Dusty McDusterson (He/Him) 🍄
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dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
Dusty McDusterson (He/Him) 🍄
@dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
2.3K followers 800 following 1.9K 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
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dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
A couple of uber-chunky #Red-BeltedConk fungi, Fomitopsis pinicola. They've apparently been bulking up taking advantage of all this rain. Found yesterday at Point Defiance Park in Washington State.

Bonus shot of Winston and me soaked from the rain and understory.
#FungiFriends #Guttation
November 15, 2025 at 10:25 PM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
A few more observations from #BirdWatching this morning.

This #SpottedTowhee and the #AnnasHummingbird are frequent visitors to my yard due to their respective love of pecans and my hummingbird feeder.
This Spotted Towhee & his mate, not seen here, have been hanging out quite a bit and have warmed up to me due to their love of pecans. Seen here scoping out the case of worms and nuts I left out for the Stellar Jays. This one will occasionally call after me and wait for me to throw him a snack before taking off toward its nearby nest. His mate, learned to do the same. This Anna's Hummingbird hanging out in one of their favorite spots at the top of one of my Red Huckleberry bushes to keep a watchful eye over their hummingbird feeder. I'll regularly see them fly out of this huckleberry to chase away any invading hummingbirds who make an attempt to feed at their feeder. I've even seen them chase away some dark eyed junco who got too close while hanging out nearby. The second location this Anna's Hummingbird likes to hang out on is this cherry tree, that's now leafless. This was snapped right after they took off from one of the branches. A shot of the same hummingbird chasing off one of the competition. They were both at least 60 feet (18m) up in the air chasing each other around when I snapped this shot. The winner came back down to stand guard over their favorite feeder and see why the human was still just sitting in the wet grass watching them.
November 15, 2025 at 8:26 PM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
Lazy Saturday morning spent #Birdwatching in the backyard.

The #StellarJay in the first picture had a spot on impression of a Red Tailed Hawk it appeared to use in an attempt to clear out the competition. It was able to fool Merlin, but less so the other Jays going after the cache of nuts.
#Nature
I loved the expressive eyebrows on this one which made it easy to keep track of. This one would hang out in the tree and mimic red tailed hawk sounds before swooping down to grab one of the nuts from the stash. I think the other Jay that's a blur was just landing when I snapped this picture. A bit of a dreary cloudy day, so the shutter speed on my DSLR was around 60 for this shot. An Eastern Grey squirrel coming down to check out what all the commotion was about. At least 6 different Stellar Jays were having a ball demolishing the nuts and worms left out for them. The same eastern Grey squirrel looking around for some goodies as a Stellar Jay looks while holding a nut it swallowed whole shortly after this shot.
November 15, 2025 at 7:54 PM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
I believe these are Tricholomopsis decora, Decorated Mop also known as Prunes and Custard. #FungiFriends
This fallen Douglas fir had lots of fungi growing on it including 4 of these bright yellow ones. Their caps were soaking wet due to the intense rainfall we had today so the scales were barely noticeable as they'd been flattened to the cap. A close up on the mushroom in the background of image 1, another Prunes and Custard. The scales are unfortunately barely noticeable due to the intense rainfall we had today. The blinding yellow nature of this fungi is a fun bright surprise to find in the forest.
November 15, 2025 at 5:54 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
Mucronella flava growing from the cut end of a log that is likely Douglas Fir. This is the most prolific I've ever witnessed this species.

My previous experience is finding just a smattering here and there easily overlooked. But there was now way you would miss this many yellow #Teeth
#FungiFriends
The full view of the cut end of what is likely a Douglas Fir log where all the Mucronella flava are growing from. A single bonnet fungi is seen hanging out on the lower left portion of the cut end. A cavity at the center of the log plays host to a good deal more Mucronella flava that are mainly a bright yellow here with just a couple small groupings of white. A close up of the top middle portion of the log as seen in image 1. So many yellow teeth. A view looking directly down the hollow. The Mucronella flava fungi go quite a ways in. For some reason there were more clusters of white versions of the fungi in the hollow vs on the cut end. I wonder if that's coincidence or if there is a reason.
November 15, 2025 at 5:32 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
Mucronella flava, a #Fungi species that look like fungi teeth that just grew straight out of the wood without any need for a silly cap/stem.

Seen here growing in an internal hollow & on the end of this cut likely Douglas fir log located in Point Defiance Park Washington State. Photos👇
#FungiFriends
November 15, 2025 at 5:32 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
I believe this is the Snow-White Crust, Plicatura nivea. Found growing on a fallen Alder branch.

Look for the smattering of #Guttation & encapsulation of some neighboring #Moss.
#FungiFriends #Nature
Snow-White Crust growing on a fallen Alder branch. The stark white fruiting body had a fluffy marshmallowy sort of appearance. A smattering of guttation and some metabolites can be seen in the center of the fruiting body. This is how I found the branch, I did not rotate it to take pictures. Look for a couple droplets of guttation and some unlucky moss that's being encapsulated in the stark white fruiting body.
November 14, 2025 at 7:37 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
More Candlesnuff fungi, Xylaria hypoxylon. 🍄📸 🌱
A closer look where the spider silk strands are more visible. They definitely look like contorted hands performing magic of some sort. This specimen really stood out with its very admirable impression of an antler.
November 14, 2025 at 4:29 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
These Candlesnuff fungi look like they're magical contorted hands pulling energy from the ether.

Below is a close-up, and another of the same species that best exemplifies the alternate name of Carbon Antler.

#FungiFriends
#Nature #Magic
#Magimorphism
Xylaria hypoxylon goes by many names including Candlesnuff/Candlestick Fungus and Carbon Antlers. Hopefully the resolution is sufficient to make out the spider webs that I imagine to be the energy being pulled in by the magical fungi.
November 14, 2025 at 4:29 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
You're right, I'm remembering previous encounters & they were likely a series. Once there in tube form can they move or are they stationary spore disperses at that point?

This log was the hotspot for life this summer during the drought.
There's always something! This was from July 9th. I don't think I posted these so thanks for the inspiration to go back through some of my summer pictures. So much going on here! Hopefully you can zoom. The Chocolate Tube Slime mold is at the bottom. Another species is the yellow dots just above. There are a couple fungi species too including the eyelash cup. The slugs loved this log and absolutely slimed the slime molds over time. These had just turned brown when I took this picture. I thought they were the same patches I saw over and over but unless they can move then my September photos didn't exactly like up with this and I was mistaken about them persisting. My September pictures were too out of focus to be able to really confirm but they didn't seem to match exactly what I saw in July. It didn't help the log got pretty beat up likely from some rowdy youngeters. This was on the side of the same log that was still active even with the drought due to high moisture content. There's so much going on with the eyelash cup fungi and the mite I'm assuming is from the Genus Linopodes and the beautiful chocolate tube slime mold.
November 14, 2025 at 3:52 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
Not sure about the pink dot, but the white surrounding it definitely looks to be the early stages of Chocolate Tube Slime Mold. Here is an animation I made last year of some I collected. The transformation took less than 18 hours. If you can, I'd recommend checking them out a day or 2 later.
November 13, 2025 at 11:00 PM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
Most unfortunate. We'll have to live vicariously through others' observations.

Here's another interesting species I found a few weeks back that are also not native to the UK, Boletopsis leucomelaena. Super rushed pictures as my light was failing, with the sun already fading. No goth hedgehog though
November 13, 2025 at 5:06 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
Some 💛🧡🍄 observations from the walk through the forest today.

📸1: Orange Jelly, Dacrymyces chrysospermus
📸2: Calocera cornea, note the forked ends
📸3: Bird Nest fungus with their caps intact
📸4: Fly Agaric, Amanita muscaria
#FungiFriends #Fungi #Nature
The orange fingers of the Orange Jelly, Dacrymyces chrysospermus, appear to reach through the bark of this fallen tree.
November 12, 2025 at 7:08 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
Zeller's Bolete, Xerocomellus zelleri.

The latter 2 are being attacked by the Bolete Eater, Hypomyces chrysospermus.

#FungiFriends
#Fungi #Nature
A singular perfect example of a Zellers Bolete. This one had zero worms. About 4 total spotted nearby but none closer than a meter apart. The stipe is a beautiful red with faint striping. The cap is a mottled browned grey with a yellow pore surface that resembles a sponge. Found in a mixed forest. A grouping of 4 Zellers Bolete stand amongst some what I believe to be wintergreen. All of these were fairly old and likely wormy but still fun to find. A massive Zeller's Bolete that is succumbing to the Bolete Eater at a later stage. The Bolete has grown into a salal spring and has incorporated part of it into its cap. Hopefully the attachment doesn't negatively impact the poor little salal. A Zellers Bolete fully encapsulated by the Bolete Eater stands meekly while leaning against a stem.
November 12, 2025 at 4:58 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
Look at this adorable #PacificBananaSlug taking their afternoon nap.

Sleep well little buddy, may you find many a yummy mushroom to chomp on. #Nature
A Pacific Banana Slug without any visible spots taking their afternoon nap in the forest. Probably on the hunt for one of the many yummy fungus I spotted nearby. The slug is roughly 3 inches long while scrunched up like this. It's enjoying life in a mixed forest healthy understory of huckleberries, Salal and ample mosses.
November 12, 2025 at 4:46 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
Western Amethyst Laccaria, Laccaria amethysteo-occidentalis sprawled out under the huckleberries.

#FungiFriends
#Fungi #Nature
Western Amethyst Laccaria, Laccaria amethysteo-occidentalis sprawled out under the huckleberries. The mushrooms have faded somewhat but were likely not as vibrant purple as those gorgeous gills seen in the center of the largest cluster.
November 12, 2025 at 4:41 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
Zeller's Bolete, Xerocomellus zelleri being invaded by the Bolete Eater, Hypomyces chrysospermus in Onyx.

#FungiFriends
#Fungi #Nature
#ALTText
A Zeller's Bolete has its entire visible fruiting body fully encapsulated in the invading fungus fuzzy flesh. The now fuzzy Bolete is a stark white with a smattering of guttation droplets dappling the underside of the bolete cap. That bright white stands in stark contrast to not only the dark background, dark because the Bolete is illuminated by supplemental lighting. The foreground in focus and lit is darker colors with a dark green healthy moss covered in ample tree leaf litter of mainly darker brown coloration. The mushroom cap is tilted sideways in a way that anecdotally seems related to the infection as I've seen it quite often. Maybe to get higher for spreading spores or probably just a reflection of the way the infection spread on the fruiting body. ID based on uninfected assumed flush-mates found nearby.
November 12, 2025 at 4:38 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
Final shots from this weekend's visit to Twanoh State Park in Washington State.
#FungiFriends #Nature
A moody shot looking through the forest with a smattering of stark white mycena in focus on the live moss covered tree trunk of a Big Leaf maple. A large grouping of mycena dominates the side of this rotting log. A toothed fungus can barely be made out in the top left of this image, something I didn't note until going through the pictures after the hike. This bright red capped fungus really stood out. It honestly should be an easy ID but my brain is absolute mush and I'm in need of some real sleep in my own bed. Which will commence shortly after hitting post on this one. Another toothed fungus for my dyers friend!
November 10, 2025 at 4:34 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
I believe this is the beautifully #Poisonous shield dapperling, Lepiota clypeolaria also fittingly known as the Shaggy-stalked Lepiota.

Definitely want to avoid eating this furry creature, likely won't have a good time...
#FungiFriends
November 10, 2025 at 4:26 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
Funky, not so fresh finds!

I love finding Fluted Elfin Saddles being eaten by their nemesis, Hypomyces cervinigenus. At least the parasitizing fungus makes it easier to confirm proper focus with the added texture compared to their normal oddly shiny/smooth caps.
#FungiFriends #Nature #Fungi
November 10, 2025 at 4:17 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
Dyers Delight!!

I believe these are Hydnellum fuscoindicum, or the Violet Hedgehog.

Tooth fungus are some of my favorite to find, this was the first time I've found this species.
#TwanohStatePark #FungiFriends #NaturalDyes #Fungi
Super unassuming peeking out of the duff. They initially looked like they might be another species going bad. It isn't until I felt the firmness of their cap that I realized they were fresh. Another grouping of the same fungus species found nearby with one upended to display the tooth underside.
November 10, 2025 at 4:12 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
Corals galore!!!

#TwanohStatePark #FungiFriends
November 10, 2025 at 4:05 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
Beautiful cherry-red unknown #SlimeMold species and toothed #Fungi from the genus Deflexula, with a bonus blurry Winston!
#TwanohStatePark #Nature
Winston patiently waiting as I check out some cherry red slime mold. Slime mold did not have any perceivable stalks and the color is true to what I observed on site. A close-up of the same slime mold as seen in image 1. These teeth were super fun to find. Pretty confident they are fungus but haven't been able to ID them just yet. This log was just covered in life. The opening with a few mycena fungus poking their heads out had lots of slime mold stalks growing. Same log but a few inches away, more of the teeth dropping down out of the log.
November 10, 2025 at 4:03 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
First Jelly tooth fungus of the year! Pseudohydnum gelatinosum. Hoping to propogate this species as they made for some delicious candy last year and I'd love to grow them at home. But, #SporePrints are a real pain to collect for this one.

#TwanohStatePark Washington State. #FungiFriends #Nature
November 10, 2025 at 3:51 AM
dustymcdusterson.bsky.social
Final #Guttation is an odd one. Similar to a species I observed in the Hoh Rain Forest a few weeks ago. The closest image has guttation dripping from the fungal structure.

Initially though slime mold, but I'm pretty confident it's fungus maybe a Lichen. 🤷
#TwanohStatePark #FungiFriends #Nature
There are 2 fungal structures seen here on this highly decayed log found in a mixed forest with lots of amber colored BigLeaf maple leaves covering the forest floor. Another grouping of mushies can be seen under the moss covered outcropping to the left. A little closer. After the initial assumption of slime mold I realized the structures weren't right. Very similar looking to a specimen I found a few weeks back growing on a log, albeit surrounded by moss vs these ones making their existence on the bare wood, but with moss on top that their network could still work with. Note the few drops of guttation at the ends of tips of the fungal structures.
November 10, 2025 at 3:44 AM