Posts

31 October

Image
October ended gloriously.  Patches of fog lay in the forest and mountaintops, but gleams of sunlight persisted, setting the path and maple leaves alight. The fungi continue to emerge.  Again, russula show themselves among the trailing blackberry.   The upper one looks as though a snail has nibbled it. Little orange blobs of hardwood jelly fungus are emerging from fallen alder. Turkey tails and a small polypore I couldn't identify sprouted among remaining vanilla leaf.  Most of the vanilla leaf has faded. A short distance into the Forest, I heard the unmistakeable note of a flight of trumpeter swans--the first time this season. Near the Marsh, a flight of seven swans passed overhead. Although still low, the water level in the Marsh continues to rise. A flock of Canada geese had settled into the south end of the Marsh. I was joined on the dock by a pair of birders who said there were about a hundred swans down the road at the "Happy Cow Dairy."  After leaving...
Post a Comment
Read more

26 October

Image
  Finally a visit to the Forest and Wetlands, after being laid up with a broken toe for two weeks (dammit!)  And in other respects a banner day.  We've had heavy rain along the coast and --hooray!--SNOW!!! on the Beaufort Range and Arrowsmith. Fingers crossed, it looks cold enough that we can possibly hope to see a snowpack build. The Forest is showing the change in deciduous trees and shrubs. When I began this blog, I thought to trace seasonal change in flora and fauna.  Somehow it didn't occur to me to recognise the change in light, which of course plays a major part in the changes.  We're now seeing autumn light, with a shift in the angle of sunlight, and variable clouds.   Today's walk began under dense cloud, and after the heavy rainfall of previous days. As the morning progressed, the skies  brightened. Within the Forest an autumn array of fungus is appearing.  The showy red-hot russula is described as "too hot to eat." Candlesnuff fung...
Post a Comment
Read more

7 october

Image
Autumn's presence has deepened in the Forest and Wetlands.  The sun's brilliance glows in the Forest, while the path shows patches of light along the trees and bordering vegetation. As is the way in autumn, fungi are becoming abundant.  A variety of bracket fungus are emerging. Sulfur tuft fungi cluster. Candlesnuff fungi  and club-like tuning fork are appearing on downed logs. False chanterelles sprout along the trail, not wholesome but showy. Although rain has fallen, the Marsh remains dry.   The border foliage is showing autumn colours.  Unoccupied duck boxes await spring visitors. Two great blue herons appear to have taken up residence near the Marsh.  One sat on the dock, scouting for a meal. Despite the dry season, the vitality of the Forest has persisted. Growth on a nurse stump flourishes. Many of the snags in the Forest nurture abundant growth.  This not-quite-dead alder is host to a variety of vegetation, and (although not observed just ...
Post a Comment
Read more

6, 12, 19 September

Image
Three visits as Autumn approaches a very dry Forest and Wetlands. Swordfern is definitely suffering from the drought. The Marsh looks as though it's been baked. In fact, it's almost a misnomer to call it a "wetlands,"  Perhaps "mudpatch" is a clearer description.   The water gauges show the lowest level I've ever seen. Arrowsmith is completely devoid of snow.   The paths into the Marsh reflect the drought, but are beginning to show some fungi. This gilled polypore is growing quite energetically. The yew tree that we've been watching looks somewhat revived--there has been a bit of rain, which may have perked it up somewhat. The alder that hosts an assortment of biodiversity reflects the dryness. I had been pleased to see the licorice fern growing from its trunk, but it's now looking worrisomely dry. In the Forest, sunlight gleams through moss. Beyond the edges of the Loop Path, areas of bracken fern are drying. Sparse fungi is appearing on trees ...
Post a Comment
Read more