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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 20h

It's pretty, but stay away! A few days ago, I worked in a woodsy location that had dense patches of hawthorn that displayed fall colors. The thorns will shred you if you attempt to push your way through. Going around the patch is the only option. #photography #autumn #nature

A forest of ponderosa pine interrupted by a patch of hawthorn that is turning yellow. A stray hawthorn with red leaves is in front of the pines. The ground has grass that is covered by pine needles and dotted with fallen pine cones.

Close-up of a hawthorn bush, showing the wicked thorns.

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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

For #ThickTrunkTuesday, a weathered snag I encountered yesterday. It is hollow. The open side reveals a jumble of rotted wood and pine needles, showing the result of decay, plus evidence of various animals and birds using the space. #forestry #trees #nature #snag

Full view of an old tree snag, about 20 feet tall. Around it are conifer trees of varying sizes. Sky is blue with a few cumulus clouds near the horizon.

A close up view of the same snag, revealing a hollow shell with rotten wood and pine needles inside. The pine needles are probably the remains of a bird nest.

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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

View from above, as Narvik walks from tall grass to mowed grass. #cats #catsofbluesky #adventurecats

A gray tabby cat with a red leash and harness walks from unmowed grass to mowed grass.

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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Here is another forest road to explore. Autumn colors brighten the scene. #photography #landscape #backroads #forestry #Idaho

A gravel road in an Idaho forest. Understory vegetation has shades of yellow, orange, and red. A few stray aspen and cottonwood trees add splashes of yellow higher up.

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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

On #ManholeCoverMonday, a square cover with a lake view. McCall, Idaho.

A square manhole cover in the middle of an asphalt path that leads to a lake.

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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

This barn is a short distance from the house I'm staying at in Idaho. I like to take pictures of it when the weather gets interesting, like it did yesterday. #photography #landscape #barn #farm #weather

A red barn with a metal roof and white trim, surrounded by level pasture land. Low mountains are in the distance. A weather system is moving in, and the skies threaten rain.

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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

For #ForestFriday, a species I don't see often in my work area. Subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) prefers higher elevations. These two trees were growing at 4,500 feet in a cool zone next to a creek. See alt text for more info. #forestry #trees #nature #Idaho

The two middle trees are subalpine fir. A distinctive feature is the narrow crown which wards off heavy snow. The species is under threat from an invasive insect called the balsam woolly adelgid. Note the dead tree to the left of the live specimens.

Bark of subalpine fir, smooth and silver colored, with horizontal ridges.

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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I came across this cross section of a ponderosa pine yesterday. It was part of a tree that was leaning towards a power line, and was cut by a maintenance crew. I like the way the growth rings show up so clearly. #forestry #trees #nature #photography

A cross section of a pine tree that clearly shows the bark and the growth rings.

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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Yesterday as I worked in the woods, I could smell smoke. When I got back to the valley, I could see that it was coming from a controlled burn at the top of the ridge. Narvik was unconcerned about all of that; he was just happy to be outdoors. #cats #catsofbluesky #nature

A gray tabby cat with a red leash and harness sits on a wood platform, facing away from the camera. In the distance, a plume of smoke rises from the top of a ridge of mountains.

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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

What happened here? This is something I see frequently in the Idaho woods. Rocks moved, rotten logs turned over. Bears do this in search of food. It seems like a lot of work for a few bugs or other critters, but bears gotta eat. #nature

A rock, nearly a foot in diameter, has been moved from its longtime resting spot, leaving a small crater to its right.

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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Your daily Narvik picture. He is always observing when he's outdoors. #cats #catsofbluesky #adventurecats

A gray shorthair tabby cat, wearing a red harness and leash, is lying in tall grass. He faces away from the camera with his head up and ears perked.

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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

For #ThickTrunkTuesday, the end of an era. I first saw this 55" diameter pine several years ago. Two days ago I learned that it had fallen. For centuries the pine had survived fires and lightning strikes. It was done in by fungi, as the wood was decayed all the way through. #forestry #trees #nature

All that's left of an ancient ponderosa pine near McCall, Idaho.

Photo of the same tree taken September 2022.

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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

A view from the Idaho woods after the recent rain event. Clouds stuck around all day before yielding to blue skies. #photography #landscape #Idaho #forestry #nature

Clouds loom over an Idaho conifer forest. In a foreground clearing, shrubs are beginning to show red and yellow fall colors. Forest trees consist of grand fir, ponderosa pine, and Douglas-fir.

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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Hello, is anybody in there? Narvik checks the hollow in the old apple tree. #cats #catsofbluesky #adventurecats

A gray tabby cat with a red leash and harness sticks his head into a hollow apple tree. I made sure he didn't get into any trouble.

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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

This patch of aspens near McCall, Idaho shows its colors earlier than most other groves in the area. I've been driving on that road since 2012 in the course of my work here. Pic taken September 20, 2026. #autumn #aspen #photography #nature #forestry #layers

A gravel road passes through several layers. First, an open meadow. Then a patch of hawthorn shrubs. Next, an aspen grove with yellow autumn colors. Finally, green conifer trees. Sky is bright blue with no clouds.

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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Narvik surveys his domain as the sun slides behind the trees. #cats #catsofbluesky #adventurecats

A gray tabby cat sits at the edge of a wood platform surrounded by tall grass. In the distance is a shed and a pine tree. Farther away in the center of the image is a group of aspen trees with the sun behind them.

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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

This stump was being dismantled from the inside by carpenter ants, until something came along to make a meal of the ants. Possibly a pileated woodpecker, maybe a bear, maybe a smaller mammal. The ants usually work out of sight unless their home is disturbed. #forestry #trees #nature #ants

An old tree stump that has been ripped open to reveal chambers carved by carpenter ants.

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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

I've gotten in the habit of looking up while I'm out with my cat. The cloud formations can be striking. #photography #clouds #sky

Cumulus clouds against an intense blue sky. The late afternoon sunlight is illuminating some of the clouds but not others.

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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Your daily Narvik pic. He spotted something in the grass that he wants to check out. And maybe pounce on. #cats #catsofbluesky #adventurecats

A gray tabby cat with a red leash and harness walks through green grass, towards the left of the frame. His eyes are focused on something ahead of him.

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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Seen in the Idaho woods this week. An animal has been busy ripping up ponderosa pine cones to get the seeds. Cones, and pieces of cones, are strewn around this stump. A burrow is nearby, possibly that of a large ground squirrel. #forestry #nature

An old stump serves as a dining area for an animal, possibly a ground squirrel. Pine cones have been gathered, and many more have been chewed up in search of seeds to eat.

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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

It's #ForestFriday. There are things in the woods that maybe we're not supposed to see! #forestry #trees #nature

An oddly shaped side branch on a ponderosa pine.

A dead branch on a ponderosa pine, capped with a rounded gall, standing quite erect.

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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Narvik doesn't play with the toy mouse very often. Yesterday he wanted me to throw it around the house so he could pounce on it. It must have been an omen, because Narvik cornered two real mice last night! #cats #catsofbluesky

A gray tabby cat in a playful mood with wide eyes. A toy mouse is next to him on the stairs.

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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Storm clouds over Payette Lake, McCall, Idaho. Photo taken today. The rain stayed a few miles to the east. #photography #Idaho #lake #storm

Picture taken from the lake shore at Rotary Park in McCall, Idaho. Boulders and sand line the shore. A swimming area is marked with orange floats. Storm clouds loom over the scene, although the sun is still shining.

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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

A scene in the Idaho woods, yesterday morning. The ninebark shrubs show fall colors, backlit by sunshine. #photography #autumn #forestry #nature

Colorful underbrush in a conifer forest.

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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

A lesson from the woods: Never give up! This ponderosa pine has been through a lot, and is still alive and growing. Location: New Meadows, Idaho. #forestry #trees #nature #photography

A ponderosa pine tree with a contorted base, almost tied in a knot. The tree was probably knocked down at least twice in its lifetime, and still produced an upright trunk.

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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

In rural Idaho, gasoline has surged past $5 per gallon, and diesel has passed the $6 mark. I'm glad I have a hybrid that gets close to 40 miles to the gallon. But that trip back to Georgia is going to cost more than the outbound trip in early July. #gasprices #economy

Chevron station in New Meadows, Idaho. Gasoline is $5.159 and diesel is $6.199.

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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Take me out to the ball game! I played in a wood bat softball tournament for seniors last weekend. Took this pic for #ManholeCoverMonday. Location is McCall, Idaho. #Idaho #sports #softball

Photo of an iron cover with a checkered pattern, looking towards home plate on a ball field where a game is in progress.

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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Every time I bring firewood from the shed, Narvik has to inspect it. Who know what critters might have scampered or slithered across that piece of wood? Narvik wants to know. #cats #catsofbluesky

A gray shorthair tabby cat stands on a tile floor, with his nose pressed against a piece of firewood that is standing on end.

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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

There is a hint of fall in the air in western Idaho. Soon these aspens will be bright yellow. #photography #landscape #autumn #trees

A grove of young aspen trees growing on a grassy plain, with pine trees on either side. The aspens are just beginning to turn colors.

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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

When Narvik is outdoors, his eyes are often fixed on *something.* Often I don't know what he's looking at. It might be a tiny insect. But he constantly hones his hunting skills. #cats #catsofbluesky

Gray tabby cat sitting on a block of wood, intently looking at something in front of him.

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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

These wispy clouds caught my attention when I was outside with my cat a short time ago. #photography #weather #clouds

A trio of swirling cirrus clouds against a bright blue sky.

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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

I've been seeing mantises in and around the yard in Idaho. First pic is out in the yard some distance from the house. Second pic is near the back door. #nature #insects

Praying mantis in the grass, not quite camouflaged.

Praying mantis upside down on a yellow board.

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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

For #Caturday, a brief clip that starts with a view of the Idaho countryside, and then pans to my cat Narvik out for a walk. #cats #catsofbluesky #adventurecats

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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Circular cat. Narvik has found a new place to curl up. He looks so comfortable! #cats #catsofbluesky

A gray shorthair tabby cat curled up on a sofa pillow, sleeping.

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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

It's #ForestFriday. I wonder if there is a prediction market for the date this snag will fall. It can't lean like this forever! Location, western Idaho. #forestry #nature #snag #photography

Large diameter snag, about 20 feet tall, with a pronounced lean. Farther up the hill are live ponderosa pine trees. Sky is intense blue.

A view of the base of the snag, showing the texture of the wood.

Looking up the same snag towards bright blue sky, showing the spiral grain of the wood. Clusters of yellow moss or lichen cling to the snag.

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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

A touch of autumn in the Idaho woods. Huckleberry bushes are turning red. #photography #autumn #forestry #nature #Idaho

In the foreground, a patch of huckleberry bushes has turned red. Beyond is a forest scene with conifers and willow shrubs. A range of mountains looms in the distance under partly cloudy skies.

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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Narvik relaxes in the grass. He likes to settle down somewhere to watch, listen, and collect scents. #cats #catsofbluesky #adventurecats

A gray tabby cat with a red leash and harness is crouched in tall grass. His head is turned towards the left.

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foresterbob @foresterbob.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

The fog lifts. Picture taken yesterday morning on my way to the woods. New Meadows, Idaho. #photography #landscape #fog #Idaho

Wisps of fog over pasturelands obsure the distant hills. Above the fog the sky is bright blue.

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