Lots of phenological changes have occurred since my last visit to Cassavant. Firstly, the whole area is covered in a layer of ice below the latest snowfall. The brook is now coated in a thick layer of ice and is strong enough to walk across. All the deciduous trees have lost their leaves by these point. This landscape looks a lot different now than it did when I first visited it in September.
the river coated in ice
Along the river’s edge, I found grey squirrel tracks zigzagging along the beach area. I also found the tracks of some kind of bounder; I’m guessing it to be a rabbit. In addition, I found the tracks of some small rodent; I speculate it to a shrew, or a weasel it was difficult to tell in the snow.
some kind of bounder, probably a rabbit
grey squirrel
a small rodent, probably a weasel, shrew, mouse?
I also paid special attention to buds and twigs this lab. I was able to identify silver maple, green ash, sugar maple, boxelder, and basswood using my winter tree ID skills.
boxelder twig
silver maple twig
my sketch of a boxelder twig