October 2016 Urban Nature Walk at Mount Auburn Cemetery
The day before Halloween we had an Urban Nature Walk at good old Mount Auburn. Among other things, we saw North America's most massive bird species.
There were signs posted near the entrance of the cemetery advising not to feed the wild turkeys. They seemed to be getting enough acorn mast as it was, they didn't need our help. Another sign said not to get closer than 60 feet from the coyotes. When we did see one, it went quickly by, not paying attention to that rule, nor stopping for photos.
One the upsides of having a nature walk at a well-groomed graveyard is the mushrooms--the constant watering to keep grass and plantings healthy also encourages fungal growth.
This small group seemed game for anything, so we kept heading uphill.
All the way up to the top of Washington Tower, a monument to the first president.
There we caught great views of fall foliage and urban infrastructure.
I think we were all proud of climbing the 95 steps.
Back down on the ground, we found ants tending plant-sucking bugs for the excess honeydew.
And more mushrooms! These are Daedaleopsis confragosa.
Along the path, some unusual and beautiful fruiting shrubs.
Later on we researched to identify them as Clerodendrum trichotomum an Asian ornamental.
Negotiations between stone and wood.
A pair of meadowhawks work at making more meadowhawks.
A tree cricket, uncharacteristically poorly camouflaged--try the leaves, fella!
Mary noticed this limestone monument was especially rich in living things.
Including a thick coating of sunburst lichen.
And a running crab spider.
Before we left for the day I picked up a sleepy bumblebee to look closely at her pollen-covered face.