First Sit Spot

Last Sit Spot

I went out to my sit spot at 11:30AM right after my Chemistry lecture to get away from the stress of class, despite having to layer myself up to keep away the cold. Since the summer, my sit-spot has changed drastically not only in the shift between weather, but the appearance of the surrounding area. The sounds of nature have also changed, as the sounds of cicadas turned into quiet cricket songs and the abundance of birds above turned into a few distant chirps. My sit spot was originally positioned right in the shade of the large tree above me, back when it was filled with large green leaves. Currently, the tree provides little to no shade, as the leaves have all fallen from the branches and dispersed across the ground. Over the course of this semester, both trees I have been observing have lost all their leaves, which I had not expected with the willow tree. The algae on the surface of the pond has decreased in size by a large amount, making the pond so much prettier and clearer. As time went on, the leaves on the trees went from green to orange and then finally to brown before falling to the ground. The beginning of fall offered beautiful autumn trees and so much color, though the color faded as the weather got even colder and the leaves began falling.

Tree during First Sit Spot

Last View of Sit Spot Tree

Sit Spot Tree from a distance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During today’s session, I was welcomed with a cold winter breeze and the rustling of the trees around me. Unfortunately, I did not get the chance to observe any animals during my session, though I did hear the occasional bird chirping and some insect calls while I was there. Along with the animal sounds I was able to hear cars on the highway and the creek flowing behind me, which was still overflowing from the rain we recently had. While sitting under the tree, I noticed a plane in the far distance, as it was making a trail through the clear blue sky. The breeze was also pushing on the water’s surface, causing it to flow towards the road.

Algae gunk during First Sit Spot

Algae gunk during Last Sit Spot

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This experience has been fun, although it has had its bad days and good days. Due to the location of my sit spot, I have had to tune in and ignore the people walking by, and on one occasion, the people sitting near my sit spot who were listening to music. I did, however, get a chance to see a lot of wildlife that I would not normally see back home in Virginia Beach due to the busy roads and plethora of people. I do wish I would have chosen a spot that was more secluded and away from the road, as it would have definitely made a difference in the amount of wildlife I was able to see and hear. My experience at my sit-spot helped me to slow down and take a breath, which is something I need every once in a while, with how much running around I constantly do. Throughout all of my sit spots the coolest experience I had was watching an otter swim in the pond at night, though I will likely remember the confrontation with the security officer first if I am to look back on this experience in the future, as that was much more memorable.

Young Willow during First Sit Spot

Willow during Last Sit Spot

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leaves in the pond

Roaring creek behind my sit spot