You had our attention at mushrooms! Thank you for taking us on a wonderous and mysterious journey into the night skies and dark walks. When you come to our place you'll get to play with our telescopes. Loved our time along the Pamir highway gazing into the twinkling sky. Terrific story telling once again and utterly magnificent photos. You've captured nature at her finest.
You had our attention at mushrooms! How could we ever forget that night in the High Pamir in Tajikistan, MJ? Standing in icy winds looking into the night sky with the Milky Way pulsating at us nearly close enough to touch. A special time that only we shared...and in an extraordinary locale. Now I share the bioluminescent mushrooms that I found in my own Aussie backyard. We hope to visit you in your Florida backyard and we hope we have set the bar high enough for you to emulate!
Your interesting Aussie backyard! Well you could not snap the UFOs in those days but you have captured the bio-luminescent mushrooms nicely. You backyard has stuff going on!
Aurora Very interesting photos. It's like like having the aurora borealis (or Australis in your case) beneath your feet. I am not blessed with the luxury of darkness at this time of year, so I will search the tundra when the the light disappears in the fall. The genus Panellus is apparently bioluminescent, it is not common in these parts though - I will need a powerful lamp. Dave
Aurora When I was a kid I was known as Sherlock Sharp Eyes for my uncanny skill at finding lost golf balls hit during my $1 per round caddying days. It is amazing what one can find if one actually looks. I look forward to the bioluminescent Panellus from the tundra, Dave. A background of the aurora borealis would frame it perfectly. He who seeks can find. The challenge is to replace 'can' with 'got ya'. Your quest is set. I wait in anticipation.
What beautiful pictures This was a great read Dave. I learned so much more about you, not to mention about the fungi. Did you have to battle rubber snakes on your way to the Bush? lol
What beautiful pictures It is 14 months since you joined us in our Aussie backyard with the Trouble, Brendan and the rubber snake still protects the mandarin tree but causes no quarms for the swamp wallaby that continues to pick its fruit. Denise has just handed me chopped rock rmelon so the service here has not diminished since you left to return to the land of the red headed Don. Our Aussie backyard continues to fascinate me...last blog macro sects and this one UFOs & bioluminescent mushrooms...too good not to share. I'll pull up a chair and reminisce with Denise in the hope we can spend further times together.
UFOs come at night! The dark night skies always intrigue my imagination. Like yourself, I spent watching the night sky in Masaimara and Tsavo...fascinating, Dave. My wife must have talked to you before, she didn't come for the trip when I got lost in the Mara bush at night. Moral of the story: I travel best on my own. You are the same freak as I am about taking photos. Never satisfied. You went into the bushes two nights consecutively to take the same shots. I traveled to Vietnam twice in consecutive years ,- just to take the same night shot of Ho Chi Minh City from the hotel rooftop patio - same hotel, same table, same spot on the parapet. we seem to be the birds of the same feather, Dave...LOL
UFOs come at night! Returning to the same spot to better the photo in separate trips to Vietnam indicates an impressive determination, Tab. I once returned to a mountain in China 4 or 5 years later to climb the remaining 9 metres I had been denied years before. My blog is called "China...Rectifying my Regret." I know the smile that results from such persistence. These bioluminescent mushroom pics are clearly a testament to that. Enjoy.
Magic mushroom! If only Ralph...may have been easier to have achieved the vibrant colours which were only obtained with obsessive effort. Your comment made me belly laugh. Thanks for that !!!
I've seen one also. UFO that is. A little after first light at Mooloolaba, QLD. We were getting ready to go out fishing, it was a sight and experience I will fondly recall for the rest of my life.
Loved your story 😁👍
I've seen one also. Some say only the crazies claim to have seen a UFO, Bernie. But you like me are part of an exclusive club...not crazy but intrigued by having an experience of the unexplained. I'd love to hear more of your sighting story.
Wish I will see that one day I have seen fire flies, milky seas effect and bioluminescent worms but never those mushrooms. Since you also mention astromony I can add that I've seen aurora borealis, and a Mercury transit and a Venus transit. Thanks for your blog. It was interesting. /Ake
Wish I will see that one day Our world is full of wonders Ake and I never cease being amazed when I discover them. These bioluminescent mushrooms emit a white glow to the naked eye which in reality is green, all a result of a chemical reaction created by the enzymes within. One day I hope to also see the aurora borealis. I will then enquire why the light they emit is also green. Fascinating stuff.
Great idea I love this idea for a theme blog. As alays there are some great photos you have posted. Thanks for sharing your pics with the resty of us. /Ake
Great idea Glad you checked it out, Ake. The challenge is getting critters in focus but when achieved the results speak for themselves. The Red Baron Dragonfly pic you highlight is a great example. What an alien head it has. Should star in a movie. Sensational.
Catchy Title I love it when people blog about their local area. You are the experts! It is so good when we slow down to look around our world. You need to have your own bug show.
Catchy Title Thanks MJ. The macro sect world has not only opened my eyes to see what is in front of me but to appreciate it may always have been there awaiting my smile.
My wife Denise & I like to travel "on paths less travelled" that capture our imagination, inspire my photography & where we mix with locals & remain safe.
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You had our attention at mushrooms!
Thank you for taking us on a wonderous and mysterious journey into the night skies and dark walks. When you come to our place you'll get to play with our telescopes. Loved our time along the Pamir highway gazing into the twinkling sky. Terrific story telling once again and utterly magnificent photos. You've captured nature at her finest.