The Last Visit of the Semester…

It was a very bittersweet experience to visit Rock Point for one last time before the end of the semester, but luckily, and despite a few rough patches on the way there, it was a beautiful day!

Any Changes?

Since my November 5th visit to Lone Rock Point, not too much has changed, other than the weather. It was beautiful outside, but it was very chilly. It was about 19°F outside, but with a windchill of about 7°F. A substantial change that I took notice of, was the lack of leaf cover on the trails. Before, the trails were completely overrun by the foliage, but now they were gone. I think this is in part to decomposers, but more realistically, someone had to come to clear the trails.

One thing that remained constant was the vegetation. The Northern White Cedars were going strong, and a few leaves were hanging on by a thread nearby. I didn’t notice any animal prints or any significant traces of nests. There were some Black Cap Chickadees on the way into Rock Point ( identified by Isabella) as well as a few Eastern Gray Squirrels nearby. Beyond that, I think that animal activity has remained relatively constant, but the number of birds has decreased, and there were no more ducks present in the lake like the last visit.

Winter is Coming!

What I thought was most curious about this visit to Lone Rock Point is the clear indications of winter’s encroaching. The trails were slightly frozen, there were icicles hanging from the Shale, ice-covered rocks from the shoreline, and frozen Northern White Cedar needles. It was clear that the land was prepping for the brisk winter coming up!

My Final Thoughts…

I’m very sad that this is my last post of the semester because I will truly miss taking the trek with two of my greatest friends each month to spend time connecting to and learning about Lone Rock Point. I have enjoyed getting to trace the changes throughout the months to my specific spot, and really taking the time to know it like the back of my hand. I have enjoyed getting out of my dorm, and my busy schedule, to take the time to form a real relationship with a natural area. I cannot wait to see Rock Point again, and I have really enjoyed getting to share all of my experiences here!

“An understanding of the natural world and what’s in it is a source of not only a great curiosity but great fulfillment.”

– David Attenborough