Bear’s Head Mushroom, Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, 2010

Bear's Head Mushroom, Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, 2010

An apparently-edible species of mushroom which grows from the sides of trees in a distinctive shape.

At the Canopy Layer, Monteverde Cloudforest Reserve, Costa Rica, 2012

At the Canopy Layer, Monteverde Cloudforest Reserve, Costa Rica, 2012

The bridge at the canopy layer reveals philodendrons, ferns, orchids, and other plants, all competing for precious real estate on an avocado tree.

Ringed Kingfisher (Ceryle torquata), near the Rio Frio, Costa Rica, 2012

Ringed Kingfisher (Ceryle torquata), near the Rio Frio, Costa Rica, 2012

We took a boat tour of the Rio Frio (as close as we could get to Caño Negro in one day from La Fortuna) and saw a number of different birds, including a large number of what I believe to be Ringed Kingfishers (our guide said they were green kingfishers, but all the identification photos I can find of those show them as having a much greener colour). This one was perched and possessed of a large lunch for such a small bird.

Tree, Gälawdios, Amhara, Ethiopia, July 2009

Tree, Gälawdios, Amhara, Ethiopia, July 2009

Gälawdious, the village where I have recently been working, is in beautiful agricultural country (though suffering rather from erosion–I better understand now why Lake Tana is such a muddy brown). Here, a view from my walk out to the däbtära (magician’s) cottage.