Spring Rains in January

Last two days the Woods have had a marvelous, much-needed three quarters inch rain - slow and gentle. Fall rains did not come; and the Woods have been unusually dry. I went to the NW Ponds entrance at 4 PM. The NW Pond was up to 0.46' and East Pond was 0.47'. They will both rise over the next two weeks as the water gradually percolates down and raises the water table. The water in the Wash was 31" depth at the post.

There was no water by the beaver dam; but water was rippling as it flowed into the southern delta.

The Woods were quiet,  only one white-tailed deer. The doe ran quickly in front of me descending the steep slope by the NW entrance, as I was leaving.  Fifty feet away it stopped and looked back at me. I stopped and waved. I wonder if some of the deer know me. I think they do. At 5:15, I heard the first barred owl in the SE corner of the Woods begin to call. It was answered by a barred owl in the SW corner.. all along with the barking of neighborhood dogs in the subdivision west of the Woods.

The Woods in mid or late winter are at their most open. The coral berry has lost all its leaves.. only the privet, Russian olive and evergreen junipers produce much greenery over ankle high. It makes the place feel small and the noise of the traffic penetrates farther in through the trees. It is the best time to wander off trail through areas normally too thick to enter. A good time to find new things.

After the light long rains, 20 minutes before sunset, the Woods were filled with a rich light from the low sun when it found a band of clear sky above the western horizon. The rich browns of the fallen leaves set off the wet mottled greens of lichens on the broken branches fallen from the canopy.

With warmth in the mid 50 F range, better soil moisture and earlier lows last month in the low teens, the trees will now begin to swell their buds. We'll have an earlier spring this year.. maybe a few days advanced over last year.