The Phenologist

January Third

2012-01-03T12:20:00.000-08:00

Blue skies today and oddly warm. Will we have snow at all this winter? The birds sing and hop around the branches like it's March.

Hopefully there will be some hard freezes before spring. If not, there will be a terrible amount of ticks and slugs this year.

-the phenologist

December Twenty Eighth

2012-01-01T14:07:00.000-08:00

Such a curious winter so far, with no snow.

The red and orange balls on the leaf I found are called 'leaf galls' and can be caused by insects, fungi, or other factors.

Also spotted a maple tree exploding with sap.

Now a new year begins...a year which will be full of natural beauty and wonder. I hope you will join me for the journey through the seasons.

-the phenologist

December Twenty Sixth

2011-12-26T08:33:00.000-08:00

-the phenologist

December Twenty Second, Winter Solstice

2011-12-22T08:20:00.000-08:00

The shortest day of the year...the official beginning of Winter.

This bird nest was tucked into a thorny bush, and full of pink leaves.

-the phenologist

December Twenty First

2011-12-22T08:00:00.000-08:00

Many bird nests are revealed now that all the leaves are gone. I found the one pictured here very close to the ground. Maybe a Winter Sparrow's?

We had the first snow on December 16th, but it was actually more like sleet, and didn't stick.

-the phenologist

December Fourteenth

2011-12-14T05:59:00.000-08:00

Still not a single snow flake.
Today is misty and cold. Bare branches are dripping. Even the little moth I found had pearls of dew on it's feelers.
-the phenologist

November Twenty Eighth

2011-11-28T05:57:00.000-08:00

Discovered a tree trunk that a woodpecker has made it's home as you can see in the last picture.
A very warm day considering the time of year, about 10°C.
-the phenologist

November Twenty Seventh

2011-11-27T06:51:00.000-08:00

Another sunny day. Many trees were cut down along this trail in the past couple of days. The pathways here in Austria are always very well taken care of.
-the phenologist

November Twenty Sixth

2011-11-26T15:19:00.000-08:00

Amazing what thaw can so quickly do to an icy landscape. All the white has disappeared and we are back to tawny browns under a blue sky. Birds sang today and it felt like March.
-the phenologist

November Twenty Third

2011-11-23T13:27:00.000-08:00

It's important to note that this is not snow. It's hoarfrost, the beautiful result of frozen dew. These were taken on a hill top, where the frost is thickest. The world was black, brown, and white today, and very quiet.

Still waiting on the first snow.

-the penologist

November Twenty Second

2011-11-22T06:29:00.000-08:00

Hoarfrost on branches and underbrush. First snow is right around the corner.
-the phenologist

November Fifteenth

2011-11-15T14:00:00.000-08:00

Heavy frost this morning, but the sun came out at midday and shone in a cloudless sky. Everything was red and brown and sun drenched.
-the phenologist

November Thirteenth

2011-11-14T05:58:00.000-08:00

Discovered a tiny yellow snail tucked into the warmth of a thistle.
-the phenologist

November Twelfth

2011-11-12T13:13:00.000-08:00

Captured my first frost photos of the year this morning. The leaves looked like sugar frosted gingerbread. All the leaves are down now.
-the phenologist

November Tenth

2011-11-10T04:10:00.000-08:00

-the phenologist

November Fifth

2011-11-08T03:06:00.000-08:00

Heavy mist. Everything rust colored and wet with dew.

-the phenologist

November Third

2011-11-03T10:33:00.000-07:00

-the phenologist