Image one is the cool little bug that landed on me while I was taking notes.

The image of the rock on the left it the most recent picture of the rock and the second is the picture from my first set of observations.

 

 

The images below are of the sit spot itself. The one on the right is from my first observation time and the one on the left is from my most recent.

Above are the images of the sycamore tree. The one on the right is from my first sit spot and the one on the left is from the most recent. If you look closely you can see the little fruits.

Finally are the Images of the outlet. The one on the right is from my very first time at my sit spot and the one on the left is from today.

 

 

 

A lot seems to have changed between my fifth sit spot and this final one. This makes a lot of sense, at this point it has been months and the seasons have changed. The last time I did a sit spot we were sort of getting into winter and now it seems like we’re sort of well into spring even if not officially. I loved observing my sit spot over such a long period of time because I practically got to see it in all four seasons even if not throughout the course of the entire year. The last time I was here there were tons of leaves on the ground and their brown kind of covered the green. I could tell that everything was getting ready for winter. Being there this time, it was just the opposite. The leaves were mostly gone so the green grass is super evident. Instead of everything shutting down for winter everything is blossoming or producing fruit/seeds for summer! It is really quite exciting to see. I’m so excited for spring and for all of the plants to really bloom. Everything blooms here in Virginia so much earlier than in Maine. It seems like I’ll get to experience two spring which will be really nice.  

The weather was beautiful today. It was either the high sixties or low seventies with a strong breeze while I was making my observations. The sky was doing that thing where it was both sunny and cloudy at the same time. Honestly, weather like this is my favorite so it was a wonderful way to say farewell to my sit spot, I’m sure I’ll be back in a less formal setting. With spring right around the corner, there were also a lot more songbirds. Sadly, I am unable to really identify them, but I can say that I saw a robin swoop through my sit spot and I saw a cardinal on my walk home. Not in the sit spot per se but very close by. I also say some new bugs out and about, it is probably just getting warm enough for them. A cool looking beetle–like bug landed on me while I was taking notes, I snapped a quick picture. He seemed to be black with a little red, but he was so small it was a bit hard to tell.  

The three objects I chose to follow seemed to change the most between my last sit spot and now in comparison to any other time period between observations. The sycamore tree while still barren of leaves has little fruits that are ready to drop, it really is almost spring! The rock in the water seems to have lost a good deal of vegetation, the winter must have been hard on it. Finally like always the inlet always looks a little different because it depends on the water level which tends to vary. All of these things that I chose to follow really stood out to me in my sit spot. They are things I would make landmarks if I were walking through the woods and needed to remember where I was, that is why I chose to follow them.  

I have really enjoyed my experience at my sit spot. I have always loved to spend time outside and in doing these specific observations I realized how much you can learn about an area just by returning to it consistently. I think I learned a lot of little things about my sit spot that just made me really in tune with it. Personally, this experience made me a better observer of the natural world. I think any time you spend time outside just observing is beneficial in this why. However, the questions gave me a sense of focus which was wonderful. I have always loved spending time in nature, and this just solidified that for me. Even today with everything going on with COVID-19 I was stressed, so I looked forward to going to my sit spot all day and being there truly relaxed me. I really should spend more time in nature in general whether it is just sitting there observing or reading a book I think that whatever it is it always benefits me.  

The best thing I experienced was just the cool change I got to see in my sit spot over time. Watching the vegetation change with the seasons and how the weather shaped everything there was so cool. Sure, the visits from the squirrels or the deer or the various birds only enriched it but I think the experience as a whole was what will be most memorable.