December 22nd, the first full day of Winter. Seventy-nine Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) on fresh ice and a bit of open water.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The washout from recent heavy rains continues to grow and cut deeper.

 

 

 

One of the morning regulars started a bridge. Um, not for me.

 

Frost collected where the water rushed into the channel.

 

Some calls and the geese all took off.

 

 

 

December 23rd. Seventeen degrees.

 

The marsh pretty well iced over.

 

The trail is now fully breached; the gap too wide to even jump across.

 

 

 

 

 

Elsewhere, vapor wafting up from water below forms heavy frost.

 

The marsh at Cranberry Bog was fully iced over. No waterfowl, but the sheep to the east were present.

 

 

 

 

 

December 24th. More erosion at the washout.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 26th. Very foggy at dawn.

 

 

 

 

 

Still some fog in the distance.

 

A lone pair of Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos).

 

December 27th. The washout still running, but as I was walking in, I met two guys in a Hebron Public Works truck who had just assessed the problem and seemed ready to take responsibility for fixing it. Also, look way down the trail. See the vehicle?

 

Full telephoto and cropped, this picture shows three guys who I think were clearing the small beaver dam at the left that partially blocks the marsh outlet stream. I assume the load of sand was for another project. In any case they drove off without using it. Looks like a Hebron license plate.

 

By the time I got back to the marsh around 12:30, Hebron Public Works was almost done with repairs to the washout.

 

Looking east, the repaired section is just beyond the backhoe.

 

The operator was adding, then grading, a final load of stonedust.

 

Both vehicles headed along and turned back at the spur.

 

The view to the east.

 

The view to the west, towards Old Colchester Road. (The same view I've used through the days of the washout.) Lookin' good!

 

As I started back, the backhoe passed me. I gave the operator a giant thumbs-up.

 

The low beaver dam at the "normal" outlet of the marsh was mostly removed, giving a proper course for the high water to exit. Beavers should not be affected by this.

 

December 28th. After heavy rain overnight (and more expected) I managed a walk in from Old Colchester Road to check on yesterday's breach repairs. The proper exit stream was working big-time as it should.

 

Much of the trail under puddles, as usual after rain.

 

Ah, but yesterday's repairs are looking fine.

 

There was a gully reaching close to the trail for years. Good that it was filled in.

 

Oh, they removed a long abandoned (after trapping several years ago) beaver lodge right beside the trail. Too bad, it was a chance for people to see a lodge close up.

 

The dark fresh stone dust marks other areas the crew addressed.

 

Four of eight Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) on the southeast side where hunting is not permitted. That's Town of Hebron open space.