(photo by Bob: 2005-04-01 - explore)
Cold and Wet
This morning was a few degrees C after an afternoon and night of showers -- ideal conditions for lichens.
I'm not an expert on lichens, but I believe this to be Boreal oakmoss lichen (a.k.a. spruce moss) -- Evernia mesomorpha, but conceivably it is a species of Old man's beard -- Usnea spp. It is situated on the end of a birch branch.