This morning we decided to take a walk about 6 miles south of our cabin at Whitefish Point in an area that had a recent small (7-9 acres) forest fire. The fire was apparent just in the understory, moving quickly through the already dry bracken ferns and young maples and oaks. Most of the pines, while showing scars from the fire had not themselves been part of the fire.
Mushrooms were doing well is the areas adjacent to the fire. We also found a nice puffball at what everybody calls The Crossbill Pond, several hundred meters away from the edge of the fire.
While at the pond we could hear a few warblers and several Red Crossbill
As we walked along a loop-trail we found both Big-tooth aspen and Trembling, as well as only the second example of a hybrid between the two.
The single tree had leaves similar to both parents, as well as some that were intermediate between them.
Finally, on Whitefish Point Road, fairly close to our cabin we found a Star-nosed mole., an odd little mammal. It is possibly only the second that I have ever seen.
That’s all for today, more tomorrow…
Michael's Place 