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21 December

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  A Solstice visit to the Hamilton Forest and Wetlands on a day that mixed rain and sunlight, and the consequences of strong winds on the preceding days.   The path to the dock was somewhat boggy at first.  A young couple we met commented that there were some slippery trees ahead.  Initially we thought this was not a major issue--the exposed roots and planks are often slippery when wet, but navigable with caution. The ponds and streams in the Forest were filled, and flowing. https://youtube.com/shorts/Ut7U5sht-yk Then we found what the pair were talking about! There had been a major blowdown. The path definitely required bushwhacking, clambering and, at one point, crawling. A very old snag, which had hosted a fascinating array of fungi,  as seen in this photo from last year, had come down and was virtually shattered. We persevered, and made our way to the Marsh. Despite the blue sky, it was raining heavily on the dock.  It's the first time in three yea...
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13 December

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  Another dark morning in the Forest and Wetlands, with mist softening the immediate distance. Initially, rain was promised, then materialised.  It's interesting to realise that despite dark days, there is abundant new growth in the Forest.  Fungi proliferates, as does a wealth of biodiversity on snags. This is a very productive alder snag, with slender carbon antlers, moss, and a commodious spiderweb.   Oregon beaked moss proliferates on the forest floor. Recent winds have brought trees down. Rain has nurtured the numerous small pools and streams within the forest. It remains, if wet, unseasonably mild, and the garter snake that we found unusual last week was still keeping watch beside the path. He's definitely slow-moving, but managed to make his way back into the salal.   The water level in the Marsh continues to rise. Small flocks of ducks gathered at the southeast end of the Marsh.  At the most distant point, very vocal mallards and bufflehea...
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29 November, 6 December

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  Two dark mornings in the Forest and Wetlands.  We're definitely approaching the Solstice, and looking forward to  lengthening days. The small streams and ephemeral ponds have been recharged by recent rainfall. As we approached on the morning of the 6th, we came on two young men with VERY sophisticated camera equipment.  They explained that they were investigating the springtail population, and showed us their miniscule quarries.   They have some really interesting material on iNaturalist, with amazingly clear photos of very tiny critters.   https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&user_id=doviende&verifiable=any Fungi, possibly late in their emergence, are showing along the path. The variously named "spirit gummy bear" or "cat's tongue fungus" is abundant on logs along the path. A mystery organism (possibly a symbiosis?) emerges from a downed snag along the path. Snags and downed logs are nurturing little saprophytes. Yester...
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21, 23 November

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  Too long since we've visited the Forest and Wetlands, for an assortment of reasons.  We have renewed our visits last Friday and today, to admire seasonal change and to welcome the annual visits of the Marsh's waterfowl.   Friday the Forest was dark, and damp and a bit mysterious. Not actually an unfriendly mysterious, just still, rather dark, and showing the changes of season. Think, if you will, of the amiable silence that can occur between friends.  Sometimes you're just quietly there together and that's quite enough.    It felt like that;   truly fine and welcoming.   The little stream that crosses the path at one point, but which had vanished in the dry season, is re-emerging. This doesn't seem to be the incredible year for fungi as last season was, but there's a fair number of species appearing.   One miniscule pink fungus emerged from the moss on a tree. Identification of these would be gratefully received.  T...
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2 November

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  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 ...
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