Field Guide

In Missouri, November is a time to visit large reservoirs and rivers to see migrating scaups and other diving ducks. Because people are hunting, make sure you wear orange.

With wildflowers waning, ling chih and other bracket fungi are more noticeable. Look on tree trunks, standing and fallen. Many fungi are beautiful above and below.

While you’re inspecting logs, you can’t miss the rich greens of oil spill moss. Also called flat brocade moss, it has a distinctive look, like green velvet with grease stains.

This month, let’s appreciate the many different fluffy and fuzzy seedheads. These were the wildflowers that delighted us in recent months. Western ironweed is just one example.