Indian Pipe (Monotropa uniflora)
Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula)
indigo bunting (Passerina cyanea)
We went to the Rachel Carson Conservation Park today and had a fairly hot and humid walk through the woods. We heard quite a few birds in the woods but saw almost none. We did see these Indian pipe (Monotropa uniflora), also known as ghost plant or ghost pipe. These are parasitic, non-photosynthesizing plants, getting their energy from Russulaceae family of fungi, which in turn get their energy from the roots of photosynthesizing plants. We also saw chanterelle mushrooms (Cantharellus species) and downy rattlesnake plantain (Goodyera pubescens).
Towards the end of our walk we were in the meadows nearer the parking area and I got some photos of the dreaded spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) in its final nymphal instar stage. There were also indigo buntings (Passerina cyanea) singing all around and I finally found one that I could just see at the top of a tree and got a few photos of that.