This valley oak (Quercus lobata), once covered in oak mistletoe (Phoradendron serotinum ssp. tomentosum) is one of my favorites. I call it the "Phainopepla Tree": some rare (for here) phainopeplas made this their hangout for a couple of summers, feasting on the mistletoe. Now it is leafless. Even the mistletoe is bare. It stands as a refuge for birds. One day it will host fungus from within, or fall to the ground to be recycled. Road F,, 5:59 am on a foggy morning.