26 November, 2 December

 26 November

A foggy morning in the Forest and Wetlands.  Odd, it was clear near the coast, but as we moved inland, the fog thickened.  Visibility in the Forest was limited, visibility in the Wetlands was -- like an impressionist painting--beautiful but less than informative.

A raven accompanied us on our walk, commenting on our presence. 

https://soundcloud.com/ebredberg33/parksville-11

I tried for a photo, but just got fog.  

A very tall alder had fallen across the path.

It was a bit strange to see;  often when trees fall there are signes of decay within the trunk, but this tree looked very sound throughout.  There had been a strong wind the week before, which must have brought the tree down.

The fungus and moss growth continues: 

The moss on the "muppet" log becomes increasingly shaggy.

A showy polypore on a log 

was accompanied by evidence of woodpecker work on the same log. 

 On reflection, this combination adds up--conks will grow on trees or logs with inner decay, and woodpeckers will work on the same trees.  

A toothed jelly fungus was a new appearance in the forest.

The water level in the marsh was down a bit from the previous week--it's been a  relatively dry November.  

2 December 

A morning following on heavy rain.  The forest was dark, initially, and possibly a bit eerie,

then was illumined as the sun emerged.

The woodpeckers' favourite stump continues to shrink--they'll need to find a new venue one of these days.

Young cascara seem to retain their leaves.

A fallen log hosts a red-belted polypore and a little group of white spindles.  

Another log is home to mushrooms, moss, and the beginnings of a huckleberry.

The water level in the Marsh has risen again.

As the weather cleared, I had hoped for a view of a new snow pillow on Mount Arrowsmith, but the upper reaches of the mountain were still in cloud.

The lower slopes had snow, although the coming week is forecast to be warm, and the snow level will be likely to rise.

The open water at the southeast end of the marsh is beginning to show abundant avian visitors.  Most of the visitors are mallards, although there are buffleheads, teal, and close inspection of this photo shows a hooded merganser.

Although it isn't visible from the dock, there must be open water at the northwest end of the marsh as well.  These mallards left the southeast water and settled somewhere to the northwest.

And...in all their majesty...

three swans, probably visitors from the fields by the Happy Cow Farm.  

The sun was pleasant on the dock, an experience we're not likely to enjoy often in coming visits.  We sat, admiring the swans, and then made out way back to the parking area--as always, grateful for the beauty of the Wetlands and Forest, and looking forward to the coming week and hoping one of the weekend's days will be dry.