Hamilton Wetlands and Forest

  Spring is definitely approaching in the Wetlands and Forest, despite icy temperatures today.  There had been wild weather yesterday, and patches of hail remained. As we entered the forest, the light was a brilliant contrast to the darkness of the previous weeks. It struck and transfigured this huckleberry vine. My walking partner spotted and identified a rarity--hair ice emerging from downed alders.  Its occurence is linked with a specific fungus, lepidopsis effusa , which emits a chemical that enables strands of ice to emerge from downed wood at temperatures just below 0 C.  Here, its emergence is limited to fallen alder which has shed its bark.   This mossy stump is becoming a nursery for two little huckleberry  vines.   There were unmistakeable sounds of spring.  A pacific wren, still secretive, trilled its song, the first we've heard after the winter's chip notes.  Approaching the Marsh, we were greeted by an exuberant chorus ...

  Despite it being only mid-February, I find myself looking for signs of spring in the Hamilton Marsh and Wetlands.  Changes aren't hasty in their arrival, but nevertheless, they are happening.   Sunday saw another drizzly day, with occasional breaks in the cloud cover visible once we were at the Marsh. As we entered the Forest, we saw that the remarkable bloom of fungus of the past season, which had dwindled in the winter, was making a return. The varied and extensive climb up a dead alder has continued, with both moss and a variety of fungus making their way up the tree's remains.  It looks as though a new bracket fungus has emerged to the right of the trunk. The woodpecker stump continues to shrink. I'm settling bets with myself on the date it disappears completely.  (Readers:  contribute your bets, although there's no pay-off for the right date.) The water level in the Marsh looked as though it had fallen slightly. The waterfowl population was down...

  Visiting the Forest and Wetlands on a dark, drizzly February day. Even on this morning, which looked less than inviting when we set out, the forest has its beauty, and the fragrance of wet woodlands is itself an enchantment.  It was in any case, a light rain as we walked toward the marsh.   The abundant bloom of fungi of recent months hasn't entirely subsided. Some long-stay residents remain, and there are some recently emerged. ...or perhaps "more recently observed."  There's so much to see here, that it's certainly possible to overlook detail. As St. Patrick's Day approaches, the moss harp flourishes. The woodpecker stump continues to shrink. And, alas, the mossy muppet has had his jaw drop. It was rainier out at the Marsh--but not enough to drive us away.  The water level was high-- When we arrived, a small flock of mallards swam about near the end of the dock. I'm often struck at what expressive features birds can have.  This female mallard looks...

  A late visit to the Wetlands and Forest, delayed by a very wet and windy weekend.   The warm rain cleared the snow from the area, leaving lush undergrowth and moss.   The sword ferns which had appeared to have been frozen have made a splendid recovery. The abundance of mushrooms has diminished.  This stump, once adorned with sulfur tuft mushrooms,  now has a few withered remnants.  The woodpecker stump continues to shrink;  its moss cap continues to flourish.   Diversity in mosses and grasses continues to increase on live trees and snags. Witches' butter has survived the cold spell.  Oooh yummy? At the marsh, the water level has risen even higher. The waterfowl have returned, now that they have open water again. (Click on this photo to enlarge it--there are mallard, bufflehead, and at the left of the photo a slightly blurry ring-necked duck.) There is a mallard in this shot and two small birds that may be pied-billed grebes. ...