Tag Archives: Nancy Morin

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Nancy Morin wrote, “I thought this photo of two Pacific-slope Flycatcher chicks might be ‘sightings worthy.’ They hang out in my side garden. Adults have spent summers here every year, but this is the first time I’ve seen babies.”

They are pretty darn cute.  As adults they will be small yellow-ish birds of the forests and streams. They are insect eaters. Pacific-slope Flycatchers are only found along the Pacific coast states. I often hear them in our forest. You can hear their call at this link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pacific-slope_Flycatcher/sounds

Here is a photo of an adult, taken by Craig Tooley. The bird has an insect in his mouth. He was probably about to bring it to chicks in a nest.

Thanks to Nancy and Craig for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

 

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Nancy Morin thought at first it was a metal ornament but it turned out to be a group of Big Laughing Mushrooms, also called Giant Gymnoplius.

Big Laughing Mushroom, Gymnopilus junonius by Nancy Morin (Large)

Christina Gonzales found some too, and her photo shows the stem and underside of the caps.

Big Laughing Mushroom by Christina Gonzales

Their name "laughing" refers to hallucinogenic qualities that are sometimes found in this mushroom. That is so in other parts of the world but here in Northern California that quality is inactive. They are not edible and they are often found here growing on pine stumps.

Thanks to Nancy and Christina for allowing me to share their photos with you here.