January 17th. Five Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A male Northern "Yellow-shafted" Flicker (Colaptes auratus).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fresh ice.

 

 

 

 

 

Raymond Brook at Old Colchester Road.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 18th. A midday walk in Lebanon east from Leonard Bridge Road to Chesbro Bridge Road, a section I hadn't walked in years.

 

Much of this section is slightly elevated from wet ditches and marshy ground on either side. In spring it should be great for wildflowers that like such conditions.

 

A bridge near the start is flanked by old rails set into a stone channel.

 

If those rails could talk.

 

Acorn cap amid Haircap Moss (Polytrichum juniperinum).

 

Moss offered a welcome sight of green.

 

Let your eyes take in the color!

 

A downed Birch limb...

 

...surrounded by moss on the downed trunk.

 

Fallen leaves under water.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was looking for patterns today. Found some...

 

 

 

 

 

...in just a little falls over a fallen limb.

 

Nearby, a swirl of foam on the water surface.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back on dry ground, a fallen branch covered in foliose lichen and bracket fungi.

 

January 20th. Early morning snow was a surprise. Didn't stop Gray Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) from being active. When hopping, rear feet land ahead of front feet.