Returning to my site was slightly shocking – it is amazing how much can change over the course of two weeks. All of the trees that had still been green on my last visit showcased their brightest colors, while those who had already changed colors before my last visit stood silently, their music having dropped to the ground with the last of their leaves.
The non-woody vegetation had also changed significantly, no longer was the ground a rich green with a hint of change – it had transformed into a tapestry of brown, green, red and yellow, adorned with the colorful leaves of the surrounding trees. The cattails had also transformed: their typically robust stalks appeared shrunken and wilted, listlessly rustling in the light breeze. The whole area carried the feel of fall, with the promise of winter following shortly.
Despite the area preparing herself for the winter, there was a lot of active wildlife. Nearing the water’s edge, I could see where a raccoon had tread, could see where a moose had waded into the cattails, knocking them askew. Looking around, I spotted several Black-Capped Chickadees eating the remaining wild grapes along with squirrels, Ring-Billed Gulls, and a Great Blue Heron.