November 3, 2019: November, and Still no Hard Frost

Halloween came and went - it was a warm, 65 degree day, though a bit damp.  Soon after, a cold front came through bringing below freezing weather, but still not enough for a hard, killing frost.  Even the cold, open field barely had a touch of frost, though up north in the mountains it was cold enough for at least one ski area to fire up the snow guns.

Blowing snow at Sunday River with Orion shining in the sky.  Photo by Sunday River Resort.

Even though daisies were still blooming this morning, the first real taste of winter isn't far off.

Daisies, mums, and a few marigolds are still hanging on.

The cold front's 40 mph winds finished ripping the leaves off the trees, and it did a good job of moving them from any clear area and piling them up against the nearest wind-stop.  But before it did it's job the atmosphere was so calm that leaves had been dropping straight down, leaving an elegant red carpet for all who trod the halls of the forest.

Before the wind stripped everything bare, the blueberry and huckleberry bushes had painted the shorelines with brilliant red as well.

Royal red - the color of kings for this special Sunday.

The sun is setting early now.

At the other end of the color spectrum I found these dark blue berries in large clumps on a dogwood tree.

I think this is Silky Dogwood (Cornus amomum).

At least I think that's what this is.  At first I thought it was a viburnum, but the leaves and berries convinced me it's the dogwood.

There is a viburnum that had a very good crop of berries this year, and this one combines both ends of the color spectrum.

Mapleleaf Viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium)

The dark purple berries and deep red leaves of the mapleleaf viburnum contrast nicely in the fall sun.

On the animal side of the ledger, I saw quite a few ducks come by Lake Wicwas this week, but always on those days when it was "good weather for ducks" and in the morning when there was never enough light to take a decent picture.

A raft of woodies on a colorless morning.

I've seen mallards, buffleheads, and wood ducks so far, as well as our loons, at least one chick and one parent, always side by side.

Davidson and mom?

Davidson in a rare moment almost 100 yards away from mom, but looking for her.

There she is.  Mom is losing her summer colors, making it difficult to tell them apart from a distance.

There have been enough questions asking whether this close relationship is atypical that I sent the question on to the Loon Preservation Committee.  John Cooley responded that it is somewhat unusual this late in the year, so we'll keep an eye on things and provide an update as we approach ice-in.

With that thought...  it's the time of year when I wonder if every kayak trip will be my last for the season.

I hope everyone had a good, scary, haunted Halloween!

A haunted tree - complete with beard - alongside Tucker Mountain Road in Chemung.