With a two month winter break over and a new semester underway, I visited Redstone Quarry this afternoon. The temperature was in the mid 30s, and I arrived at the quarry around 4:20 PM. The first thing I noticed were footprints on the path, evidence that cold weather has not deterred the local community from taking advantage of this natural area. The grassy plants on the flat part of the ledge poke through the snow – I wonder if they will fall or rot away in the spring to make way for new growth, or if the blackened stalks are still alive. Aside from the grey-brown Juniper leaves, which appear greenish, a small white pine is the only tree that retains its leaves. Sumac trees retain decrepit red fruits, and multiflora rose berries in various stages of decay are present. I wonder why all the berries haven’t been eaten – perhaps food isn’t very scarce right now.
Grassy vegetation, still standing
Juniper White Pine and sumac
Multiflora rose berries
There are numerous tracks in the snow, but wind and fresh snow has somewhat obscured them and it is difficult to distinguish those of wild animals from local cats and dogs. Several shallow indentations in the snow near the first bridge seem like bird tracks, since they disappear and reappear seemingly at random. I believe the various small, deep prints I found were left by a cat, as I encountered a cat named Leo who left similar tracks. Other tracks included some sort of canine (possibly a dog) and a trail of pairs of prints (possibly a larger bird or a bounding animal).
Bird tracks Unknown tracks, possibly a cat
Tracks left by a cat, for reference Canine tracks, with centimeters for scale
Unknown tracks, possibly larger bird or bounding animal
I saw a crow fly overhead a few minutes after arriving, and spotted a male and female cardinal sitting in a tree near the rocky outcropping, and later a male sitting in a bush above the cliff. The lack of leaves made a squirrel nest visible. I wonder where the birds I saw live.
Squirrel nest
Leo the cat