A Record-Setting Wet Fall

Flooding on Ruben Walker Road, Ware River Watershed, Barre, 7 November 2018

Flooding on Ruben Walker Road, Ware River Watershed, Barre, 7 November 2018

Wettest fall season standings at Blue Hill Observatory. On November 7th, CBC News reported, "we’re on pace to compete for wettest fall without a landfalling tropical system. It’s already been the 15th wettest fall (Sept-Oct-Nov) on record at Blue Hill Observatory with several weeks to go."

Green-winged Teal, Rutland Brook Sanctuary, Petersham/Barre, 4 November 2018

Savannah Sparrow, Barre Falls Dam, 21 October 2018. Photo by Doug Wipf.

Harvard Pond water level was a bit higher than average on 6 October 2018.

An amazing variety of fungi were present along a very short portion of the trail at Harvard Pond on 6 October.

It was a banner year for amphibians like this Pickerel Frog (Rana palustris) found in late September.

Canada Geese lift off at dusk on 20 October 2018 in Hardwick. Photo by Alan Rawle.

Winter Wren, Muddy Brook WMA, Hardwick, 11 November 2018

The extraordinarily wet and humid summer and fall resulted in a bumper crop of colorful fungi in October. Photo taken at Harvard Pond, Petersham mushroom foray on 6 October.

White-throated Sparrow 14 October 2018 Hardwick. Photo by Alan Rawle

A White-crowned Sparrow easily found a puddle for bathing on 11 November 2018 in Hardwick. This species breeds much further north and is only seen here on migration. Note the differences between this bird and the White-throated Sparrow above.