The Blue Heron lands on the dock. Stalking through the shallows, he looks for his prey. The water is cold and crisp. He can see straight to the sandy bottom. Watching from afar, the owners of the dock stand amazed. They are not out swimming and boating like they are in the summer months, but stick closer to the house this time of year. The water seems a little more still this time of year. Gone are the summer visitors, who come to make waves. When the temperature starts to drop slightly, the animals seem to become more active. Squirrels begin to gather nuts for winter, fish swim freely in the river, and the osprey soar in the sky. Fires glow in fire pits and places, while people warm themselves in the cold of night. Oysters are harvested during this time, making meals for many people. The temperature is colder, but that doesn’t mean people spend any less time admiring the beauty of this landscape.
The Burlington Waterfront and Stove Point on the Piankatank River in Deltaville, Virginia are actually very similar. They are both spectacles that attract people from all over to gaze over the beauty of the body of water before them. Both can be seen changing throughout the seasons every year. One difference between my normal phenology spot and my new phenology spot is the amount of people that come to visit. The Burlington Waterfront is a place that attracts people from all over, while my new place is something that is only visited by my family. Another major difference between the two is the wildlife and plant life. In Virginia, the tree species are very different. They are more oaks and other deciduous trees in the area instead of coniferous trees. There are some similarities and differences between wildlife in Deltaville and wildlife in Burlington, but not by much in marine areas. The Piankatank River is a salt water tributary to the Chesapeake Bay which means that the fish prevalent here are different. Instead of catching trout and bass; croaker, spot, and rockfish are more very common. There is also a very large number of blue crabs, which make up a large part of the economy in rural coastal areas like Deltaville. The phenology of my new place is different too because the warmer seasons last a lot longer, and winter is a lot more mild and short.