The phenological differences at my nook in centennial woods are few but substantial. Snow now blankets every inch of the ground and ferns have finally begun to die off. I expected quietness in the forest, however the lack of leaves and the icy snow has only seemed to amplify the city noises from the edges. The wind whips through the trees more freely now as well, startling me more than once when two lanky white pines clack in the cyanope.
Signs of animal life seemed scarce at first, aside from the trusty crow calls nothing was jumping out at me. Luckily, It only took my usual loop around the perimeter of my area to spot several signs of activity. Over a small ridge away from the trail, I found tracks that ended right at the base of a tree, with that information as well as the bounding nature of the tracks I’m fairly certain it was squirrel. Over in the Meadow I came across some more interesting finds. Small tracks from a field mouse or shrew made a little loop leaving and returning to a fallen log, probably housing a burrow. I found a trail of much less distinguishable tracks running across the brook, based on the size and pattern I’m thinking fox or even coyote. Lastly and most excitingly, I found wing prints in the snow from a bird. They were no more than 8 inches across so my best guess would be robin, maybe picking up a berry or seed?
