Update
Since I last visit my phenology spot, it has changed quite a bit. Almost every deciduous tree has shed its leaves, with only Eastern white pines adding vibrant green to the landscape. There was one tree holding onto its green leaves for dear life, which I identified as a common buckthorn (pictured below).
Sitting quietly in my phenology spot I first noticed how full the river was and how quickly the water was flowing compared to the last time I visited. This makes sense, as it rained very heavily last night. It was very peaceful sitting there, as I was able to hear the babbling water and watch birds fly overhead. The goldenrod that covers the majority of my phenology spot has passed the point of flowering and looks like it is going to seed shortly (pictured below).
Finally, I took a moment to sketch out my phenology spot from a birds-eye view.
