31 December

 A final visit to the Forest and Wetlands for 2023, on a dark morning.

The weather remained mild, the wind calm.  There had been high winds and heavy rain recently although there wasn't much apparent damage to the forest.

The season continues to abound in mushrooms and other fungi.  These "birds-nest fungi" have an unusual means of proliferating:  As raindrops fall into the cup of the fungus, spores contained in the small nodes within the cup are launched by the impact and are said to fly as far as two metres from the fungus.  For an organism that is about .8mm in size, this is an achievement of sorts.

 Polypores have thriven this year.   These red-belted conks have grown throughout the season.

Delicate lavender-tinted mushrooms emerged from step moss growing on downed logs.

It was a quiet morning, apart from occasional comment from ravens and tree frogs.

The marsh, too, was quiet.  The duck population that we've seen in past weeks was not in evidence.  I wonder whether recent high tides have drawn waterfowl back to the coast, where ducks seem to have congregated in good numbers.  

Two swans flew over, but continued past the open water in the marsh.

Even though I continue to insist that "trumpeter" is a misnomer--they sound more like rather basic French horns--the sound of swans in flight has to be one of the glories of the season.  

Arrowsmith was not visible, but views in recent days have shown a scant snowfall to date.   Snow is visible on the lower slopes of the central range.

The water level in the Marsh remains high.

It may have risen since our last visit.

This brings me to the close of this year's time in this magically beautiful place.   Without a doubt, the Forest and Wetlands will offer more in the coming year.