The return to my phenology spot was admittedly depressing; not because of the “sad” winter weather or lack of vegetation, but because of the lack of genuine winter weather. The conditions during my visit were a sad excuse for winter weather; the area should’ve been covered in fresher snowpack rather than slush, the water of the stream should not have been running, and it definitely shouldn’t have been above freezing. The trek to my spot was genuinely treacherous, as the trails were packed down with mixed layers of ice and slush, making the journey incredibly slippery.
The most prominent phenological change to my spot is the layer of slushy snow on the ground, covering a significant amount of the dead flora. There were little to no direct signs of wildlife directly at my phenology spot, and the most prominent animal prints were from humans walking their dogs. I could no longer audibly hear insects chirping, and less birds could be heard in the surrounding area.
