Hello again! Nice to be back at my spot after winter break, and to fully examine with fresh eyes the changes that occurred over that period of time.
It’s 2pm and yet the light seems so low. Winters here are cold and dark, and while many of Vermont’s species are hardy and toughened for the conditions, I’d much prefer the warmth of the dorm room with some hot cocoa. Nonetheless, it’s undoubtedly beautiful out here. The freeze is everywhere, including Centennial Brook, which serves as the natural border between my phenology spot and the rest of the woods. I don’t think I had ever seen a brook quite frozen over like that, which was a marvel to say the least.
Despite the freeze, the snow isn’t as abundant on the ground as it was even a week ago. There have been occasional rises in temp over the past few days, and it’s been the only time I’ve looked at 30 degrees Fahrenheit and thought to myself “thank god it’s a warm day.”
All the ferns which I’ve been observing over the span of these months have finally called it quits. They’re still green, however, but dry as crisps.
I had hoped to encounter more signs of wildlife on my trip, but I didn’t find too much. I saw a lot of dog and human tracks, which wasn’t exactly what I was searching for. I did, however, find a set of tracks which I feel confident enough to ID as Eastern Cottontail Rabbit. I didn’t have my guide with me while there, but checking it when I got back to the dorm proved to be a match in size.
I know a cottontail isn’t anything remarkable to most, but I am always indulged to see those fluffy rabbits, and knowing they’re out and about still is exciting nonetheless!
As for other wildlife, the winter avifauna was as I noted before on my last Centennial trip. There were plenty of Hairy Woodpeckers calling from between trees, and nuthatches giving their nasally nyuk calls on occasion. For these little birds, the work never stops, especially during brutally cold months as these. Nuthatches are accessing their caches they stored before the wintertime and staying in mixed flocks of chickadees and titmice.
In conclusion, it seems the landscape has truly become dormant this time. Many of the landscapes residents have slowed down or stopped altogether, but regardless, the severity of winter commands the resiliency of every living being, from the bundled-up college student to the hibernating tree frog, frozen until the thaw of spring.