5 January

 A gloriously sunny day in the Wetlands and Forest.  Despite bright sunlight it started out quite frosty, but the sun dispersed the cold and by the time we reached the Marsh, sitting in the sun on the dock was very pleasant.

The change in the Forest from the darkness of past weeks to today's sun was striking.

It has been a relatively mild season--the huckleberry is already starting to show its distinctive pink growth buds.


The snow of last week has left the path, but the downed logs were still present.  They are, however, easier to navigate without snow.


One of the downed trees is presenting an assortment of moss and lichens.


I'm fairly sure (expert readers, please correct me) that the white scaly things are cladonia.  Not the lipstick cladonia, but possibly dragon cladonia, so-called because, as do dragons, it has scales. 

The streams and ephemeral ponds in the Forest are filling and running vigorously.


By the time we reached the Marsh, the frost at its south side was thawing and columns of mist arose.


At the far southeast end, a few ducks were visible--too distant to identify.


Mount Arrowsmith stood, regal in a snow pillow.


Although we hadn't seen it approach, as we started to leave the dock, a solitary swan appeared, swimming about at the southeast end of the Marsh. 


It looked to have a transitional plumage, with dark feathers on its head and breast.  

As we left the Marsh, it was evident that the sun had warmed the earth.  A garter snake had emerged from its winter hibernaculum, and moved slowly across the path.






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