Fungus on standing dead tree

This hard-textured fungus is visible on this dead tree.  I've seen this sort of fungus on trees elsewhere in Tippecanoe County.  This tree is along the trail on the east-facing slope leading to the lookout point over the Wildcat Creek.  I'm going to guess that it is in the Xylariaceae family of ascomycete fungus.  It could be a Hypoxylon fungus.  Photo taken January 28, 2015.

http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/subthumb.cfm?sub=564

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylariaceae

Bluebird

Bluebird (Sialia sialis) perched on a twig on the sunny slope pictured in the previous post.

Photo taken January 28, 2015.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_bluebird

View overlooking Wildcat Creek

View looking upstream Wildcat Creek, from trail along high ground, afternoon Jan. 28, 2015.  Snow has melted on the sunny west facing slope.  A thin coating of snow remains on the ground in the shaded parts of the park.  The evergreen tree to the right in the photo is red cedar (Juniperus virginiana).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juniperus_virginiana

Clegg Garden today

This blog is to provide a record of the natural world as it exists at Clegg Garden.