I had an exciting first visit to my new Pheneology location in Centennial Woods today, this is some of what I saw…
I have chosen to explore a new spot to learn about the phenology of another natural location in Burlington. My new location is a spot in Centennial woods, down a small incline and in the bend of a small stream, it is just off the trail and shows an interesting mix of plant species as well as some evidence of wildlife.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Chittenden+County,+VT+05401/@44.4792179,-73.1876295,16z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x4cca7a4064285555:0x358e20dba74277!8m2!3d44.47781!4d-73.1845861
This area can be reached from Harris Millis by walking down Spear street, across Main street, continuing down East Ave. and onto Catamount drive. Down this street you will see the entrance to Centennial woods if you follow the path you will see the stream, my phenology spot is right by the edge before the stream as well as in the bend of the stream.
Around my phenology spot I saw the evidence of a few different species, a couple shown in this photo. The track on the left appears to have been left by a white tail deer, indicated by the shape and size of the imprint. The tracks on the right and second picture on the other hand shows a paw print, with the claws visible, showing that it is a dog-like animal. This size of the print could indicate either a dog or coyote, but the erratic path shown by the tracks means it is more likely that it was a dog.
These tracks were seen passing directly next to my location, but due to the warming weather, the snow the tracks were in had melted some leaving the tracks deformed. Because of this none of the imprints were clear enough to get a clear image of what animal may have left them. All I can tell is that it was a smaller animal.
This twig has opposite branching, green and red buds, and keeled scales, these factors show that this twig comes from a Norway Maple. I also saw a twig that I think could be a sugar maple because of its pointy end. On top of these, I also saw and Eastern White Pine, Eastern Hemlock, and Paper Birch.
This sketch is of a Norway maple twig, based on the twigs I observed while at my phenology spot.
