Hamilton Wetlands and Forest

  The light is changing in the Forest.  As the sunlight migrates to the south, the perspective of illumination shifts. Patches of light gleam ahead as we walk the path to the Marsh Leaves, fallen from the big-leaf maple, carpet the path. A mossy log is dotted with tiny golden mushrooms. Last year, a tree fell and crushed one of the few mountain ash in the forest.  Still small,  it is making a comeback. The forest chimed with the notes of Pacific wrens.  They put in fleeting appearances, but I couldn't get photos. The Marsh had a similar abundance of marsh wrens, all in full voice.  This little character sang happily on the water gauge.   His happiness was certainly warranted as snow now mantles the Beaufort Range and  water rises in the Marsh. Two photos for comparison: On the 27th of October, the dock sat at a foot and a bit below the stakes holding it in place. By November 2nd it had risen by almost a foot. The Marsh remains beautiful even ...

  Finally, autumnal rains have come to the Forest and Wetlands.   The path to the Marsh remains relatively dry underfoot, but there is decided evidence of the equinoctial gales.   The loop path now departs from the main trail with a Douglas fir extending its full length as a challenge to walkers. It's the sort of thing that I prefer to come upon after the fall.   The day was overcast, with occasional bursts of sunlight, made all the more brilliant by golden foliage. Although I've noted the oyster mushrooms emerging from this snag before,  this is the first time that despite its nearness,  I've spotted the licorice fern.  It sounds like a menu.   Near the edge of the Marsh, the Forest thins out.   Fern and salal share the understory, and tree frogs vocalise to one another. The Marsh is still low, but the water level is rising. Arrowsmith now has the beginnings of a snow mantle. The fringe surrounding the Marsh gleams g...

  After an overly long absence, a visit to the Hamilton Forest and Wetlands, where autumn, most welcome, has truly arrived. The Forest's Bracken and Lady Fern are turning to autumn or winter colors. The forest luxuriates in mosses. After recent rains, fungi are emerging, still mostly small, but starting to abound. Red-belted conks are increasingly evident. This cluster of fungi is emerging from a downed log and moss. Small staghorn are emerging from downed logs. A small growth of fairy fingers are appearing. The water level in the Marsh is still low, but rising gradually. As we sat on the bench, two marsh wrens vocalised, apparently at one another.  We caught fleeting glimpses, but they spent much of their time dodging down into the reeds.  One perched briefly on one of the alders in the Marsh, less than fully cooperative. Fringe  vegetation surrounding the Marsh showed autumn colour. We can watch as the season continues its advance.