I biked a different route this time and it was much easier (and safer)! I went on the bike path for almost the whole way and basically approached the entrance to the trail from the other side. This also allowed me to see more of the bike trail, which I really enjoyed. Biking through the foliage was a treat.

The first change I noticed walking in to the woods was that the buckthorn that were prevalent at the entrance last time had since been destroyed or removed.

Approaching my spot I was greeted with a surprise: pumpkins! Someone had left two carved pumpkins right in my spot. One had been enjoyed by the local bugs and chipmunks, but the other was in good shape.

Everything is more yellow. The majority of American Beech trees have turned a brownish-yellow, or are transitioning from a yellow-green. The canopy is dominated by Eastern White Pines as well as some Northern Red Oaks. The pines are somewhat sparse but that is consistent. The Beechs are the most noticeable change in the spot as there are a lot in the area. Some of these are tall but don’t reach the canopy. There are many saplings. Eastern Hemlocks are evenly distributed around the area.

The focus point of my spot is the giant dead Eastern White Pine. I notice an increase in burrow holes in the trunk. Some are the size of the tip of pencil lead, ranging to the size of a golf ball. This points to a range of inhabitants, from bugs to birds to chipmunks. There are a couple stumps in the spot where I rested my notebook while I took notes. On the stump I saw a small moth, a tiny spider, and a large daddy long legs.

This trip I paid close attention to the sounds. The sounds of the cars nearby blended with the sound of Potash Brook, an interesting intersection of noise. There was the constant stream of bug sounds, as well as several types of chirps, though I couldn’t see the birds (maybe they’re high up?).

And a wide-shot of my spot! Also I’ll be taking the same picture (like this one) every time to see the changes more clearly. I made it so that the header of the blog is randomized with the different photos. Reload the home page to see the seasons change!