Hamilton Wetlands and Forest

  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.  

  We could do with more rain, but the Forest is somewhat refreshed after a rainy night. Foliage, still wet, glistens.  Swordfern fronds rise, invigorated by the rain. Mosses are refreshed.  Cat-tail moss extends as water drips and draws its growth downward. Fungi is beginning to sprout.  These tiny fir-cone fungi are putting in an early appearance. Oyster mushrooms show a variety of colours.  These are highlighted by sun illuminating the moss on this alder. After at least a year wondering what these shoots were, apparently sprouting from downed logs, we met ANats' encyclopaedic source of botanical knowledge.   They're young Pacific crabapple, with the crabapple's distinctively varied leaves, and spurs emerging from what will one day be the trunk. These two young alders, emerging from a downed tree, are more mature examples of growth from a nurse stump. The thimbleberry, which looked very depleted last week, is revivified. The Marsh's fringe vegetation ...