20 January

 A visit to a snowy Hamilton Wetlands and Forest.

We had a heavy snowfall last week, and although it wasn't particularly cold, a snowpack remained in the Forest and Wetlands.  Because the landmass was covered with snow, but the air was relatively warm, there was dense fog over the area, more apparent over the marsh.

We heard Pacific wrens in the forest, but none were visible.  The mossy forest and the snow were in striking contrast.

Most of the land was covered in snow, but streams still flowed.

Among the fir trees, gazing upward showed the vitality of the forest.  

The "muppet"log, which has looked in need of a haircut (or mosscut?) for some months, had a cap of snow and a little plume of fern in addition to his moss-do.  

 

 The warm temperatures have prevented ice from forming.  

The path was easy to walk and had been well-traveled despite its covering.  

The Marsh, still frozen hard, provided us with unsolved mysteries.  As we approached, we heard a commotion at the southeast end of the Marsh that was almost certainly trumpeter swans disputing something.  Due to the dense fog, 

we were unable to see them, or to determine whether this was a domestic argument or an attempt to repel an attacker.  Swans can be aggressive among themselves, but they are also quite strong at self-defense.  

A set of what were in all probability cross-country ski tracks extended from the dock to the southeast.

It was clearly a one-way track, and we were curious to know where the other end began or concluded.  There isn't really anything like a trail at that end even when the conditions are easier than they were at that time.

Someone had left small tracks:

They were distorted by the melting snow, but must have been from a small bird--perhaps the song sparrow we often see in the Marsh.

The dock was still easy to travel.

The hard freeze has rendered the often alarmingly wobbly surface rock solid.  

The depth gauge still indicates high water levels.  Given that water expands as it freezes, I'm not certain what information this gave us. 

Heavy and protracted rainfall is forecast for the coming weekend.  It's likely that we will no longer see a snowy world for our next visit.