mistressofmuses (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
mistressofmuses) wrote2025-08-27 08:57 pm
mistressofmuses) wrote2025-08-27 08:57 pm
Monday, August 18: Reynolds Park
Last week we went up to another of the county parks. This time we went to Reynolds Park, which is one we haven't been to before, though I know my mom has mentioned enjoying it before.
We of course arrived just in time for a few little rumbles of thunder to start up, ha. Every time!
From near the start of the trail, dark clouds moving in.
There were some really neat mushrooms under a tree along the trail.
The trail we started out on is called the "Songbird Trail", which certainly lived up to its name! There was a massive flock of probably 20 or so mountain chickadees. I love them: they have an eye-stripe, unlike the more typical black-capped chickadees, and their call sounds a bit like they have a sore throat. I of course failed utterly to get any decent pictures of them. :/
A couple soldier beetles, makin' more soldier beetles.
There were tons of soldier beetles on the asters. I liked this one, because the one over on the left was grooming, haha.
A dramatic dead tree.
This bit of trail is fairly short, and we turned around when we approached where it meets up with another trail. We wanted a fairly short trail, as Alex was having a bit of a rough day, and we didn't want to be out too terribly long.
I love how strangely tall this tree is compared to the rest.
Some lovely flowers!
As soon as we were back in the trees... a deer! (I got this picture from Alex; I didn't get a good shot of her.)
Some neat mushrooms on a downed tree.
Alex started having some issues with his knee and his neck, so we took a break.
There's a huge blue spruce off to the side of the trail, with nice big branches that create a perfect little "fort" underneath the tree. (It's a lot like one that we had in our yard when I was a kid.) There are some logs set up underneath as seating, and it's a very nice spot to rest.
Bella was happy to take a snack break. (She was also happy to get pine sap on her, and she *still* has a small patch of it on her side...)
No thoughts, head empty.
There are some really cool mushrooms below the tree! This one, right above a large burrow of some kind, does give some big "mess with this and end up in fairyland" vibes.
There's a fallen tree right next to the big one we were sitting under, and I was quite taken with the variety of mosses and lichens growing on it.
Also under the tree, a neat cocoon. Looks like probably a moth of some kind, but no idea what kind!
More lichens on the tree. I just like them!
Yet more of the soldier beetles.
A tailed copper. Super cute! Very little, and I love the tiny tails.
And back toward the trailhead, we went up along the creek a little ways, in case Bella wanted to wade. There was a patch with SO MANY pond skaters, lol.
I'd definitely like to come back and do more of the trails at this park. There was another loop that we'd thought about adding on to the fairly short trail, but since Alex was having a rough day, we decided not to. It was a lovely trail, if short, though.
We of course arrived just in time for a few little rumbles of thunder to start up, ha. Every time!
From near the start of the trail, dark clouds moving in.
There were some really neat mushrooms under a tree along the trail.
Sixteen more pictures:
The trail we started out on is called the "Songbird Trail", which certainly lived up to its name! There was a massive flock of probably 20 or so mountain chickadees. I love them: they have an eye-stripe, unlike the more typical black-capped chickadees, and their call sounds a bit like they have a sore throat. I of course failed utterly to get any decent pictures of them. :/
A couple soldier beetles, makin' more soldier beetles.
There were tons of soldier beetles on the asters. I liked this one, because the one over on the left was grooming, haha.
A dramatic dead tree.
This bit of trail is fairly short, and we turned around when we approached where it meets up with another trail. We wanted a fairly short trail, as Alex was having a bit of a rough day, and we didn't want to be out too terribly long.
I love how strangely tall this tree is compared to the rest.
Some lovely flowers!
As soon as we were back in the trees... a deer! (I got this picture from Alex; I didn't get a good shot of her.)
Some neat mushrooms on a downed tree.
Alex started having some issues with his knee and his neck, so we took a break.
There's a huge blue spruce off to the side of the trail, with nice big branches that create a perfect little "fort" underneath the tree. (It's a lot like one that we had in our yard when I was a kid.) There are some logs set up underneath as seating, and it's a very nice spot to rest.
Bella was happy to take a snack break. (She was also happy to get pine sap on her, and she *still* has a small patch of it on her side...)
No thoughts, head empty.
There are some really cool mushrooms below the tree! This one, right above a large burrow of some kind, does give some big "mess with this and end up in fairyland" vibes.
There's a fallen tree right next to the big one we were sitting under, and I was quite taken with the variety of mosses and lichens growing on it.
Also under the tree, a neat cocoon. Looks like probably a moth of some kind, but no idea what kind!
More lichens on the tree. I just like them!
Yet more of the soldier beetles.
A tailed copper. Super cute! Very little, and I love the tiny tails.
And back toward the trailhead, we went up along the creek a little ways, in case Bella wanted to wade. There was a patch with SO MANY pond skaters, lol.
I'd definitely like to come back and do more of the trails at this park. There was another loop that we'd thought about adding on to the fairly short trail, but since Alex was having a rough day, we decided not to. It was a lovely trail, if short, though.
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I was delighted by the mushrooms! These ones were more dramatic than the usual white ones we see. And I'm glad you like the lichens and moss - I loved the textures!
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I originally read that as 'failed' copper and was like, aww, how did he fail?!!
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Aw, no, little copper! You have not failed!
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Also, I love the lichen and moss photos!
Ackshually, I don't think Bella's empty minded in that image - I think she's just buffering/downloading further instructions from space from her people. Ears = satellites in this instance, with perhaps not the best signal to noise ratio or interference where you were located at the time? And the blank stare = sifting through appropriate earthling interaction algorithms, albeit a bit laggy? If anything, she may just need more RAM?
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Thank you! I really liked how dramatic the dark clouds looked as they started to loom. Certainly feel free to use the image if you want.
The lichens and mosses were such delightful colors and textures.
Ah! It's true! She's clearly buffering behind that glazed stare... the cell service wasn't great, so she was probably having to maximize her receptive capacity via the ears... It was actually all quantum calculations and diagrams flashing behind her eyes, haha. Perhaps more RAM - in the form of additional snacks - is required.
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I like the butterfly, it looks really ethereal on that flower and with that background. (I keep commenting on critter placements, but the colors are nice and the butterfly looked almost translucent at first)
Love the lichen and moss. Looks like an amazing are to explore
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The butterfly was so lovely. And thank you! I love when I get lucky enough to catch them with an attractive backdrop, or one that provides a nice coordination with their colors.
The lichen and moss was such a pleasing array of colors and textures. It was a lovely spot; I definitely hope we have a chance to go back and check out a couple other trail sections.
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Lovely photos as always!
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Thank you!