For the week off of classes, I left Burlington and went home to Massachusetts. I live a short bike ride from Plum Island, a small barrier island on the north shore. The island is known for its beaches and birding. I chose to have my phenology spot on one if the beaches on Plum island.

As you walk out to the beach there is a scrubby bush that looks like buckthorn that lines the boardwalk. The bush thins out as you get closer to the beach. Tufts of dune grass sway in the wind and soak up all the sun. My phenology spot bordered the dunes. Drift wood had landed on the beach along with seaweed and, unfortunately, a lot of plastic. While at my site, I saw lots of seagulls as well as a barred owl in the bushes farther from the beach.

This site is a lot different from my site in Burlington. The land is clear of snow and it was warmer. The beach is clear of trees unlike my pine stand in Centennial woods.