McCune et al (2014) characterize this species as "probably the most abundant Umbilicaria in Montana." Substrate is noted as non-calcareous rock at low to high elevations. Brown, foliose thallus densely populated by small rounded bumps (rugose). Dark apothecia common.

Posting this brightly colored lichen for you folks in the eastern U.S. (on 2nd thought everybody suffering with Monday) under the thumb of snow and cold. Possible to see X. hasseana on poplars in northern third of eastern U.S. Only 38 days until Vernal Equinox (www.timeanddate.com/countdown/sp...)

Another species of rocktripe seen on what else but noncalcareous rock. Punctured Rocktripe identified by skull-like cracks/sutures throughout the brown thallus. The edges are especially perforated. Can reach a diameter of two inches. Worldwide distribution: www.inaturalist.org/observations...

Emery Rocktripe #Lichen is widespread through the American West (McCune & Geiser 2009). It is found on non-calcareous (lacking lime, chalkiness) rock. Reported in the literature as a food source for indigenous peoples. 33 species of Umbilicaria in North America.

Cato Institute (Libertarian) just released a study on immigrants contributions to economy. 'Ohh that's Rich' on YouTube (youtube.com/shorts/DW4ZO...) reviewed the findings and posted a synopsis as a Short. Data refutes negative beliefs about immigrants sucking up government welfare...watch :-)

Encountered Split-peg Lichen within 100 yards of Kootenai Creek trailhead on a rock about 16 inches in diameter (left image). 'Large' grouping worthy of note re: whitish/grayish green squamules numericallyabundant over rock and on some of the podetia. Had fun photographing 😊

#Birding trip aesthetics at Lee Metcalf NWR (Stevensville, MT) today. Stunning, have to pinch myself. Bitterroot Valley floor pretty much snow free during this extremely mild winter. NCRS SNOTEL Instrumentation record this basin have 75% of normal snowpack. Important for us and wildlife.

Field trip for 3 species of birds today...got 1 of 3 (Virginia Rail) with a bonus of first Montana #butterfly of the year: California Tortoiseshell. Yes, overwintering adult butterflies (about six species) will fly for short periods given 60F, abundant sunshine during rare warm winter days 👍😊

Powder-headed Tube Lichen is common on trees and shrubs of western Montana (McCune et al 2014). Also found along the West Coast, Northeast U.S (Brodo et al 2001). 22 other North American species placed in this genus. Most under 2 inch diameter, typically densely grouped on branches. Hard to miss

Happened to be above Missoula on Stone Mountain looking for a perched Merlin :-) Skunked looking for the bird, but was rewarded with a view of downtown 'Garden City' below. Home to "400 acres of parkland, 22 miles of trails, and nearly 5,000 acres of open-space conservation land" (Wikipedia).

The snow drought currently impacting the Rocky Mountain States may be the leading edge of widespread 'water bankruptcy'. The United Nations just released a report documenting a world wide 'water crisis': www.cnn.com/2026/01/20/c.... Read it, understand it...take conservation measures. N'er too soon.

Republicans are you willing to destroy the country for the cult of personality? Felon-in-Chief wants Greenland and in doing so destroy NATO that we created for a peaceful world. Sam Bellamy makes the case: fightthefire.substack.com/p/remove-him...

Couple of sentences from acceptance speech of 1964 Nobel Peace Prize by Martin Luther King Jr. Focus on the words "abiding faith in America...refuse to accept despair." Apropos words recognizing the current Administration of hate, racism, corruption and lawlessness. Yes, we will overcome.

Brown-eyed Wolf Lichen occasional at elevations from 1700m down to 900m and common above 1700m (McCune & Geiser 2009). Pictured location about 950m on Ponderosa Pine branch. So elevation and substrate play a part in #lichen distribution. Stunning coloration highlighted by multi-headed alien form 😊

Photos taken at USFS Bass Creek Recreation Area about one year apart. Very mild winter by temperature and snowpack. NOAA has the facts: www.drought.gov/drought-stat.... It reports: "Record Warmth, Rain Instead of Snow Intensifies Snow Drought Across the West". More in alt text.

Lungwort is a #lichen that looks like the metabolism/biology all lichen practice. Yep, lichen have zero roots. The main building blocks for growth are absorbed from the atmosphere, i.e. sunshine and water. That is why many lichen species are missing from urbanized environs, air pollution.

Stop and check out those boulders/large rocks along your favorite nature trail. "Large" foliose (leaf-like) #lichen like Powdery Kidney Lichen are easily seen and identified without special equipment...okay, a 10x hand lens would increase your viewing enjoyment. Bonus, can you see the springtails?

Had luck recently photographing American Kestrel. Typically found on wire or other high perch multiplied by a skittish nature (aren't all birds :-). Though our smallest falcon, big on color. Subtle differences in color, patterns between sexes.

Mild temps during winter are great for creating openings in iced over wetlands. In some cases these openings are very close to roads creating great photo opportunities. I captured this image of Green-winged Teal at Lee Metcalf NWR (Stevensville, MT). This cute species commonly seen during winter.

#Birded a grassland bench (long, relatively narrow strip of relatively level or gently inclined land bounded by distinctly steeper slopes above and below it - Wikipedia) of the Sapphire Mountains today. Last few years a Ferruginous Hawk has spent part of winter here. Got lucky, found on a rooftop.

Lustrous Camouflage #Lichen is very common in Montana on the substrate of hardwood bark or wood (McCune et al 2014). BTW, it is the shiny, light green organism mostly flattened and tightly adhered to the bark in the photo below and not the spiky bright green moss 😊

Very mild winter so far. Little, if any, snow covering #lichen substrate. Check your own favorite wildlife spot for lichen; easy to photograph with interesting colors and forms. Look for decaying conifer tree trunks. Usually much to see. In this case had Green Starburst Lichen on it.

Today, the birth date (1823), of Alfred Russell Wallace. He is considered the father of biogeography. Between 1854 & 1862 he collected 110,000 insects, 7500 shells, 8,050 bird skins from the Malay Archipelago. One of the greatest biologists ever. Overview: artsandculture.google.com/story/alfred...

Encountered this rock densely covered in at least three Cladonia lichen species...resembles a pincushion 😊 The right side image is a close-up of two different species. A third spindly species is near the top of the left image. Care to guess as to identities or just enjoy the colors/shapes 👍

#Birded neighborhood for 45 minutes in search of Waxwings. Very near end of loop and followed my gut...turn here. And there were both species perched high in Cottonwood coming down to fruit bearing trees and water puddles. Small numbers for both, usually 100+.

Netted Shield #Lichen is easy to identify. Look for the whitish cracks in the green surface which are filled with powdery soredia. It has a wide distribution across North America that also includes Eurasia, Australia and New Zealand. Substrate usually bark or wood.

Did a #wildlife field trip for Jan. 1...thing that I do to start the year, try it 😊 Recorded 30 bird species, 3rd highest count since 2020. Not bad for 2 hours. Also ticked off 1 toothed fungi, 9 species of lichen and 2 mammal species. Most elegant were the 14 Northern Pintail at Lee Metcalf NWR.

Wishing all you Bluesky folks the best in 2026. Make it your year in a colorful, creative, adventurous and heartfelt way 😊

I put together a recap of favorite images from January thru March of 2025 (youtube.com/shorts/8ZEM_...). Hoping it is a catalyst for you to get outside Jan. 1 and discover wildlife even challenged by snow and cold...quite a bit to find and capture using your gear. Will be following your efforts 😊

Lewis' Monkeyflower flowers July/August at montane/subalpine elevations (fieldguide.mt.gov/speciesDetai...). Like moist soil, ergo found in stream corridors. Member of Lopseed Family. Majority of species in western U.S., secondarily Australia. Much taxonomic uncertainty within #wildflower family.

#Christmas colors from June and open Ponderosa Pine woodlands of western MT. Scarlet Gilia or Scarlet Skyrocket is a 1 to 4' tall perennial/biennial #wildflower. Plant parts are hairy, sticky (glands) and smelly (funky way). Distribution: American West

#Christmas wish for all you #butterfly and #wildflower enthusiasts for the coming year: timely rains and sunshine producing gonzo wildflower displays that feed a bumper crop of leps challenging your identification skills and wonder 🎄 Merry Christmas everybody🎅 ☃️

Brown Creeper on our ash tree seeking out hibernating insects in bark crevices. Amazing little bird, hard to detect without call notes. Accidentally looked out window for feeder viewing...and there it was spiraling up the trunk checking out nooks and crannies. A #birding moment for #Christmas😊

How to Be a Lichen: Adaptive Strategies for the Vulnerabilities of Being Human from Nature's Tiny Titans of Tenacity www.themarginalian.org/2025/11/02/l...

No Stonehenge in the Bitterroot Valley, however many cool boulders sticking out of the ground from ancient glacial activity. And yeah not aligned with the sun, but are covered in colorful lichen. Need colors beyond winter brown and white? Check out local rocks, bark, rotting wood or soil for lichen.

What's out your window? Winter has arrived. It's 3 pm with adult Sharp-shinned Hawk checking out our feeders. Life or death minute by minute for most wildlife. Be grateful.

Powdered Funnel Lichen (Cladonia cenotea) is a pixie cup #lichen commonly found on rotting logs in the Pacific Northwest (McCune and Geiser 2009). McCune et al (2014) hints, find a rotting log here and it is likely this pixie cup species is there. Distribution: www.inaturalist.org/observations...

Lighting makes such a difference when photographing wildlife for ID purposes. Fritillary #butterfy species hard to separate without good looks at upper/lower wings. Both left side images are fully illuminated by sunshine; note the right side shaded look. Without bottom left, specific ID can't be had

Meadowhawk #dragonflies change color with age. Female Saffron-winged Meadowhawk featured. Top image is a yellowish immature; bottom image is a red adult female. Average lifespan of flying immature to adult is only one to two months ergo, color change is pretty rapid.

Common Powderhorn #lichen is very similar to Smooth-footed Powderhorn. Compare the images below with Smooth-footed post from the other day. Similar form podetia, maybe more pointed. Concentrate instead on the primary squamules. Common has smaller, more dissected edge compared to Smooth-footed🫣

Below is an image of Smooth-footed Powderhorn on moss over decaying wood. This is a preferred substrate for this pixie cup #lichen. Now you have a search image for your wildlife walks. Take along a magnifying lens or smartphone to capture your discovery. About 120 species of pixie cup in N.A.

Bold color from Northern Checkerspot, a #butterfly flying during June/July here in western MT (Montana Field Guide). Commonly encountered using moist soil. Though variable, I recognize this checkerspot by the dominant orange cells on the upperwing that "don't appear as two-toned" (Glassberg 2017).

Northern Shoveler wearing alternate plumage of spring. As we approach, surpass the shortest day of the year...well it won't be long before the bold colors of this bird will be on your favorite wetland for your #birding pleasure.

A key structural feature for identifying pixie cup #lichen to species is the color of apothecia. Apothecia are colored (brown, tan or red vary by species) cup or disk shaped structures that produce spores. In this case, there are red apothecia (right ph.) which makes identification a little easier😊

Many #lichen species are specific to growing on a certain substrate, i.e. soil, rock, bark or wood. Additionally moss may be a layer between a lichen, base substrate. Example pictured is Mealy Pixie Cup growing on moss over Douglas Fir bark. Fun finding 'islands' of lichen tucked in bark crevices.

Early winter snow melted off enough for the ground to be exposed. So off I went to visit one of my favorite spots for #lichen. A roadcut turned out to be a real hotspot. Took about 130 photos; most were of a pixie cup named Western Wand Lichen. Below are two images of this species.

Photographed a purplish Russula #mushroom back in Sept. 2022. It could be one of a handful species. I didn't take enough photos or note smell, change of color with bruising. These variables could have led to a specific ID. No worries, still neat to look at 👍😊

Found Yellow Swamp Brittlegill under birch immediate an irrigation ditch during late September. Not a large grouping. Love the deep yellow color of this #mushroom. Maps from INaturalist indicate a dense distribution in eastern U.S., scattered in Pacific NW and Midwest.

Cute little light green pixie cup #lichen: Crowned Pixie-Cup. Appropriately named, note the obvious dentate (toothed cup edges) that resemble a crown. Usually < 1 inch tall. Habitat: duff, rotten wood. Fairly common in western Montana (McCune et al 2014).

There are conflicting names and identity for this #mushroom. Traditionally named Bicolored Russula, now assigned to the Emetic Brittlegill (Russula emetica) group due to recent research (Siegel and Schwarz 2024). Recognized by yellow center to pinkish-red cap.