Today I revisited my phenology spot after the long break and observed the changes in the nature of the area and searched for signs of wildlife in the snowy and icy landscape. Upon my arrival, the changes were already apparent. Snow covered nearly every surface, the rivers were frozen over in a statically flowing pattern, there were almost zero non-dormant plants, and surprisingly a very small amount of leaves on the ground. I found a ton of very interesting animal tracks that told a story so common yet so unique. Tracks of an unidentified animal led a path across a fallen log over the frozen river, and deer tracks could be found in the small open area between a few trees. I found a few scattered rabbit tracks and weirdly some cat-like tracks that I assume was either a fox or a cat from one of the houses up the hill. The strangest thing I found was a collection of small, perfectly clear and circular ice disks arranged like animal tracks fixed snugly to the bark of a fallen tree. I have no idea what would have caused this, but I assume the river next to the log might have had something to do with it. The trees that I have been tracking since the start of the blog sat there just the same as last time we checked in, barren without a single leaf on either, however the moss had partially died off and the ferns were slightly more trampled than before. Overall, my phenology spot was quite sad at first glance, but once you look under the surface, the snow is essentially a tapestry with evidence of life filling every corner
