Hamilton Wetlands and Forest

Seasonal change is moving ahead full steam.  The days feel warmer, leaf buds are emerging, and even wildlife is livelier.   One of the resident Douglas squirrels was present, although he evaded my camera.   Pacific wrens ornamented their chip call with their wonderful song--the first that's been heard this season.  And the frog chorus is starting rehearsals!! The winter has taken its toll on the fungi, but new growth is starting to appear. The strange bright pink jelly fungus is spreading. A new red-belted conk (or red-belted polypore?) has appeared. Some new fungi that need identification are emerging. A snag that has been a host to fungi for two years has developed new growth, yet to be identified. Mosses are putting out new growth. The former Moss Muppet has now become a Moss Monster and is gradually losing its integrity. Meanwhile, the Nurse Stump is showing new huckleberry seedlings. Out at the Marsh a variety of frog voices greeted us, and two very early s...

Winter seems to be on its way out in the Forest and Wetlands.   The weather is warming up, snow has been replaced by rain.  Ephemeral ponds begin to abound.  We will hope that they will nurture a collection of amphibians.   In the forest, tree frogs vocalise. The Forest's mosses seem even more luxuriant than in past weeks. The progress of the huckleberry seedlings on the nurse stump that we've been tracking for months looks as though it may have been halted by collision with an alder. The leaves on one of the little seedlings have turned brown--perhaps there will be a regeneration.  There is an additional tinier seedling to the right of the apparently damaged plant that looks quite lush.  The old "woodpecker stump" that finally collapsed after gradual reduction by pecking is definitely breaking down into nutrient debris.   Not all things change quickly in the Forest, but this is what that decomposed stump looked like in May of 2023....