Eric Lathrop @eric@mastodon.ericlathrop.com

I found these mushrooms last Tuesday, but I forgot to post them. An employee at the Falls of the Ohio state park saw my binoculars and pointed me to a trail I've never seen before. These mushrooms look like decomposing apple slices. #sporesondence

Here's some rad mushrooms and lichen from my birding walk today. #sporespondence

Springtime flowers and buds. I heard that once more leaves come out the caterpillars will follow. Once there are caterpillars a lot more birds will migrate because they'll have food. #florespondence

Due to the holiday the park was pretty empty today. I loved it.

What happens when my Mastodon server goes offline for a while? I had a power outage due to storms for about a day. Will I never see toots from that time, or will they eventually show up?

Saw this knob on a tree that appears to have a cheerful face on it.

I spent a lot of time outside this weekend. Hiked around various parks with an old friend. Here are some cool mushrooms we saw. #sporespondence

Female Red-bellied Woodpecker, Louisville, Kentucky 2021-05-01

You can actually see the red belly in this photo.

#bird #birding #nature #photo

American Robin, Louisville, Kentucky 2021-05-01

Harbinger of spring

#bird #birding #nature #photo

Downy Woodpecker, Louisville, Kentucky, 2021-05-01

Another photo of the same Downy Woodpecker. That beak is huge! Those tail spots, though...

#bird #birding #nature #photo

Downy Woodpecker, Louisville, Kentucky, 2021-05-01

Its beak is pretty large for a Downy, but the spots on the white tail feathers (more visible on other photos I took) rule out the possibility of it being a Hairy Woodpecker.

#bird #birding #nature #photo

Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Louisville, Kentucky 2021-05-01

I'm anxiously awaiting their return this spring.

#bird #birding #nature #photo

Mushrooms, Louisville, Kentucky, 2022-03-05

#sporespondence

Deer tracks on the mud. Louisville, Kentucky, 2022-03-05

This used to be my favorite spot in the park. You could stand here and see nothing man-made. Then last fall they decided to mow it all down and do a haunted house...

Male Northern Cardinal in flight, Louisville, Kentucky, 2021-05-01

#bird #birding #nature #photo

Male House Finch, Louisville, Kentucky, 2021-05-01

Males have the reddish-purple coloring on their heads and backs.

#bird #birding #nature #photo

Male American Goldfinch, Louisville, Kentucky 2021-05-01

The males have the black forehead spot, and their yellow coloring is brighter than females.

#bird #birding #nature #photo

Female Downy Woodpecker, Louisville, Kentucky, 2021-05-01

The two main ways I know to distinguish a Downy from a Hairy Woodpecker are:

1. Look for black spots on the outer white tail feathers. You can see these in the photo. Only Downy's have the spots. If spots are missing, it may be either species.

2. Look at the size of the bill. Imagine it rotating 180 degrees, and check if it would extend past the eye. If it would, then it's probably a Hairy Woodpecker.

#bird #birding #nature #photo

Frogs were making tons of noise at the park. Sounded like thousands of them, but I was unable to see a single one.