Blog 2 10-1-19
Start time: 9:40 am
End time: 10:30 am
As I returned to my sit spot located just off the commuter parking lot in a segregated section, I remember all the reasons I chose this spot. Though my spot only has a few specific animal friends, it is filled with a large variety of plant life. Seeing all the different plant species, I am able to observe their growth rates, seasonal changes, and specific characteristics. I enjoy listening to the well-known squirrels on campus running through the trees and the “car alarm birds” playing their sounds back and forth. For my second journal entry I decided to sit and face a group of trees that had been to my left in the first entry. Turning my position gives me the opportunity to see the same surrounding but at a different view and increases my observance of the activity around me. Facing North, my eyes immediately found a slender tree with twists up its trunk. Although it appeared to be dead it was still covered in leaves and sprouts from its surrounding neighbor trees and bushes.
As soon as my time began, I curiously looked to where the beautiful yellow flowered plant sat in my last journal, but unfortunately the bright flower buds are now gone, and the green plant sits in its spot bare. The sun began to shine its rays through the trees to my right, drawing my attention to their leaves. The canopy these trees provide me is more bare than last time. In my last visit I was unable to identify which branch belonged to which tree as they seemed to intertwine with one another, but I am now able to acknowledge a large sycamore branch that stretches over my head. The contending leaves of the canopy are shades of bright yellow and green. There are still more green leaves waiting to change their color pallet.
From this canopy of trees my eyes gazed down to the ground where I noticed more leaves were present than last time. The variety of shapes and colors were beautiful and gave the dried grass color. I then noticed that the grass that had reminded me of wool on my last visit is now dry and has flattened and no longer soft looking.
At the beginning of my second visit I didn’t see any squirrel or bird friends. It wasn’t until I heard a woodpecker from my right that they came to join me. Different birds began chirping and squawking from all directions. I heard different bird sounds than my previous visit an am not sure what species they were. The “car alarm birds” rejoined the gathering and the cricket chimed in. I was startled when a squirrel sneaked up behind me on a branch and began squawking very loudly. He continued this for a few more minutes before scampering onto other branches until he was far away up in the canopy. The crickets play in unison creating a very relaxing sound after the squirrel’s rampage. I was hoping to see more animals in addition to the birds and squirrels, but it seemed to be the same variation as last time. Perhaps it is because they cannot find a goof food source in this are or maybe there is more active wildlife at night.
The air had a moist smell about it, and it felt very thick with humidity at the beginning of my visit. There was no breeze, however after the sun peered through the trees and things began to come alive a slight breeze picked up and the humidity seemed to drop some. The sky was very different from last time I was here. The clouds were seamlessly spread across the sky like a sheet. The breeze blew through the remaining tree leaves creating a familiar sound from my last observance.
As I was soaking everything in and looking in all direction there were a few things that specifically caught my attention and curiosity. The first of them was a small tree sprout to my right (east). It was the same as others of its kind spread throughout my spot except for its leaves. The leaves have red spots all over them that almost create a blood splattered appearance. I will be observing this plant in my further studies to see if the red spreads throughout the leaf. Secondly, northeast of my view I noticed a small “baby” bamboo plant that just reaches about two feet. I’m not sure how I missed this small stalk after observing the larger stalks in my past observance of the area, but I will be watching it grow in my future visits and recording its growth over time. Lastly, I will be focusing on the tree canopy that covers me and how the shelter is reduced as the season continues to change.
Sadly, this is when my timer goes off and my busy mind reawakens. It is time to go on to my next task. I close my journal and take pictures of my second visit of this secluded space. Even though there isn’t a lot of wildlife here I am glad I chose it. It’s a good spot – my spot. It’s a spot off the beaten path, a place to relax and I found that getting into the mindset of observation was a little easier for me this time. So, taking one last inhale of the fresh air I leave my sit spot for the second time.
Car alarm bird may be a blue jay? Nice blog
We have such a similar mindset in our sit spots! I think it’s due to our similar perspectives of looking directly into a small section of nature directly in front of us. It’s interesting to see that we both shared the experience of also mainly monitoring the seasonal changes of the plants in front of us, as well as you focused on your specific yellow flower, and I had my focus on a purple one. It was interesting to see that we both picked up very similar details in two completely differently locations!
I like the way you described your sit spot. It sounds so inviting and peaceful! Also, I can relate to your experience in your sit spot. It seems like close to campus there isn’t much variation in wildlife. I wonder how that will change as cooler temperatures bring migrating animals to this area.