Kat reflects on a full day at Goose Pond...
I visit the boardwalk at Goose Pond Mountain Created Wetlands often, as there is always so much to see. It's close to my home, my toddlers can easily and safely navigate the paths, and the creatures we see are easily seen by the youngest of children too, which makes it that much more appealing to me. I had the opportunity to go there twice today, once this morning and then again later in the afternoon. Laurel met me for the morning walk and together (with the help of her dragonfly guide) we tried to identify some of the dragonflies we'd been seeing as our girls ran around enjoying each other's company. So far we have identified the Ebony Jewelwing, Twelve-spotted Skimmer, Calico Pennant, Halloween Pennant, Eastern Pondhawk, Widow Skimmer, Spangled Skimmer, and Common Whitetail. We have some pictures of some of them as well. Though I cut it pretty close today (and the girls let me know it), I was able to get a few good photographs before my 11am naptime deadline. I snapped pictures of a Red-winged Blackbird with a dragonfly in it's mouth and a male Spangled Skimmer (also eating it's lunch). Laurel spotted a dragonfly emerging from it's hardened nymph shell, but I was unable to get close to get a good photograph because the girls were restless. She grabbed my camera and got a great shot as I held one cranky toddler in my arms and another by the hand.
Later, I returned with Ian and the girls, because it seemed that the predicted thunderstorms were not going to hit us at all. At the second pond, as the girls chased each other up and down their hill, I finally spotted the bullfrog I had been seeking all year. In fact, it was literally right under my nose. I didn't notice it until I was practically on top of it, at which point it leapt into the water and swam off. Ian saw it, too, jumping almost as high as the frog itself... it was THAT big! We both couldn't believe it's size... it was roughly the diameter of a McDonald's pancake! I spotted it again a few minutes later but by the time I had my camera ready it had ducked under the water again and I lost it in the murk. I decided to take a quick look for the praying mantis that Laurel had seen on the raspberry bush earlier in the day, but I had no luck. I did find an interesting and quite aggressive spider, though. It stared me down as I photographed it, flicking it's fangs at me each time I moved. I spotted the juvenile Northern Water Snake again, and got a picture of it with it's tongue out as it boldly swam by me. It hung around for a few minutes, and Ian was able to see it's beautiful markings. I was also able to photograph two more dragonflies and one damselfly (eating another insect), but I will have to wait for Laurel and her guide book before I can identify them.
Male Spangle Skimmer eating an insect
Acadia "fishing"
Toadlet
Laurel showing Lily and Penelope the toadlet
Red-winged Blackbird with dragonfly breakfast for it's young
Dragonfly emerging
Crazy spider
Unknown damselfly eating dinner
Northern Water Snake sticking it's tongue out
Twelve-spotted Skimmer
Uknown dragonfly
Female Common Whitetail
A larger Garter Snake - a beneficial creature if you have one in your garden
Walking into the woods.
Akiko and Queen looking at the green grasshopper Queen caught.
