December 29th. A brief stop at the pond east of River Road.

 

 

 

 

 

December 30th. Mostly cloudy, but neither fog nor rain for a change.

 

 

 

 

 

A female Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa).

 

They're never still more than a couple of seconds.

 

The male Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon) was around.

 

The white dot ahead of the eye intrigues me. Could it help the bird zero in on prey?

 

 

 

Berries of a Viburnum species? Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago) maybe?

 

Amazing to see a flower at the end of December, but Periwinkle (Vinca minor) will flower if given any encouraging weather.

 

Ripples in the exit stream by the former beaver dam.

 

 

 

Using my new Lichen identification book (Lichens of the North Woods), I've tried to put names on the pictures that follow. This grey crustose one without Apothecia stumps me.

 

Common Greenshield (Flavoparmelia caperata). above the grey one lacking Apothecia.

 

Brown-eyed Rim Lichen (Lecanora allophana) or another Lecanora species.

 

The lower section looks like a Heart Lichen (Mycoblastus sp.). The upper section another Lecanora sp.?

 

Common Greenshield (Flavoparmelia caperata). "Common " is right. It's everwhere on trees.

 

Another Lecanora sp.?

 

Ditto, with Greenshield.

 

Mycoblastus and Lecanora species amid small patches of Common Greenshield?

 

In the center I think this is pale grey foliose Star Rosette Lichen (Physcia stellaris). No idea about the one at the lower left.

 

Star Rosette Lichen (Physcia stellaris) again, I think.

 

Best guess is Red-belted Polypore (Fomitopsis pinicola).

 

December 31st. New Year's Eve. Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) on the tall dead tree by Juliano Pools.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After a circle around the area, it was joined by a second hawk. Mates?

 

 

 

 

 

A fraction of the Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) and Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) on the marsh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis).