf damage may be distinct enough to identify the insect that caused it, though it would help if I had idea what plant it was.


A pile of carnivore scat, sun-bleached and full of hair and bone.


A good naturalist is not put off by some old dry poop.


A chunk of skull from the scat shows that the carnivore--likely a coyote--ate either a marsh rabbit or a medium-sized rodent.

NATURE!

Comments

[drhoz.livejournal.com]

nice work on the IDs :)

[elainetyger.livejournal.com]

I don't want to get as close to nature as you were getting down there, but I'm really enjoying all the pictures.