Dusty McDusterson (He/Him) 🍄
LightNews LightNews
banner
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
Dusty McDusterson (He/Him) 🍄
@dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
2.3K followers 810 following 2K posts
I post🍄🌲🪴pics taken on my daily hikes w/ Winston 🐕
The forest is my happy place & helps regulate my PTSD
Lefty atheist 🖋️📸 mycophile INFJ
Former USAF weather forecaster turned enviro-scientist
MS in Geoscience
Real conversation w/ compassion
Gaza=Genocide
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
Dusty McDusterson (He/Him) 🍄 @dustymcdusterson.bsky.social · Nov 10
Exploring the midnight #KingTide at #TwanohStatePark was fascinating.

One of my favorite sightings was watching this Purple Shore Crab, Hemigrapsus nudus, burying itself in the sand.
#LowTide #Crabs #Nature
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
Going through pictures I realized I never posted these photos of my return to the #Bowtie Birdnest #Fungi quote posted here.

10 days later, their "eggs"/spore satchels were finally exposed after their protective cap broke down as intended.

Dirty human forefinger for scale.
#FungiFriends
December 10, 2025 at 3:26 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
It looks like we'll be stuck indoors for a while, with an atmospheric river bearing down on us bringing abnormally heavy rainfall through Friday.

From this weekend's forest excursion.

A Red-Belted Conk, Fomitopsis pinicola surrounded by Orange Jelly Spot, Dacrymyces chrysospermus. #FungiFriends
This fallen conifer has been in this state for at least a few years based on the age of the Red-Belted Conk, Fomitopsis pinicola here that likely played a part in the death of their host. The conk has a stark white smooth underside with pores. The topside of the conk is more dynamic in both color and texture. The lip is white, an extension of the underside, and graduates to an orangy red and finally dark brown coloration where the conk meets the host tree. The conk is surrounded by brightly colored Orange Jelly Spot, Dacrymyces chrysospermus. These mounds of what looks to be orange gelatin piled on the log are one of my favorite trail snacks although that is not generally recommended and can cause GI upset or worse. They're very bland anyway, a light mushroom flavor with a cool gelatin like texture that's more like the initial bite of a gummy bear but where the structure lost cohesion far more quickly instead of remaining chewy.
December 9, 2025 at 4:34 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
I passed them by initially as only mildly interesting from above, but thankfully made note to check out if I had time on my way back out, and I'm glad I did.

Unassuming from above, gloriously golden gills underneath. #Fungi

Western Gilled Bolete, Phylloporus arenicola
#FungiFriends
A gilled mushroom with gills a bright golden coloration that partially extends down the stipe before turning a reddish brown. The cap is brown with splotchy light discolorations and warts that give it character.
December 8, 2025 at 6:25 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
Look at that #Guttation on these little ones.

Found in very close proximity to each other, but the one on the left fully emerged, whereas the one on the right got stuck curled up underground. I only spotted it because it was visible hiding in what I believe was a squirrel hole. #FungiFriends
December 7, 2025 at 8:49 PM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
A few shots from yesterday's too-late-in-the-afternoon forest adventure.

Curse you daylight savings time!

#WinterSolstice can't get here soon enough!

Thankfully I brought some new lights to continue experimenting with DSLR manual focus adjustments & using focus stacking software.
#FungiFriends
A couple of mycena popping up form the moss covered decaying root structure of a fallen tree as a fern frond rests exposing its spore sites. A couple of fungi and lots of moss and lichen proliferate on the side of this living Douglas fir trunk about a foot above the ground. A lone tiny fungi grows from the dead limb of a fallen tree that straddles one of the streams I frequent. The underside of a fern frond rests on the limb. There was still a little natural light at this point as you can still see the background, but the cloud cover built up and it started raining just prior to this picture with ever super gloomy conditions.
December 7, 2025 at 8:24 PM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
This was a fun mystery I'm still not sure is solved.
I was so focused on the #Fungi, maybe a Smoky-gilled Hypholoma, H. capnoides, that I didn't note the red tipped white, likely #AdventitiousShoots reaching out from the #Moss covered mass the fungi was growing from until much later. #FungiFriends
My first inclination when I spotted the lone fungi was it might be an odd singular Sulfur Tuft, H. fasciculare. But the gills, as seen in the next image, are more smokey colored than green so I believe it might be a Smoky-gilled Hypholoma, Hypholoma capnoides. Or it could be another species entirely. Note the adventitious shoot to the right growing out of the same moss covered mass as this fungi that included a living evergreen huckleberry stem and I'm assuming some decaying wood. An image from the other side of the same fungi seen in image 1. There are a few more what I'm assuming are adventitious shoots growing close to where the stipe emerges from the moss covered mass. A cropped closeup of picture 1 showing 3 possibly adventitious shoots reaching out from under the mossy covered mass that included the stem of a living evergreen huckleberry. If they are adventitious shoot I'm assuming they are coming from that bush but as I didn't notice them until after I got home and was focus stacking images it was already too late to see where they originated from.
December 7, 2025 at 8:08 PM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
A couple more shots from today of the Red Pinwheel, Marasmius plicatulus.

And a bonus candid of Winston keeping a lookout yesterday while I had my nose in some coral.

#MossMates
#FungiFriends
#Fungi #Nature
#SlimeMold
The stem of the plucked larger mushroom extends to the right out of frame but because of the stitching, and my having not captured that stem in focus, it appears to just disappear and blend into the photo. This is a composite of 29 images taken with my Canon 70D DSLR camera stitched together with the software Helicon Focus. I'm figuring out efficiencies and tricks that's making taking these pictures remain fun and not be too tedious. The final result is a lot of fun and makes it worthwhile IMO. Another red Pinwheel all by its lonesome. This is a composite of 17 images. Photo taken with my phone camera. I'd left my DSLR at home for yesterday's short lunch walk and after finally getting into focus stacking with it I wasn't as enthused with any of the pictures other than this one. I went back today but got distracted by the Red Pinwheels. Another shot of the Leocarpus fragilis slime mold on a Red Pinwheel, Marasmius plicatulus.
December 3, 2025 at 5:59 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
This was a fun find today!

I believe these are Insect-egg slim mold, Leocarpus fragilis, hanging out on the upper reaches of the stipe of this likely Red Pinwheel fungi, Marasmius plicatulus.

#FungiFriends
#SlimeMold #Fungi
#Nature #Moss
#MossMates
The stipe of this Red Pinwheel fungi is a dark burgundy from emergence to cap. Just a little distance below the cap is a grouping of 21 visible insect-egg slime mold that are a nice dark amber coloration and attached to the stipe by stems that appear to be around the same length as the length of the fruiting body. Back to the fungi, The gills are an off-white and don't appear to be too crowded. This is a composite focus stack of 15 different images taken with my Canon 70D DSLR
December 3, 2025 at 5:37 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
Having some fun using GIFS for a tiny perspective shift.

I believe these are Red Pinwheel fungi, Leocarpus fragillis.

Still images in comments.

#FungiFriends #Fungi #Fall
December 3, 2025 at 5:08 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
I know this is in the Boletopsis genus & didn't note any spruce nearby, only Douglas Fir & Madrone.
Leaning B. grisea or the unnamed species Michael Kuo mentioned in his 2014 Mushroom Expert article on B. leucomelaena. Link 👇

Collected & dried for dyeing purposes for a friend.
#FungiFriends
The underside of the Boletopsis is the coolest part. The top is a dark color with texture that aids in blending in. I remember finding this same species in the same place a few years ago but didn't document it at the time. So far this year I've found it in 3 distinct locations but in the same general area of Banner Forest Heritage Park so far this year. Found in the same area as golden and winter chanterelles.
December 2, 2025 at 3:36 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
Ochre Cushion, Trichoderma pulvinatum, parasitizing this Red-Belted Conk, Fomitopsis pinicola.

Love me some fungi on fungi action!

Continuing the theme is an unknown species of Elfin Saddle from the Helvella genus being parasitized by Hypomyces cervinigenus.

#FungiFriends
#ParasiticFungi
#Fungi
Ochre Cushion, Trichoderma pulvinatum, parasitizing this Red-Belted Conk, Fomitopsis pinicola which parasitized this fallen Douglas Fir. Based on the orientation, it initially emerged when the now fallen over tree was still standing. Image is a focus stacked composite of 4-6 pictures taken with my Canon 70D DSLR. I stacked a lot of pictures this weekend and my notes are atrocious because they only exist in my jumbled up headspace... Elfin Saddle from the Helvella genus being parasitized by Hypomyces cervinigenus. Without the cap color details it is difficult to confirm the species of the fungi being parasitized. Image is a focus stacked composite of 4-6 pictures taken with my Canon 70D DSLR.
December 2, 2025 at 2:11 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
Definitely the fluffiest Amanita I've found so far this year!

Take a look at that fluff up close and see some always fun #Guttation droplets.

#FungiFriends #Fungi #Nature
A super fluffy Amanita. I don't believe it's a Smith's Amanita, Amanita smithiana, as iNaturalist guessed but I could be wrong. I didn't do much more digging and I didn't have any additional information as I left this gorgeous fella alone undisturbed other than the passing glare of my LED lights. Found in a douglas fir dominant forest, madrone nearby, decent understory of evergreen huckleberries, salal berries, trailing blackberries and ferns in addition to ample mosses. Composite Focus Stacked image derives from 8 pictures.
November 30, 2025 at 8:06 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
I believe this is the Western Amathest Deceiver, Laccaria amethysteo-occidentalis.

Ample mangled compatriots found nearby only made this beauty stand out, enthralling me for quite some time.

Found on our hike in Banner Forest Heritage Park, Washington State.

#FungiFriends
November 30, 2025 at 6:53 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
Check out this Western Painter Suilus, Suillus lakei.

Found on today's hike in Banner Forest Heritage Park, Washington State.

#FungiFriends
One of my favorite things about this specimen is that the pores extend down the stipe a little ways and almost look gills/folds, at least from this angle. The underside in reality was pores, as expected with this species. Focus stacked composite of 6 images taken with a Canon 70D.
November 30, 2025 at 6:32 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
Sound on video for the #Steller'sJay's (Cyanocitta stelleri) #mimicry of a #RedTailedHawk

8/10 - Performance lacks passion & cut off a bit too early, even if still an effective scare tactic. Maybe a little more chutzpah next time, friend...says the guy who can barely carry a tune. #Birds #Nature
November 27, 2025 at 9:13 PM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
Check out this gorgeous family from the Cortinarius genus, with 19+ fruiting bodies in various stages of development including fully veiled and lots of #Guttation.

See the 2nd post for zoomed out view as well as some closeups of the gills and the beautiful cortina remnants.
#FungiFriends
November 27, 2025 at 4:13 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
Pacific Golden Chanterelle, Cantharellus formosus and bonnet friend.

Found hiding out in a Douglas Fir dominant forest all by their lonesome, but mere feet from a large cluster of Winter Chanterelle.
#FungiFriends
The side view of a Pacific Golden Chanterelle, Cantharellus formosus. All those tiny little black specks are frass.
November 25, 2025 at 1:44 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
Winter chanterelle are finally here!

Craterellus tubaeformis, also known as the trumpet/funnel chanterelle or yellowfoot.

Smells like Parmesan after dehydrated.Yum! 🤤

#FungiFriends #Fungi
#EdibleFungi #Foraging
A big cluster of Winter Chanterelle popping under out from under a large heavily decayed decaying, I assume Douglas fir, trunk. Found in a moss dominant "understory" forest with predominantly Douglas fir and the occasional madrone. Very little understory with only a smattering of salal here and there. Lots of pinesap and orchid and oh so many mushrooms, everywhere you look. Another grouping of winter chanterelle in the same forest. These have hollow tubes for stems and shallow gills that are decurrent and don't extend down to much further below the cap. A pair of winter chanterelles. There are usually singles and couples scattered about and a good sized cluster or 2 to be found in patches covering a 30x30ft area. The larger gatherings typically are found in depressions or growing out from under heavily decayed wood like in image 1.
November 24, 2025 at 4:26 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
Pinecone Mushroom, Auriscalpium vulgare, also known as the ear-pick fungus.

At first glance they appear to be growing out of the ground, but as the name suggests, follow the stem and you'll find a pinecone buried 1-2 inches down in the duff.

I love their ❤️ shaped fuzzy caps!

#FungiFriends #Fungi
A mouse eye view of the ear-pick fungus with the many perfect white teeth doing their thing and spreading spores. A perfect brown fuzzy heart. Looking from above with the cap completely obscuring the stem. The fuzzy cap has loved edges that were fun to play with in the light.
November 23, 2025 at 5:51 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
Look at these gorgeous gills! 😍
#FungiFriends
November 23, 2025 at 5:10 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
We've had some decent storms recently that have knocked down lots of lichen covered branches.
This tube lichen from the genus Hypogymnia was one of my favorite finds so far.
Look at the size of those apothecium!
#FungiFriends #lichen #Fungi
November 22, 2025 at 2:27 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
Fairy Fingers, Clavaria fragilis, also known as White Spindles.

Found earlier this week on a walk at the office.

#FungiFriends
Fairy Fingers, Clavaria fragilis are long slender white fungi that grow out of the ground in clusters. Seen here growing amongst the grass along a trail. The fingers tear fairly easily when pulling on them. A close-up of an adjacent grouping of the same species Fairy Fingers, Clavaria fragilis. This is a closer look at a cluster seen in the far left of image 1.
November 22, 2025 at 2:02 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
I believe these are Cinnamon Webcap, Cortinarius cinnamomeus. They're absolutely stunning in person, the pictures don't do them justice. Found on our afternoon adventure in the forest today.
#FungiFriends
A wide shot of the grouping of Cinnamon Webcap, Cortinarius cinnamomeus. There are 4 total specimens in the shot, a pair of what look like twins with their caps fully extended to Umbonate form. Another in the center is having a rest on its side after having been plucked from about 4 feet away and placed here between these. The 4th is younger and still in its immature bell form. The gills are a bright cinnamon/ochre color that really stands out The stipes start out a light brown color and lighten up to cream by the time it reaches the cap. The twins with their plucked flush-mate. A view of the caps of the twins. I love the way the color of the cap changes from a brown in the center to a light yellow nearly cream color along the edges of the cap.
November 21, 2025 at 3:22 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
Speaking of Springtails.

This emerging Amanita was absolutely covered in them, with nearly all fungi in that part of the forest being mobbed by Springtails.

Unless I was super careful, like with this one, they'd all go "springing-off" as soon as I crouched down to scope them out. #FungiFriends
November 20, 2025 at 2:45 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
Wanna see a magic trick?

I present the magnificent levitating springtail!!

Apparently they can walk on water, which I'm assuming is due to surface tension and not magic...but one can dream. 🪄
#FungiFriends
This springtail was just hanging out walking around on water that had pooled in the depression of this mushroom's cap. The water was at least 2x deeper than the body height of this little fella. A fungi maggot is barely visible just left of this cutie that was fully submerged in the water. It looks like a little white tube with a darker head located about 3/4 of the way toward the first pine needle. A closer view of the levitating springtail.
November 20, 2025 at 2:36 AM