Damaris Brisco
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fungallove.bsky.social
Damaris Brisco
@fungallove.bsky.social
370 followers 28 following 170 posts
All things weird & wonderful. Fungi-centric naturalist on the Redwood Coast, exploring the leaf litter thru macro lens. #WaterIsLife #BLM She/Them 🌈
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fungallove.bsky.social
Salamanders, slugs, millipedes… Our deck is a minefield of critters in the rainy season. We have to use flashlights at night to avoid them. I made some signs to remind us & our visitors. 😁 (click thru ⬇️ to see @schofield.bsky.social’s pic of a big ol’ Arboreal Salamander!)
A black plaque with the words “CAUTION SALAMANDER CROSSING” in green hangs on cedar shingles A green plaque with the words “CAUTION SLUG XING” in yellow hangs on railing for outdoor stairs
November 6, 2025 at 4:38 AM
fungallove.bsky.social
Omg look at this tiny spotted Banana Slug! 😍
November 5, 2025 at 2:46 AM
fungallove.bsky.social
Cat woke me up before 6:00 this morning, and as it turns out, that's a great time to do some slug-watching on our deck! So here is a Slug Appreciation Thread for you, mostly featuring this great big Banana Slug (with guest appearances by Reticulate Taildroppers!) Some time-lapse videos to start...
June 17, 2025 at 5:46 PM
fungallove.bsky.social
Hi friends, an important public online resource needs your help! The California Digital Newspaper Collection desperately needs donations after their state funding was cut. This extensive collection of digitized newspapers dating back to the 18th c. is invaluable.
www.givecampus.com/schools/Univ...
Help Preserve the California Digital Newspaper Collection
Help Preserve the California Digital Newspaper Collection
www.givecampus.com
May 20, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Reposted by Damaris Brisco
jencross.bsky.social
Found an ankylosaur foraging down by the creek today.
A small ankylosaur figurine standing at the edge of running water.
May 11, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Reposted by Damaris Brisco
jencross.bsky.social
A tiny bit of magic on the underside of a milkweed leaf, a Monarch Butterfly egg. #invert
A small light yellowish egg with ribs. It is nestled in fuzz on the underside of a leaf.
May 11, 2025 at 9:50 PM
fungallove.bsky.social
I’m helping my kid make a lined full-length cape, and I *really* need just one corner of an infinitely-sized table
May 12, 2025 at 2:30 AM
fungallove.bsky.social
Lil Mama's still hanging around, even after our annual cutback for wildfire safety. She seemed to appreciate the convenience of the cut grasses and the blackberry branches left behind. She got pretty close to me for those last couple photos, and I could hear her grunting softly. Might be in labor.
A pregnant Black-tailed Deer stands on a terraced hillside that has been recently mowed. Her body is facing the camera, and she is looking towards her right, with her ears cocked. A Black-tailed Deer doe stands behind a large Douglas-fir tree on a recently-mowed hillside, looking toward the camera. Her body is facing right, and only her head, neck, and shoulders are visible; the rest of her is obscured behind the tree. A pregnant Black-tailed Deer stands on a recently-mowed hillside. She is facing to the left, and she's nibbling on the broken wild onions. A pregnant Black-tailed Deer stands on a recently-mowed hillside. To her right, a few branches of a Bigleaf Maple are visible; the branches nearest her are bare of any leaves or seed pods. Her body is facing the camera, and she's looking toward the right, downhill, with her ears cocked up.
May 12, 2025 at 1:58 AM
fungallove.bsky.social
Woke up early on Monday, and I was just in time to see Big Mama and her two brand-new little ones out the south window. She was still cleaning them.

They are like bouncy spotted puppies with hooves & I LOVE them.

I melted into a puddle and have not recovered.

Don’t send help.
A female Black-tailed deer stands behind two half-barrel planters, facing the camera, with her right ear cocked back & left facing forward. A pair of spotted fawns stands on either side of her, nursing. A female Black-tailed deer stands behind two half-barrel planters, with her head turned to her left and her tongue visible. A pair of spotted fawns stands on either side of her, nursing. A female Black-tailed deer stands behind two half-barrel planters, with her head turned to her left and her ears cocked back. A pair of spotted fawns stands on either side of her, nursing. She is cleaning the fawn on her left.
May 8, 2025 at 12:39 AM
fungallove.bsky.social
More pics from my Feb 5 trip to see the Sutter Buttes. I took a side trip to the Sutter County Museum in Yuba City just to see this: a fully restored Model 12 Yuba Ball Tread Tractor, built in 1915.
If you ever find yourself in Yuba City, visit the Sutter County Museum. It is an absolute delight
Photograph of the Yuba Ball Tread Tractor Model 12 in the Sutter County History Museum, Yuba City, California. The front of the tractor is at the right. The body of the tractor is painted forest green, and the engine housing has metallic gold trim. A wide metal spoked wheel at the front of the tractor provides steering. At the rear of the tractor are two tank-style treads on either side of a metal seat for the tractor operator. View of the Yuba Ball Tread Tractor Model 12 in the Sutter County History Museum, Yuba City, California from the rear. A sign on the right in the foreground reads “Exhibits in Progress - (Nisesan, Gold Rush & Westward Expansion, Yuba-Sutter Floods) - Coming before the Museum’s 50th Anniversary on April 25, 2025!” View of the Yuba Ball Tread Tractor Model 12 in the Sutter County History Museum, Yuba City, California from the front. A silver-colored arrow is situated above the front steering wheel. The gold-trimmed engine housing is visible in the background. Photograph of the logo on the side of the Yuba Ball Tread Tractor Model 12 in the Sutter County History Museum, Yuba City, California. Background is forest green. A string of white circles in the shape of an elongated oval, like the treads on a tank, surround the logo that reads THE YUBA BALL TREAD TRACTOR, painted in yellow with white trim. Below the logo are the words MARYSVILLE, CALIF. painted in yellow with red trim.
February 16, 2025 at 5:35 AM
fungallove.bsky.social
Last week, I went to see the dawn light on the Sutter Buttes on my birthday. I wanted to see them against a flooded landscape, and I couldn't have picked a better day. This is the view from the Larry Munger Vista Point just west of Yuba City.
Photograph of the Sutter Butters (Maidu: Histum Yani/Esto Yamani, Wintun: Olonai-Tol, Nisenan: Estom Yanim) viewed from the Southeast just before sunrise. The nine-ish points of the buttes lie in shadow against a peach-to-bluish predawn sky. A line of trees and utility poles delineates a road at the base of the buttes. Flooded agricultural fields lie between the viewer and the road; two rows of Blackberry vines in the foreground line a canal. Photograph of the Sutter Butters ((Maidu: Histum Yani or Esto Yamani, Wintun: Olonai-Tol, Nisenan: Estom Yanim) viewed from the Southeast at the first moments of sunrise. The lower two-thirds buttes lie in shadow against a peach-to-bluish predawn sky, and the peaks of the buttes are faintly lit by the first rays of dawn from the right. A line of trees and utility poles delineates a road at the base of the buttes. Flooded agricultural fields lie between the viewer and the road; two rows of Blackberry vines in the foreground line a canal. Photograph of the Sutter Butters ((Maidu: Histum Yani or Esto Yamani, Wintun: Olonai-Tol, Nisenan: Estom Yanim) viewed from the Southeast at sunrise. The buttes are fully illuminated by the rising sun from the right. A line of trees and utility poles delineates a road at the base of the buttes. Flooded agricultural fields lie in shadow between the viewer and the road; two rows of Blackberry vines in the foreground, lining a canal, bear the faint light of the rising sun. Photograph of the Sutter Butters ((Maidu: Histum Yani or Esto Yamani, Wintun: Olonai-Tol, Nisenan: Estom Yanim) viewed from the Southeast just after sunrise. The buttes are fully illuminated by the rising sun from above to the right. A line of trees and utility poles delineates a road at the base of the buttes. Flooded agricultural fields lie in shadow between the viewer and the road. Two rows of Blackberry vines in the foreground, lining a canal; the tops of the vines nearest the viewer are fully illuminated by the rising sun.
February 15, 2025 at 4:11 AM
Reposted by Damaris Brisco
cageyratfish.bsky.social
All right folks, let's start a Roadside Attraction thread. SHOW ME YOUR GIANT SILLY ROADSIDE THINGS!

My town doesn't have one, but here's a photo of Duncan's late great "World's Largest Hockey Stick" and "Norm" the creepy giant gnome, formerly just north of Nanoose, now safely retired in Saanich
"World's Largest Hockey Stick" , and puck, mounted on the facade of the municipal ice rink / hockey arena in Duncan, BC. The hockey stick is mostly black, and has the official Government of Canada logo (the word "Canada" with a little Canadian flag over the final "a") in white lettering on its shaft "Norm", the giant gnome, who once held the Guinness World Record for "world's tallest garden gnome" and who used to have red lightbulbs in his eyes which glowed disturbingly at night, forming what's legally known as a "hazardous distraction" for drivers on Vancouver Island's main north-south highway, stands behind a chainsaw-carved sign that says WORLS FAMOUS GNOME/ NANOOSE BAY ESSO with some more reasonably-sized, chainsaw-carved gnomes at the base of the sign. Norm is dressed all in green, with black boots, and a red conical gnome hat. His right hand is raised, palm out, while his left holds a Canadian flag. There used to be an ice cream cone in his left hand. Behind him is a tall white bulk propane tank and a mowed area with a picnic table on it.
February 13, 2025 at 2:29 AM
Reposted by Damaris Brisco
spg21212.bsky.social
Well, our federally funded organization was just told to take down any DEIA displays in our offices, like pride flags.

Meanwhile, a nice astronomer gave us this Hubble spectrum of HD 233622a, variable type B2V E star. Science displays are still allowed. 🏳️‍🌈 🔭
A star's spectrum taken by Hubble spectrographs rended as a rainbow of blue, green, yellow, orange, and red.
February 12, 2025 at 6:12 PM
fungallove.bsky.social
So I did it - I finally joined the Chileno Valley Newt Brigade! Volunteers like me spend one evening a week during the rainy season patrolling a segment of Chileno Valley Road, helping California and Rough-skinned Newts safely cross the road to & from Laguna Lake. www.chilenovalleynewtbrigade.org
Landscape photograph looking down the length of a paved two-lane road, taken from the right side of the road. A barbed-wire fence runs along the right side of the road. A grassy green field lies behind the fence; dark shapes in the distance are cattle, and part of Laguna Lake stretches behind them. On the left side of the road is a hill covered in green trees. A rolling green hill lies in the background. In the foreground is a large sign affixed to a utility pole on the right side of the road. The sign has a white background, and it features an orange image of a newt with the text: SLOW - NEWT PATROL ON ROAD.
February 13, 2025 at 2:51 AM
fungallove.bsky.social
Graffiti on the back of the pump shed at the San Geronimo Commons.
Photo of a small blue-gray building. The reed-lined edge of a pond is visible in the foreground; in the background are green trees. The right side of the building features wheatpaste-style graffiti of a man, from head down to mid-torso, pointing directly at the viewer. The man is wearing a blue jacket and wearing a red medallion around his neck. Close-up crop of wheatpaste-style graffiti on a flat blue-gray wall. Image is made from a colorized photograph of a man, shown from the mid-torso up. He has dark, short-cropped hair with a widow's peak. His eyes are dark, and his skin is a pale, sickly yellow. He is wearing a blue double-breasted jacket with a high rolled collar over a white turtleneck. A golden sash is draped over his left shoulder, and he's wearing a fist-sized red medallion on a red-beaded cord around his neck; the medallion hangs down to his solar plexus. He is smirking, with his left eyebrow raised, and pointing his right forefinger directly at the viewer.
February 13, 2025 at 1:30 AM
fungallove.bsky.social
www.sfgate.com/bayarea/arti...
Amanita phalloides (Death Cap) sold out the back of a pickup truck in a supermarket parking lot
Calif. county issues alert after 3 sickened by 'severe mushroom poisoning'
Monterey County officials issued a warning to the public Friday after three people needed hospitalization due to “severe mushroom poisoning.”
www.sfgate.com
January 6, 2025 at 2:05 AM
fungallove.bsky.social
Yesterday we drove out to Bolinas to visit a Gaza Surf Club fundraising pop-up. Strolled down to Bolinas (Brighton) Beach to snap a few photos. I just love this sign - it's *so* Bolinas, lol.
Image of the edge of a concrete seawall, with a beach and surfers on the right. A hand-painted wooden sign on the seawall says “Beach” with an arrow pointing to the left.
December 16, 2024 at 6:45 PM
fungallove.bsky.social
Epic stick just dropped on my back porch. UV blacklight revelation ftw
November 21, 2024 at 3:10 AM
fungallove.bsky.social
Yesterday in #RoysRedwoods: I went out ahead of the incoming atmospheric river to see how the forest is anticipating the drench. We’ve had a little over an inch & a half of rain so far this rainy season - a nice & gentle overture…
November 21, 2024 at 1:00 AM
fungallove.bsky.social
I haven’t thought about this song in like 30 years, but it’s been an earworm for the past couple days. I forgot how weird the video was. youtu.be/Yq7FKO5DlV0?...
Genesis - Land of Confusion (Official Music Video)
YouTube video by Genesis
youtu.be
November 19, 2024 at 7:21 AM
fungallove.bsky.social
Moon over the San Geronimo Valley tonight
November 14, 2024 at 2:25 AM
Reposted by Damaris Brisco
jfmclaughlin92.bsky.social
STOP

THIS IS A CUTE ANIMAL PIC CHECKPOINT. PLEASE SHARE A MINIMUM OF ONE (1) CUTE ANIMAL PIC BEFORE PROCEEDING.

THIS IS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE TO PRESERVE THE MENTAL HEALTH OF THIS SITE. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION.
Two dogs sleeping on a bed. The white one is wearing a little hoodie and cuddled up against the black one, who is sticking her nose directly into the weird fisheye effect of the wide angle lens I had to use to take the pic without waking them. Not included: the soft sound of snores
November 5, 2024 at 4:13 AM
fungallove.bsky.social
What’s your anxiety-management strategy for tomorrow? I’ll be stringing a garland of glass beads and watching horror movies. Might need to get more beads.
November 5, 2024 at 2:40 AM
fungallove.bsky.social
Timelapse: Sunset over Pico Beach - San Simeon, California
October 31, 2024 at 4:52 AM
fungallove.bsky.social
Big kitty!
October 25, 2024 at 12:28 AM