Dave Ingram's Natural History Blog

Orange Jelly | Dacrymyces palmatus

Keep your eyes open when you’re walking in the woods, mushroom season is upon us! Jocie and I found this fantastic jelly fungus growing on a fallen Douglas Fir while walking the Karst Creek Trail in Strathcona Provincial Park today.

Commonly called Orange Jelly (Dacrymyces palmatus) and often mistaken as Witch’s Butter (Tremella lutescens), this delightful, bright orange jelly fungus is a perfect sighting for Hallowe’en. Orange Jelly usually appears late in the fall and can be found on wood, favouring softwood over the hardwood that the yellow Witch’s Butter prefers.

Orange jelly dissolves into a wet, formless mass as it gets older whereas Witch’s Butter becomes hard and leathery. It also changes from yellow to a dull red/orange. To see a great photograph of Witch’s Butter in its dried out state check out Dutch Baby’s post Lichen and Witch’s Butter.

According to both Mushrooms Demystified (David Arora) and The New Savory Wild Mushroom (Margaret McKenny and Daniel E. Stuntz) Orange Jelly is edible but apparently flavourless and not worth eating. They “melt” when cooked so must be eaten raw, pickled or marinated.

As with any wild plant or mushroom it is important to know exactly what you’ve harvested before you eat it. Remember, any mushroom is edible – once!

Skyscape #1

This week we had a brief respite from the monotonous grey sky and rain that characterizes a typical coastal British Columbia winter. However, the blue skies did not last long and I captured this series of images as a major front moved in. I loved how dramatic these clouds were – enjoy!

Skyscape #2

Skyscape #3

Skyscape #4

Millipede | Family Julidae, Cylindroiulus sp.?

I love turning over pieces of wood, bark, leaves, boards and rocks and discovering things lurking underneath. I found this millipede under an old rotting board at my mother-in-law’s house up at Miracle Beach. I’m unsure what species it is but have fairly confidently narrowed down the Order to Julida and Family to Julidae. Being no millipede expert, I’m humble enough to accept opinions to the contrary!

Millipede | Family Julidae, Cylindroiulus sp.?

British Columbia has approximately 57 species in Myriapoda (millipedes and centipedes). From a purely visual perspective, this millipede appears to be a Cylindroiulus sp. E-Fauna BC lists two species of Cylindroiulus for the province: C. caeruleocinctus and C. latestriatus so it is possible that this millipede is one of these species. Unfortunately, E -Fauna has no photographs or pages for these two species.

Millipede | Family Julidae, Cylindroiulus sp.?

The name millipede means literally “1000 feet.” While many do have a large number of legs, the name is figurative rather than literal. Most millipedes have less than 400 legs, and generally less than 200. The legs are useful to separate millipedes (Class Diplopoda) from centipedes (Class Chilopoda). Millipedes have two pairs of legs on each segment while centipedes only have one pair of legs per segment. In addition, millipedes have short antennae while centipedes have long antennae.

Millipedes are pretty cool to find and observe. I’ll try to search for a few different species to highlight in upcoming blog posts. They’re fascinating creatures and interesting to watch!

Some interesting websites featuring good information on millipedes and centipedes include:

• Milli-peet
• Myriapoda
• Bug Guide

For more reading about invertebrates of all sorts check out the Circus of the Spineless, this month hosted by Marmorkrebs.

Copperbush | Elliottia pyroliflora showing new buds

Yesterday was a brilliantly sunny day so I decided that a quick trip up to Paradise Meadows was in order. I don’t usually go up to the Meadows at this time of year – it’s the transition time between summer and fall hiking, botanizing, and birding and winter cross-country skiing.

At Paradise Meadows (elevation 1100m) it was a cold 3° C with a strong northwest wind. There was a skim of snow on the trail and boardwalk. Winter has arrived in the sub-alpine.

It was a quiet walk around the new boardwalk loop, few birds were around aside from a single common raven. Most of the summer plants were done … except for Copperbush (Elliottia pyroliflora). While this sub-alpine shrub wasn’t putting out leaves or flowers it was definitely in bud (see images above and below).

Copperbush | Elliottia pyroliflora showing last year's flowers

Not having been up in the meadows at this time of year I wasn’t expecting to see anything showing signs of life aside from the conifers. Now I wonder if copperbush always puts buds out in the fall or if this new growth will die off over the winter. Just goes to show that it is worthwhile re-visiting your favourite places out of season!

Sanderling | Calidris alba

Earlier this week, while walking out at Goose Spit I came upon a single Sanderling (Calidris alba). Sanderlings are regularly seen throughout the winter at Goose Spit but they have a challenging time of it. At high tide, the strip of walkable beach is quite narrow and they are easily flushed. Considering that it is also a popular place to walk dogs off leash they spend a good deal of time moving up and down the beach ahead of people and their pets.

I try to encourage locals to keep their animals on a leash but you know the old saying: “A dog owner’s bark is as bad as the dog’s bite.” Wouldn’t it be nice if they were put in a shorebird’s feathers for a day. They might change their tune and keep their distance.

Sanderling | Calidris alba