24 September

This is not the first time that I've described the Wetlands and Forest as unceasingly beautiful and fascinating, but it outdid itself yesterday morning.  

We had finally had a bit of rain (more has fallen since), and the forest smelled fresh rather than smoky.  As is to be expected at September's end, the foliage is thinning.   Another tree, a victim of the drought,  had fallen near the path.


A variety of fungi have emerged despite the dry summer.  A close look at a fallen log revealed this conk.


Some little button mushrooms appeared beside the path. I can't explain the bluish tinge on one of them.  (I suspect it's a camera artifact.)


By next week, it's likely they'll all be open and bigger, like these.


Like those on avian turkeys, these fungal turkey tails flourish.


Woodpeckers remain active.  This stump shows a variety of drilling.  It would be interesting to know the purpose of the larger, longer hole.  It seems small for a nest hole but big for an insect hunt.


This log continues to develop its eccentric personality.  It looks as though a visit to the barber shop might be in order.


On our approach to the marsh, we had enjoyed the freshness of the recent rain and remarked on the emergence of the autumn fungi.  It was, as always, a fine walk.  

But then, the marsh upped the ante:  as we looked towards the opening in the woods, three sandhill cranes flew past.  They headed towards the open water at the east end of the marsh, where we saw them land.  We hurried out to the end of the dock and aimed our binoculars toward where we thought they might be.  


They appeared,  distant, blurry, but unmistakably sandhill cranes. 


We watched for about twenty minutes.  Although it wasn't evident from our views with binoculars, we were seeing two adults and an immature crane.   Photos have revealed that the middle bird lacked the red facial markings of an adult.  In their first year, immature cranes typically migrate with their parents.

They were joined by two Canada geese, perhaps, like us, curious for a look at these magnificent visitors.


They were still at the end of the marsh when we left.  We agreed that this had been a fine gift from the marsh, which always offers  new and wonderful sights. 




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